ALBUQUERQUE - The National Congress of American Indians wrapped up its 60th Annual Convention and Trade Show, attracting attention and respect from some of the most influential leaders, presidential contenders and policy makers in the nation.
Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean assured American Indians that the issue of gaming is a matter of sovereignty and remains the decision of Indian tribes.
Dean began his address to NCAI with assurances that previous reports that he is opposed to Indian gaming are not true.
Further, Dean, like a half-dozen other Democratic presidential hopefuls, vowed to uphold tribal sovereignty.
"Tribes are not special interest groups, but sovereign governments that deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," Dean said to loud applause.
Dean made a specific promise in relation to the trust fund litigation and the loss of billions in trust fund dollars.
"I will settle Cobell in the first two years of my administration," Dean said of the Cobell vs. Norton federal lawsuit.
Patrick Kennedy, co-chair of the Democratic Native American Caucus, urged American Indians to support Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., in his bid for the presidency.
In his taped address to NCAI, Gephardt promised to appoint American Indians as judges.
Kennedy, in his written plea, said, "Do you want to send George W. Bush back to Crawford, Texas?" If so, he said, support Gephardt, who has been in the "trenches time and time again fighting for Indian country."
Although Dean refuted the allegations, Kennedy said Dean opposes gaming and does not understand the benefits gaming revenues have brought Indian country.
Kennedy also urged American Indians to vote. "Indian county can play a major role in selecting the Democratic nominee, especially through the primaries in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and North Dakota."
Meanwhile, Jacqueline Johnson, NCAI’s executive director, pointed out that tribal sovereignty has been strengthened in Washington because of new friends like Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif.
Pombo received praise for writing a letter on behalf of the Narragansetts, victims of a FBI and police raid on their smoke shop in Rhode Island.
During his address to NCAI, Pombo said, "I would apologize that we allowed that situation to degenerate as bad as it did before we stepped in."
"Under my watch, I will be vigilant and make sure we don’t allow that to happen again."
Robert Menendez, D-N.J., from the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, said he supported Tohono O’odham legislation to allow tribal members in Arizona and Mexico to travel across their lands divided by the international border.
Tohono O’odham Chairman Vivian Juan-Saunders thanked him for his support of the citizenship bill which would aid her people.
"Veterans who fought in all the wars can not apply for veterans benefits," she told NCAI.
During her address to NCAI, Jennifer Farley of the White House’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs spoke of White House policy and fended off questions about the failure of Bush to meet and consult with tribal leaders.
"I encourage you to remember the positive things that Bush has achieved for tribes," Farley said.
However, outside the session, delegates remembered Bush for his role in closing Indian gaming facilities in Texas.
Within NCAI, delegates urged Farley to counter the current trend of federal court decisions and appoint judges who understand tribal sovereignty.
NCAI passed a resolution calling for the fair settlement of the Cobell vs. Norton lawsuit. The resolution points out the "government’s destruction of trust records."
It states the government "acted in bad faith and reneged on matters" which had been agreed to during five settlement negotiations.
NCAI opposed by resolution the nomination and confirmation of Interior Solicitor William G. Myers III, to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The resolution says Myers intervened and rescinded a denial of mine plan, which now places in peril sacred places of the Quechan Indian Nation.
NCAI, however, was not all serious business. With non-stop receptions each evening, there was still time to hear the hilarious Apache comedian Drew Lacapa talk about romancing his wife, watch Russell Means dance to the rock tunes of the Sneezy Boyz with his wife Pearl Daniels and dance to the jumpin’ Hopi reggae sounds of Casper.
Earlier, on the first day of NCAI, Democratic presidential hopefuls Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., were among those making a bid for Indian support.
Kerry promised to bring more jobs and businesses to Indian country, pointing out that in 1997 there were almost 200,000 Native-owned businesses, employing 300,000 and generating $34.3 billion in revenue.
Kerry said, "We are temporary occupiers of the land, really just passing through."
Retired General Wesley Clark addressed the issue of Homeland Security. He told NCAI that tribes are responsible for hundreds of miles of borders, missile sites, power plants, dams and other likely targets for terrorist attacks.
"So for the life of me, I cannot understand why the federal government has given first responder funding to states and municipalities, but hasn’t given a single penny of this funding directly to tribal governments."
Clark promised, if elected president, to fight for equitable funding and full consultation with tribal governments on homeland security.
However, outside NCAI’s session, delegates questioned the invasion of privacy rights under the Patriot Act and pointed out that Homeland Security author and general counsel Edward McNally is a member of the Skull and Bones Society. As reported in Indian Country Today, the Yale secret society, which the Bush family belongs to, admitted to Apache leaders in 1987 they have a skull which they call "Geronimo’s skull" in their secret tomb in Connecticut.
Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., told NCAI that he has worked hard in his home state of North Carolina with Indian tribes. Edwards vowed, as the other Democratic candidates, to uphold sovereignty and treaties, but added another dimension. He supported Indian water rights and Pueblo land rights in New Mexico.
"Tribal water rights must be respected," Edwards said.
Sen. Joe Lieberman’s slogan was, "First people must never be a second priority." Lieberman, D-Conn., vowed to shift money from Bush tax cuts for the wealthy into Native health care. He also promised to increase funding for tribal recognition efforts and strengthen the process of tribal recognition.
More than 3,000 were in attendance at the 60th Annual Convention held at the Albuquerque Convention Center Nov. 16 - 21. The trade show offered samples and information on a wide variety of Indian country needs, from computers and insurance to beef jerky, chocolates and sage oil. PGA pro Notah Begay was on hand to sign autographs and Rez-Robics offered videos of their workouts.
Brenda Norrell
This article originally appeared in Indian Country Today: http://www.indiancountry.com Republished with permission.
Please also see:
From Leonard Peltier to Tex Hall, a day in the life of NCAI;
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1070553637
Energy bill is omnicide, slow death for Indian people
Voices from the earth, filibuster;
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1070456626
Environmental justice movement sprang from their blood;
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1067456922
When Pauma burned, no one responded;
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1070456201
Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean assured American Indians that the issue of gaming is a matter of sovereignty and remains the decision of Indian tribes.
Dean began his address to NCAI with assurances that previous reports that he is opposed to Indian gaming are not true.
Further, Dean, like a half-dozen other Democratic presidential hopefuls, vowed to uphold tribal sovereignty.
"Tribes are not special interest groups, but sovereign governments that deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," Dean said to loud applause.
Dean made a specific promise in relation to the trust fund litigation and the loss of billions in trust fund dollars.
"I will settle Cobell in the first two years of my administration," Dean said of the Cobell vs. Norton federal lawsuit.
Patrick Kennedy, co-chair of the Democratic Native American Caucus, urged American Indians to support Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., in his bid for the presidency.
In his taped address to NCAI, Gephardt promised to appoint American Indians as judges.
Kennedy, in his written plea, said, "Do you want to send George W. Bush back to Crawford, Texas?" If so, he said, support Gephardt, who has been in the "trenches time and time again fighting for Indian country."
Although Dean refuted the allegations, Kennedy said Dean opposes gaming and does not understand the benefits gaming revenues have brought Indian country.
Kennedy also urged American Indians to vote. "Indian county can play a major role in selecting the Democratic nominee, especially through the primaries in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and North Dakota."
Meanwhile, Jacqueline Johnson, NCAI’s executive director, pointed out that tribal sovereignty has been strengthened in Washington because of new friends like Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif.
Pombo received praise for writing a letter on behalf of the Narragansetts, victims of a FBI and police raid on their smoke shop in Rhode Island.
During his address to NCAI, Pombo said, "I would apologize that we allowed that situation to degenerate as bad as it did before we stepped in."
"Under my watch, I will be vigilant and make sure we don’t allow that to happen again."
Robert Menendez, D-N.J., from the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, said he supported Tohono O’odham legislation to allow tribal members in Arizona and Mexico to travel across their lands divided by the international border.
Tohono O’odham Chairman Vivian Juan-Saunders thanked him for his support of the citizenship bill which would aid her people.
"Veterans who fought in all the wars can not apply for veterans benefits," she told NCAI.
During her address to NCAI, Jennifer Farley of the White House’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs spoke of White House policy and fended off questions about the failure of Bush to meet and consult with tribal leaders.
"I encourage you to remember the positive things that Bush has achieved for tribes," Farley said.
However, outside the session, delegates remembered Bush for his role in closing Indian gaming facilities in Texas.
Within NCAI, delegates urged Farley to counter the current trend of federal court decisions and appoint judges who understand tribal sovereignty.
NCAI passed a resolution calling for the fair settlement of the Cobell vs. Norton lawsuit. The resolution points out the "government’s destruction of trust records."
It states the government "acted in bad faith and reneged on matters" which had been agreed to during five settlement negotiations.
NCAI opposed by resolution the nomination and confirmation of Interior Solicitor William G. Myers III, to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The resolution says Myers intervened and rescinded a denial of mine plan, which now places in peril sacred places of the Quechan Indian Nation.
NCAI, however, was not all serious business. With non-stop receptions each evening, there was still time to hear the hilarious Apache comedian Drew Lacapa talk about romancing his wife, watch Russell Means dance to the rock tunes of the Sneezy Boyz with his wife Pearl Daniels and dance to the jumpin’ Hopi reggae sounds of Casper.
Earlier, on the first day of NCAI, Democratic presidential hopefuls Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., were among those making a bid for Indian support.
Kerry promised to bring more jobs and businesses to Indian country, pointing out that in 1997 there were almost 200,000 Native-owned businesses, employing 300,000 and generating $34.3 billion in revenue.
Kerry said, "We are temporary occupiers of the land, really just passing through."
Retired General Wesley Clark addressed the issue of Homeland Security. He told NCAI that tribes are responsible for hundreds of miles of borders, missile sites, power plants, dams and other likely targets for terrorist attacks.
"So for the life of me, I cannot understand why the federal government has given first responder funding to states and municipalities, but hasn’t given a single penny of this funding directly to tribal governments."
Clark promised, if elected president, to fight for equitable funding and full consultation with tribal governments on homeland security.
However, outside NCAI’s session, delegates questioned the invasion of privacy rights under the Patriot Act and pointed out that Homeland Security author and general counsel Edward McNally is a member of the Skull and Bones Society. As reported in Indian Country Today, the Yale secret society, which the Bush family belongs to, admitted to Apache leaders in 1987 they have a skull which they call "Geronimo’s skull" in their secret tomb in Connecticut.
Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., told NCAI that he has worked hard in his home state of North Carolina with Indian tribes. Edwards vowed, as the other Democratic candidates, to uphold sovereignty and treaties, but added another dimension. He supported Indian water rights and Pueblo land rights in New Mexico.
"Tribal water rights must be respected," Edwards said.
Sen. Joe Lieberman’s slogan was, "First people must never be a second priority." Lieberman, D-Conn., vowed to shift money from Bush tax cuts for the wealthy into Native health care. He also promised to increase funding for tribal recognition efforts and strengthen the process of tribal recognition.
More than 3,000 were in attendance at the 60th Annual Convention held at the Albuquerque Convention Center Nov. 16 - 21. The trade show offered samples and information on a wide variety of Indian country needs, from computers and insurance to beef jerky, chocolates and sage oil. PGA pro Notah Begay was on hand to sign autographs and Rez-Robics offered videos of their workouts.
Brenda Norrell
This article originally appeared in Indian Country Today: http://www.indiancountry.com Republished with permission.
Please also see:
From Leonard Peltier to Tex Hall, a day in the life of NCAI;
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1070553637
Energy bill is omnicide, slow death for Indian people
Voices from the earth, filibuster;
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1070456626
Environmental justice movement sprang from their blood;
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1067456922
When Pauma burned, no one responded;
http://www.indiancountry.com/?1070456201