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Obama on Native American Sovereignty: Just Lip Service?
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| Arbiter |
When it comes to the issues relevant to sovereign Native American tribes, Barack Obama has said all the right things (here.) But so have many politicians who have failed to deliver -- is Obama just like the rest of them, giving a little lip service to native issues as a sort of hat tip to their vote, which the democrats largely take for granted?
As an Obama skeptic, my natural inclination would be to say: "Yes, of course. What else?" But just in case there was any doubt on that matter, Obama seems to be making it pretty clear.
The Congressional Black Caucus, of which Obama is a member, seems to believe that the U.S. federal government has a right to force a soverign tribal nation to accept as members some individuals who have no family ties to the tribe whatsoever.
Tim Giago reports on the ongoing nonsense:
| quote: | The Congressional Black Caucus, in attacking the sovereign status of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, is placing in question and in jeopardy, the sovereign status of all Indian nations. At least that is the conclusion drawn by many tribal leaders across America.
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the CBC, of which Presidential Candidate Barack Obama is member, demanded that he support their efforts to deny federal funding to the Cherokee Nation. The letter reads:
When H. R. 2786, the Native American Housing and Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2007, was considered and passed the House Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and others insisted that the bill include a provision that would prevent the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma from receiving any benefits or funding under the bill until the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is in full compliance with the Treaty of 1866 and recognizes all Cherokee Freedman and their descendants as tribal citizens.
We understand that the Senate may be considering a version of this bill that does not include these critically important requirements. We are writing to advise you that the members of the CBC will not support, and will actively oppose, passage of a NAHASDA bill that does not include this limitation. We must send the unequivocal message to the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma that failure to provide full citizenship rights to the Cherokee Freedmen will have severe consequences.
This is probably the first time in history that a Congressional Black Caucus, or any other Black organization for that matter, has severely threatened not only the sovereign status of an Indian nation, but also the withholding of funds that could cause widespread damage to the citizens of an Indian nation.
The people of the Cherokee Nation exercised their democratic rights when 70 percent of them voted to extinguish the tribal citizenship to the Cherokee Freedmen. The Freedmen are former Black slaves that became a part of the Cherokee Nation under the provisions of the Treaty of 1866.
The bill was introduced by Representative Diane Watson (D-CA). Tribal leaders across America feel that this bill could threaten Indian housing nationwide. They also believe that this action by the Congressional Black Caucus could set a precedent where any Indian legislation could be threatened by any special interest group.
In a memo sent out by Indian activist Ron Andrade it was noted that Obama is also a member of the CBC. "Someone needs to ask him how he can reconcile his support of the Congressional Black Caucus and his rhetoric about supporting the sovereign status of tribal governments," Andrade wrote.
The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina met on Wednesday of last week in a joint tribal council meeting. At the meeting they denounced legislation that would cut federal funds to the Cherokee Nation unless the Freedmen are restored to citizenship. The Eastern Band of Cherokee would not be affected by the legislation.
A joint resolution issued after the meeting reads, "This alarming, inappropriate and unacceptable overreach could set a precedent that undermines the sovereign tribal governments throughout Indian country. These proposed legislative actions threaten to turn back the clock on hard-won rights and to cease a nation's right to exist."
It should be noted that California is one of the worst states in the Union where tribes are systematically removing and denying citizenship to members. Rep. Watson represents a voting district in that state. What has she done about this problem in her own district? And what about the rest of the Congressional Black Caucus? Are they not concerned that Indian people are often removed from tribes in California without even a democratic vote? Or will they only speak up when Black Americans are involved?
And the final question: What gives the Congressional Black Caucus the right to interfere in the internal affairs of an independent sovereign Indian nation?
These are all questions that every Native American leader and citizens should be asking every member of the CBC including presidential candidate Barak Obama.
And isn't ironic that the very word "Caucus" is derived from the Algonquin Indian language and means, "A group of people united to promote an agreed -upon cause."
When the CBC begins to use its power to go after some of the tribes of California for ejecting and denying citizenship to their members then, and only then, will their actions against the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma have the appearance of justice or otherwise their objectivity will always be in question to the sovereign people of the Indian nations. |
Mike Graham, founder of United Native America, also comments here:
| quote: | Native Americans across the country are getting fed up with the double talk coming from presidential candidate Barack Obama saying he supports the sovereign status of tribal governments while supporting the Congressional Black Caucus on several bills that include terminating federal recognition of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation.
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The CBC is creating a racial divide between Native Americans and African Americans over it's Federal action against an Indian Nation. Native Americans walked side by side with African Americans in the sixties for both groups civil rights movement. The CBC now sees fit to take a different road over unity between the two groups.
Native Americans are pointing out the lack of support and non-action from the CBC on Indian community issues before Congress over the past several years. The CBC stands firm on getting it's fair share of federal funding for inner-urban city support programs covering health, education, housing and poverty; while it's forty three caucus members block the Native American Housing and Self Determination Act now before the U.S. Senate. The CBC is blocking funding that would greatly help millions of First American Indian men, women and children to include care for the elderly.
The Native American Housing and Self Determination Act provide's Federal assistance for Native American tribes while also recognizing their right to tribal self-governance. Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. This is where political double talk gets it's meaning. While campaigning, Obama tells Native Americans he supports their full sovereignty tribal nation rights while supporting the CBC blocking funding and calling for the termination of an Indian Nation.
Obama and the CBC caucus are fully aware that the federal government today is still fighting in federal court not to honor promises made to disenrolled Utah Uinta Band of Indians, in fact federal officials have pushed to have their case dismissed. Congresswoman Watson, member of the CBC and calling for the termination of the Cherokee Nation has seen fit to turn her back on the disenrolled Uinta Band Indians to include disenrolled Indians in her own state of California that clearly have tribal documented blood quantum to their tribal nation.
The Cherokee Nation citizenship issue is before Tribal courts and Federal courts at this time. There should be no action from Federal elected representatives trying to block funds going to any Tribal Nation over their internal government policies voted on by their tribal citizens.
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List of CBC caucus Cherokee funding bills being blocked:
H.R.2786 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.02786:
H.R.2895 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.02895:
H.R.2824 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.02824:
H.R.3002 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.03002:
S.1200 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.01200:
(emphasis mine) |
Commentary posted in this blog does not paint a very bright picture of the CBC's record on Native American issues.
| quote: | The problems with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are not new. As Graham notes, Native Americans turned out to support black issues. However, that support has been repaid with silence, refusal to assist in issues that are of interest to multiple minorities, or,all too often, with outright attacks, as Graham chronicles here.
Many times in recent years the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) approached the CBC, to ask for their assistance on some important issues, including ones important to all minorities.. Not only did members of the CBC routinely refuse to meet with the delegates or stonewall them with silence, in some cases CBC members immediately put pressure on Congress to act against Native Americans.
One chief came home and reported that friendly congressmen had alerted NCAI members that CBC members, after being contacted, asked for meetings, or receiving letters and information packets, quickly activated lobbyists and began pressuring congresspersons to block any NCAI issues. In a quiet, personal moment, one delegate, speaking off the record, said wearily: "We get the message. The message is about black victimology, and the CBC intends to shut down our issues. Our message is about working together to fix problems and look forward; that makes us an enemy."
The Congressional Black Caucus even held a specific rally against the Cherokee Nation. Leading the calvary charge this time: Congresswoman Diane Watson, a black woman from California who frankly, doesn't know anything about Oklahoma, the Cherokees, the tribes, the history, or the treaties. She just saw a great chance for publicity and to attack Native Americans, who unfortunately many members of the Caucus see as competitors for entitlement. In fact, entitlement doesn't have a thing to do with native issues. |
Ouch. I really don't think we want to keep going down this road. But where is Obama, as a member of the CBC, stepping up to condemn these divisive politics and stand by his claims regarding his support of tribal sovereignty?
As of yet, nowhere to be found. The more things change, the more they stay the same, or so it would seem. Hopefully he'll step up soon and prove me wrong, but I'm sure not going to hold my breath... |
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| shaolin_Z |
Obama's a politician, it shouldn't be a surprise if he acts like one.
EDIT: That means he a hypocritical opportunist like the rest of them. The issue you brought up is legitimate and worthy of far more attention. |
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| Fir3start3r |
Woah...
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In a quiet, personal moment, one delegate, speaking off the record, said wearily: "We get the message. The message is about black victimology, and the CBC intends to shut down our issues. Our message is about working together to fix problems and look forward; that makes us an enemy."
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yea...I'd remain anonymous with that quote too...yikes! :eyes:
/but one certainly has to wonder with those kinds of actions (or inactions as it were) of CBC's... |
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