Why Natives Should Vote for Barack Obama

Good bye "Great White Father."

Hello One Smart Brother.  With legal skills to boot!

Obama also believes that the problems that plague us, like the lack of good health care and good education, substance abuse, infant mortality rates and unemployment need to be addressed once and for all in an Oval Office meeting among our elected tribal leaders. Not only would he hold our lord and master, the Secretary of the Interior, responsible for our general welfare, but he would meet with our leaders every year to address problems in Indian Country. He has made this pledge to treat us not just as infant children, as every successive president has done, to be patted upon the head, but to be respected as Domestic Dependent Nations that we are as defined by the Marshall Trilogy.

Obama did not put one Native American on his transition team, his words are empty in my eyes.

 on an annual basis, with the [tribal] leadership and ensuring that there [are] relationships of dignity and respect. ...

Sandy:  One other issue with this aspect from Mr. Obama, he or his Administration can NOT FIX THIS ISSUE IN A ONCE A YEAR MEET AND GREET.  These are again, empty promises.  Our people need to be in key White House roles to take on the challenges that have caused great harm to the Native people.  To meet one time a year is foolish, does a business executive meet with his key executives and managers one time a year, ...... I think not, he would never meet the industry numbers for Wall Street...   Will you meet with your staff once per year to fix the banking issues?  Let's be frank, this will need attention for sometime to come, just like the American banking system does, we are just as important......   Mr Obama, let's see if you are any different, how about a Native American on your transition team and Key roles in the White House.  I have suggested lists.  I know that others have sent lists for your consideration.  We are smart, we are educated, and we can lead, how about the chance. There are many of the Native people that would be willing to help, if you are willing to act.  But they will not be figure heads, they will want action, they will want you to review the broken treaty words, and fix them, they will want lands restored, health care, education.  Many can not work because America put our Native people on reservations in the middle of nothing, we are for the most part, not near big cities.  But we are willing to work, we are willing to attend college, law school, grad schools.   Many Native people have left the reservations, have good jobs, but can not go back because there is no work on or near the reservations.