If you can't make this event (or are reading this after) the Alaska Native Professional Association has a live Webcast of it, and will have a transcription and audio of it after the event. I'll post it when it comes on.
Showing posts with label native vote. Show all posts
Showing posts with label native vote. Show all posts
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Updates on politcs in Indian Country
If you're wondering how the stimulus is affecting tribal entities and other Native interests so far, Maia of Own the Sidewalk pointed out this excellent site a while back that I've now come to haunt:
Indian Country Works
It's put on by the National Congress of American Indians, and is excellent. I would love to say our own state has organized the information half as well...
And in the White House, Indian Country Today did an article about additional Native appointments being done, NOT just in the BIA, but other divisions of the government. They also honed in on EchoHawk, a bit of a controversial figure in Indian country, and Obama wants him for the BIA.
I still am wondering who's going to get that senior advisor position though. There has already been some decisions that I wish a Native senior advisor was in place for. I loved that this was a campaign promise in the first place, and since we've heard of various vettings for the position, I'm hoping it's more because he wants to do a careful job of this appointment than he's forgotten about it, or doesn't consider it as that important.
In the state Native politics arena, well.... all I can say is, "WAR! What is it good for?" and let you fill in the rest of that. And that WAR is Wayne Anthony Ross.
Palin's pick for AG is being heavily opposed by Native groups, including the Alaska Federation of Natives, and the house and senate hearings for him went on last week. If you're an Alaskan, I invite you to read some of the blogs I note below, and see if this is who you want as the top legal authority in this state. If not, e-mail, or call your legislators TODAY and let your voice be heard.
If you're not Alaskan, I invite you to read the blogs too. Look at the people Palin is trying to place in the top spots, and THEN try and visualize who she'd try and put in the top spots were she president.
Progressive Alaska (Phil did some excellent research, even pulling up old op-eds that WAR did)
Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis
The Immoral Minority
Mudflats
Bent Alaska
Meet Sarah!
Indian Country Works
It's put on by the National Congress of American Indians, and is excellent. I would love to say our own state has organized the information half as well...
And in the White House, Indian Country Today did an article about additional Native appointments being done, NOT just in the BIA, but other divisions of the government. They also honed in on EchoHawk, a bit of a controversial figure in Indian country, and Obama wants him for the BIA.
I still am wondering who's going to get that senior advisor position though. There has already been some decisions that I wish a Native senior advisor was in place for. I loved that this was a campaign promise in the first place, and since we've heard of various vettings for the position, I'm hoping it's more because he wants to do a careful job of this appointment than he's forgotten about it, or doesn't consider it as that important.
In the state Native politics arena, well.... all I can say is, "WAR! What is it good for?" and let you fill in the rest of that. And that WAR is Wayne Anthony Ross.
Palin's pick for AG is being heavily opposed by Native groups, including the Alaska Federation of Natives, and the house and senate hearings for him went on last week. If you're an Alaskan, I invite you to read some of the blogs I note below, and see if this is who you want as the top legal authority in this state. If not, e-mail, or call your legislators TODAY and let your voice be heard.
If you're not Alaskan, I invite you to read the blogs too. Look at the people Palin is trying to place in the top spots, and THEN try and visualize who she'd try and put in the top spots were she president.
Progressive Alaska (Phil did some excellent research, even pulling up old op-eds that WAR did)
Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis
The Immoral Minority
Mudflats
Bent Alaska
Meet Sarah!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Begich and the Native vote
Now, I'm an eye-roller when it comes to arguing about which group "really won it" for that candidate or another. But this article in the Alaska Report in November made me puff out my chest just a bit. A "look what we did..." kind of a moment.
The Begich Treaty - the Villages signed on with their votes
It's basically about how the Native vote in Alaska "gave him his narrow victory."
I disagree with the premise of it - I mean, would Begich have won without a pretty large section of the 84% of Alaskan voters who are not Native? Not to mention the incredible effort by the Obama campaign, working with the Begich campaign, to make this happen.
But it is still a proud moment for me, looking at the Native people who, in the end, came through for Begich. Native people have long backed "Uncle Ted" because, in the much-too-long-now past, he was a great supporter of Native issues (and I might add, not just a supporter of Native corporations.) He hasn't been that Ted in awhile, and I'm hopeful for the outcome of our new Sen. Begich, working with Sen. Murkowski who has been (surprisingly) pro-active on rural issues, with a president who had a general plan for Alaska Native involvement months and months ago, and a plan for Native American involvement well over a year ago.
(Emphasis by yours truly.) And he pulled in the urban Native vote as well. I love that the article also shows just why Begich could be so important for the Native people of Alaska. As a mayor, he did as much as a mayor could for Native people - mostly regarding racism and the "in-migration" from the villages (resources, transition.) But as a senator he will have much greater opportunity to fight for us in Washington.
In short, there are some pretty good reasons for Native people to be both proud of their vote, and optimistic about the political future.
The Begich Treaty - the Villages signed on with their votes
It's basically about how the Native vote in Alaska "gave him his narrow victory."
I disagree with the premise of it - I mean, would Begich have won without a pretty large section of the 84% of Alaskan voters who are not Native? Not to mention the incredible effort by the Obama campaign, working with the Begich campaign, to make this happen.
But it is still a proud moment for me, looking at the Native people who, in the end, came through for Begich. Native people have long backed "Uncle Ted" because, in the much-too-long-now past, he was a great supporter of Native issues (and I might add, not just a supporter of Native corporations.) He hasn't been that Ted in awhile, and I'm hopeful for the outcome of our new Sen. Begich, working with Sen. Murkowski who has been (surprisingly) pro-active on rural issues, with a president who had a general plan for Alaska Native involvement months and months ago, and a plan for Native American involvement well over a year ago.
Alaska Natives throughout Alaska listened to Begich, trusted him and gave him their votes. Despite Senator Ted Stevens' past record of accomplishment for rural Alaska , a record described in detail by Senator Lisa Murkowski, as she and other Senators bade Stevens a final farewell, every rural election precinct came through for Begich.
(Emphasis by yours truly.) And he pulled in the urban Native vote as well. I love that the article also shows just why Begich could be so important for the Native people of Alaska. As a mayor, he did as much as a mayor could for Native people - mostly regarding racism and the "in-migration" from the villages (resources, transition.) But as a senator he will have much greater opportunity to fight for us in Washington.
In short, there are some pretty good reasons for Native people to be both proud of their vote, and optimistic about the political future.
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