"Sen. John McCain exploded onto Indian Country's radar this week, promising to create a tribal government position within the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

During a meeting with the All Indian Pueblo Council and Navajo Nation delegates on Monday, the Republican presidential candidate stressed the need for all presidential candidates this year to support Native issues.

"Senator McCain pledged his support to Indian Country and our right to self-governance," said Joe Garcia, president of the National Congress of American Indians and chairman of the Pueblo council, in a news release.

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continued their tours of Indian lands in Montana and South Dakota this week in preparation for Tuesday's primaries in those states. Native people in those states are expected to play important roles in deciding which candidate wins.

But despite the attention given to Indians in Montana and South Dakota, McCain's pledge of support on Monday is important to note as his most public declaration of support for Native causes this election season.

McCain's pledge also raises the question of his history on Native issues."

Get the Story:
Kevin Abourezk: McCain Pledge Puts Candidate On Indian Radar (RezNet News 5/30)

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