"I recently had two conversations with fellow Natives about the 2008 presidential election that I thought were noteworthy. First, while on a trip to Washington, D.C. I connected with Yup’ik and Haida friends and we discussed Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Their perspective was quite clear. They feel that 1) Palin has worked against the interests of Alaska Natives throughout her career and 2) her representation of the “First Dude” Todd Palin as an Alaska Native during the GOP National Convention was troubling. On this later point, they shared that Todd Palin’s connections to Native peoples is paper thin and that, tellingly, Governor Palin had never discussed her husband’s Native ancestry publicly prior to the GOP National Convention. Previously, she had merely referenced that her “children’s grandmother is part Yup’ik” which is quite different than saying “my children are Yup’ik” or “my husband is “Yup’ik”.

The second conversation was with a friend who shared that she has noticed a lot of members of the Indian Tribe on the reservation where she lives are supporting the McCain-Palin campaign because McCain is a veteran and Palin’s husband is “Native”. I find this rationale for American Indian voter support troubling. To be sure, Native people are extremely supportive of their veterans and veterans of all nations. However, to think that a politician is going to support tribes and Indian issues simply because they are a decorated veteran is naïve. Furthermore, because McCain is a long-time Arizona policy maker and AZ is a state with many tribal nations inside and straddling its borders, voters do not have to look hard to track down McCain’s record on American Indian policy. McCain and his chosen running mate both represent states heavily populated by Native people, yet neither has proven themselves supporters of Indian Country during their time in office."

Get the Story:
Opinion: McCain and Palin are “Old School” When it Comes to American Indian Policy (Turtle Talk 9/23)

Related Stories:
Turtle Talk: Sen. McCain and future of Indian law (9/22)
Newsweek: Gov. Sarah Palin's pipeline to nowhere (9/22)
Alaska's 'First Dude' active in state business (9/22)
Alaska Real: Todd Palin's indigenous roots (9/19)
Probe of Alaska Native official's firing awaits testimony (9/18)
Campbell: Gov. Palin supports Alaska Natives (9/17)
Gov. Palin attacks Alaska Native official's work (9/16)
Alaska Native named public safety commissioner (9/15)
Attorneys: Gov. Palin's record on Alaska Natives (09/09)
Palin billed state for living at home and family travel (9/9)
Editorial: Gov. Palin stalling on Troopergate probe (9/8)
Gov. Palin claims trooper disparaged Natives (9/4)
Column: Liberals smear 'drunken Indian' husband (9/3)
Governor's husband takes on role as 'First Dude' (9/3)
Fired Alaska Native cop not contacted by McCain (9/2)
McCain picks Alaska governor for running mate (9/1)
Sen. McCain to announce vice presidential pick (08/28)
Alaska lawmakers to probe firing of Native top cop (7/29)
Controversy continues over new Alaska top cop (7/25)
New Alaska top cop was accused of harassment (7/23)
Probe sought into firing of Alaska Native top cop (7/22)
Fired Alaska Native cop cites pressure from governor (7/21)
Alaska governor defends firing of Native top cop (7/18)
First Alaska Native public safety official fired (7/14)
Alaska Native appointed to state game board (2/11)
No Natives named to Alaska Board of Game (2/7)