"Before any other candidates can lick their lips and announce their candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., three chairperson's of North Dakota's Sioux Nations have reluctantly given their full support to the current Republican governor who might be a shoe-in candidate in this year's election.

I'm sure in Indian Country, many of us know this is a premature decision by the chairpersons of the Three Affiliated Tribes, the Spirit Lake Nation and the Standing Rock Reservation. It seems, one might be a little more observant of the platform of other candidates before making a final decision.

Interestingly, though, I wonder how the Indian leaders have come to the conclusion of supporting a Republican candidate. Last month I publicly asked Gov. Hoeven in an article what will he do for the American Indian population if he were to win the seat being vacated by Byron Dorgan. I never did receive an answer from the governor. Maybe he has to think about it a little more. Byron, we know, has done quite a bit for American Indians while he was in Congress. I'm assuming the supportive Sioux Nation leaders do know, first-hand what Hoeven's intentions will be."

Get the Story:
Delvin Cree: Too hasty with endorsement (The Minot Daily News 2/17)

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