"On February 14, 2013, in Washington, D.C., Jefferson Keel (Chickasaw Nation) delivered his "State of the Indian Nations” address in his capacity as President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Although his talk was titled, “Securing Our Futures,” the theme woven into his speech seemed to be “Ensuring our Political Assimilation as Indian Nations.”

Let’s be clear. Jefferson Keel addressed his audience primarily from the viewpoint of the United States. In his opening, Keel addressed himself to “my fellow Americans,” and thereby gave the impression that Indian people are just one of many different kinds of “Americans.” He then said “all our vibrant threads” as Indian people “are woven into the fabric of America.” The word America is, of course, short for “the United States of America.” So, it is evidently his view that Indian nations have been “woven” into the United States.

Keel also referred to “America’s tribal nations,” the “possessive tense” apostrophe-s on America thereby depicting the United States as holding what he calls “tribal nations” as possessions. That Keel gave his address from the viewpoint of the United States is also found in his wording indicating that almost 25 percent of “America’s” on-shore oil and gas resources are found on “tribal lands.” (emphasis added). This frames the resources of Indian nations as rightfully belonging to the United States."

Get the Story:
Steven Newcomb: Jefferson Keel’s Message of Political Assimilation (Indian Country Today 2/22)

State of Indian Nation Links:
Video | Audio | Text of Speech | Sen. Cantwell Response

Related Stories:
Steven Newcomb: President Obama curtails civil rights in US (2/12)