Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-California). Photo from Facebook

A big U.S. Senate race in a state with more than 100 tribes has posed some troubling concerns for Native American Democrats in California.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-California) suffered a major stumble just days after announcing her campaign. She apologized for making an "offensive" statement and gesture at a private reception that was held during the California Democratic Party convention over the weekend.

"In the case of U.S. Representative and candidate Loretta Sanchez, her recent comments and mimicking of a cliché Indian war cry can only be described as insensitive and insulting," the California Democratic Party Native American Caucus said in a statement on Monday.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris (D). Photo from Facebook

But the caucus isn't happy with the other declared candidate either. Last October, Attorney General Kamala Harris submitted a brief in a lawsuit that seeks to diminish the boundaries of the reservation of the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

"Despite existing federal policy, without any effort to discuss the issue with CRIT and without concern to the facts, Attorney General Harris filed an amicus brief supporting an individual trespassing on tribal lands who refused to pay rent to the tribe," the caucus said. "This person is suing the tribe because he was evicted from the land on which he was squatting."

In her five years in office, Kamala has opposed at least 15 land-into-trust applications, Dave Palermo reported on Pechanga.net. She's currently representing the state in a closely-watched case that questions the status of land that was placed in trust for the Big Lagoon Rancheria more than a decade ago.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California). Photo from Facebook

The Native Democrats pointed out that Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California) has been an advocate for Native issues during her 10 years in the U.S. House and her 22 years in the Senate. She helped lead a successful fight that prevented the Bush administration from approving a gold mine on land sacred to the Quechan Nation.

"We are disappointed in the apparent lack of sensitivity and awareness that our current Senate candidates have for Native Americans," the statement read. "We extend an invitation to both Ms. Sanchez and Ms. Harris to personally meet with our California Native American Caucus and tribal leaders. They both should treat this as a learning opportunity and begin learning our history, our cultures and our issues. Without such an effort, we cannot expect informed decision-making and fair representation."

The election is more than a year away but Harris already collected $2.5 million in contributions in the first three months of her campaign, The Sacramento Bee reported. Sanchez entered the race with $540,000 in existing funds, The Hill reported. Other Democrats are also considering bids.

The California Democratic Party Native American Caucus is led by Chairwoman Mary Ann Andreas, a council member for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Vice Chairman Andrew Masiel, a council member for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. The full May 18 statement follows:

The California Democratic Party Native American Caucus has deep concerns regarding the actions of both declared candidates running for Senate in California.

We are dismayed by the lack of sensitivity to tribal issues and to Native Americans as individuals that we see in our announced candidates. Their comments and actions provide little assurance that they grasp the government-to-government relationship guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

In the case of U.S. Representative and candidate Loretta Sanchez, her recent comments and mimicking of a cliché Indian war cry can only be described as insensitive and insulting. The remarks were made at a private meeting not a Native American Caucus event as reported by members of the media. However, these comments coming from a longtime friend makes it doubly difficult.

In the case of candidate Kamala Harris, she has chosen to ignore the federal policy and legal findings of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Interior in a case concerning California lands held by the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT). Despite existing federal policy, without any effort to discuss the issue with CRIT and without concern to the facts, Attorney General Harris filed an amicus brief supporting an individual trespassing on tribal lands who refused to pay rent to the tribe. This person is suing the tribe because he was evicted from the land on which he was squatting.

California has benefitted from the presence and activism of Senator Barbara Boxer in her distinguished career in both the House of Representatives and in the Senate. The interests of all Californians, especially Native Americans, have been well served by her genuine efforts to learn about the first Americans and then to fight for their basic rights of self governance and self determination.

We are disappointed in the apparent lack of sensitivity and awareness that our current Senate candidates have for Native Americans. We extend an invitation to both Ms. Sanchez and Ms. Harris to personally meet with our California Native American Caucus and tribal leaders. They both should treat this as a learning opportunity and begin learning our history, our cultures and our issues. Without such an effort, we cannot expect informed decision-making and fair representation.

Related Stories:
Rep. Sanchez apologizes for insensitive remarks and gesture (5/18)
Non-Indian tenant plans to fight Colorado River Indian Tribes (02/19)
Judge backs Colorado River Indian Tribes in jurisdiction case (02/17)
Non-Indians refuse to pay rent to Colorado River Indian Tribes (01/15)
Jack Duran: State's 'shocking' attack on Big Lagoon Rancheria (09/30)
9th Circuit poses tough questions in Big Lagoon casino case (09/18)
9th Circuit takes up Big Lagoon Rancheria gaming land dispute (09/17)