Jacqueline Keeler: Bernie Sanders outlines Indian policy goals


Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on the campaign trail. Photo from Facebook

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is launching an Indian policy group and Jacqueline Keeler has more on the four overarching promises being made by the Senator from Vermont:
Nicole Willis, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, and the former deputy director of First Americans at Obama for America is the new Native American advisor to the campaign.

“In the area of policy, Native America deserves to be courted,” Willis told teleSUR.

The main commitments Sanders made to “Indian Country” (as Native Americans often call it) include:

1. Within 100 days of his presidency Sanders has pledged to convene a climate change summit and to include Native American representation.

2. Affirm and expand Native American nations’ gains in the last couple of years. Not just supporting initiatives like Obama’s Generation Indigenous but to secure funding for this programs.

3. Expanding and protecting tribal rights to jurisdiction.

4. Continue the White House Tribal Nations Conference and retain a Native American policy advisor as begun under Obama’s administration.

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Jacqueline Keeler: Bernie Sanders Courts Native American Voters (teleSUR 2/14)

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