Republican president-election Donald Trump on the campaign trail. Photo from Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
Indian Country might be reeling from the victory of Republican Donald Trump but Lynn Armitage, a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, who joined the president-elect's Native American Coalition thinks he deserves a fair shot to get things done:
I have heard that many Natives, as well, are worried and in despair over a Trump presidency. Please be patient and give our new president-elect a chance. He is a builder. He is a fixer. He is a job-creator. Have faith that he will build, fix and stimulate the economy of this country—and he will have the best interests of Indian Country at heart, too. Believe it or not, Native Americans have a lot in common with the stomped-on middle class, in that both populations have felt disenfranchised for quite some time. As activist filmmaker Michael Moore said to Democrats on his Facebook page after the election, “…you were in a bubble and weren't paying attention to your fellow Americans and their despair," he writes. "YEARS of being neglected by both parties, the anger and the need for revenge against the system only grew." You’ll be happy to know that candidate Trump reached out to Native Americans during the campaign. Deswood Tome, former chief of staff for the Navajo Nation, earned the attention of the Trump team with a letter he wrote concerning sovereignty and the citizenship of Native Americans. That gutsy letter resulted in an hour-long conference call with Trump’s national advisers and 93 top Native leaders to discuss tribal issues—before Trump was overwhelmingly elected. While Tome acknowledges that Indian Country has many priorities to work on with the White House, he believes relinquishing federal control over tribes and redefining citizenship should be at the top of the heap.Read More:
Lynn Armitage: All I Am Saying Is Give Trump a Chance (Indian Country Today 11/19)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Republicans
get behind Trump as new challenges emerge for tribes (11/18) James Giago Davies: Expect more of the same with Donald Trump (11/18)
Sacred land protection efforts face questions with Donald Trump (11/18)
Blackfeet Nation scores victories on sacred sites and water rights (11/17)
Native Sun News Today Editorial: Keep Sarah Palin far away from Bureau of Indian Affairs (11/17)
Native women lead massive march to White House to stop Dakota Access Pipeline (11/16)
Democracy Now: A White nationalist joins Republican Donald Trump in the White House (11/14)
Army Corps still won't issue easement for Dakota Access Pipeline (11/14)
Indian Country prepares for a new jolt on Dakota Access Pipeline (11/14)
Tim Giago: Tribes stand at major crossroads with Donald Trump in office (11/14)
Tribes working to protect Indian health with Donald Trump in office (11/11)
Tribes brace for change with Republicans in control in Washington (11/10)
Jenni Monet: What the Trump victory means for Standing Rock (11/10)
Rep. Cramer confirms Donald Trump's embrace of Dakota Access Pipeline (11/10)
Quinault Nation calls for tribal inclusion in Donald Trump's transition team (11/09)
Navajo Nation leaders congratulate Donald Trump on big victory (11/09)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe calls on President Obama to reject Dakota Access Pipeline amid uncertainty (11/09)
Doug George-Kanentiio: The war on Natives and our Earth begins (11/09)
Dakota Access Pipeline stands to gain with Donald Trump in the White House (11/09)
Republican Donald Trump secures huge victory in stunning upset (11/09)
Lynn Armitage: Trump supporters in Indian Country must speak up (11/7)
Tribes remain cautious amid Dakota Access Pipeline uncertainty (11/03)
Donald Trump touts Indian Country supporters but offers no policy (11/02)
Republican Donald Trump invested in Dakota Access Pipeline (10/27)
Dakota Access ramps up spending on lobbying and politicians as battle continues (10/25)
Donald Trump embraces big energy projects like Dakota Access Pipeline (10/24)
