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Navajo president attends Kerry rally in N.M.
Tuesday, February 3, 2004

News from the Navajo Nation Office of the President.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., February 2 - Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, Jr., took the opportunity today while on a visit with Democratic Presidential hopeful, Senator John Kerry at the University of New Mexico Campus, to encourage the Native America to vote.

Shirley also announced that he along with NCAI President, Tex Hall are aggressively campaigning for the Native Vote that matched with his Navajo Nation efforts with Navajo Nation Speaker Lawrence Morgan. The two signed a proclamation last week, encouraging the Navajo vote.

Shirley said, “We can make a difference. Our voice is strong, let’s use it.”

President Shirley said, “Native America is not at the table with anything with this administration. It is time for a change.” He continued, “Native Nation’s have not even been afforded an audience with President Bush, there is no excuse for that.”

In a meeting with Kerry, President Shirley said, “There are a myriad of issues the Navajo Nation and other Native American Nations are being confronted with across the land and, it seems no one is listening.”

President spoke of a President supported by Native Nations as: • The Native American Nations are looking for a President, who will honor the Treaties between the Native American Nations and the United States.
• The Native American Nation’s are looking for a President, who will not allow Congress to abdicate the Trust Responsibility of the United States.
• The Native American Nations are looking for a President, who will appoint a Native American to a high-level position in the White House.
• The Native American Nations are looking for a President, who will acknowledge and recognize Native Americans for their contributions to the United States government. Many lives of Native Americans have been lost in fighting the wars of the United States.
• The Native American Nations are looking for a President, who will not allow Congress to cut back monies set aside for services under the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Currently, there are plans underway to cut back by $40 million dollars.
• The Native American Nation’s are looking for a President, who will not allow Congress to cut back program monies under the Indian Health Services Program.
• The Native American Nations are looking for a President, who will work with the Tribes to reorganize the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and make it accountable in caring for the monies of Individual Native Americans under the Bureau’s Individual Monies trust accounts. The Native Americans need to have a say. Bureau of Indian Affairs program monies cannot be used for the reorganization.
• The Native American Nations are looking for a President, who will make amendments to the Uranium Radiations Exposure Compensation Act, and put more monies into it for compensation.

“The Native American Nations are on a National Campaign to get out the votes of the Native Americans in the upcoming 2004 elections. Native Americans want to make a difference, and we WILL make a difference!”

The Presidential Preference Elections are tomorrow, February 03, 2004 in Arizona and New Mexico.

Relevant Links:
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org