{"id":3585,"date":"2020-10-26T07:58:21","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T12:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=3585"},"modified":"2024-10-24T14:53:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T18:53:00","slug":"former-director-of-bureau-of-indian-affairs-endorses-joe-biden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/10\/26\/former-director-of-bureau-of-indian-affairs-endorses-joe-biden\/","title":{"rendered":"Former director of Bureau of Indian Affairs endorses Joe Biden"},"content":{"rendered":"\"mikeblack\"\r\n
Michael S. Black served as director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and served as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in an acting capacity during the early years of the Donald Trump administration. Photo: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
Joe Biden is the only choice for Indian Country this November<\/div>\r\n
Monday, October 26, 2020<\/div>\r\n
By Michael S. Black<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nIndian Country is vast and tribal issues are complicated and wide ranging. The problems are real and sometimes heartbreaking. \r\n

<\/p>\r\n The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with 574 federally recognized Indian tribes and Indian Country needs a leader who respects Tribal Nations, respects and supports Tribal sovereignty, is empathetic about their issues and serious about providing the support and resources needed to solve them. We do not need a President who celebrates an individual who committed unthinkable atrocities on native people as Trump did recently by commemorating Columbus Day.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n I believe that Vice President Joe Biden is the leader and the President we need right now.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\"Joe\r\n

From left: Chairman Terry Rambler of the San Carlos Apache Tribe; Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California), the Democratic nominee for vice president; Chairman Ned Norris, Jr. of the Tohono O\u2019odham Nation; President Jonathan Nez of the Navajo Nation; Chairman Timothy L. Nuvangyaoma of the Hopi Tribe; Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Governor Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community pose at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 8, 2020. Photo by Adam Schultz \/ Biden for President<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nThere are many reasons why I am supporting Joe Biden this November. During my tenure as the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, I witnessed unprecedented consultation efforts with Tribal Administrations by the Obama-Biden Administration and a demonstrated a commitment to consult with tribal governments before taking actions that impacted them. \r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe Obama-Biden Administration worked collaboratively with Indian tribes like no previous administration had during my 30 years with the BIA. With the creation of the annual White House Tribal Nations Conference and the White House Council on Native American Affairs, the federal government finally meaningfully engaged with tribes. \r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe annual Conference and the White House Council brought the entire federal government to the table with Tribal Nations and showed their commitment to furthering the federal government\u2019s trust and treaty obligations. Biden has promised to immediately bring back the annual Conference and the White House Council in a meaningful way and has stated he will uphold tribal sovereignty and ensure the views and voices of Native Americans are heard when his administration makes decisions affecting their interest.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

"We need a uniter": Tribal leaders are endorsing Joe Biden for president as the Democratic candidate vows to reverse years of setbacks Indian Country has suffered under Donald Trump. @NativesForBiden<\/a> @JoeBiden<\/a> #NativeVote20<\/a> #BidenHarris2020<\/a> #Democrats<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/RD4x5MzghT<\/a><\/p>— indianz.com (@indianz) October 8, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>