Obama and the Tribes
With three major news stories about American Indians recently, it was difficult not to feel at least a little bit like the center of attention. In part, the focus may be attributed to President Obama’s meeting with tribal leaders. This highly publicized event was a fulfillment of campaign promises and the speech was complete with noble ideas. The event, however, was coupled with news about marijuana busts on reservations and political awakening for indigenous peoples in Latin America.
It takes more than lofty rhetoric to woo American Indians, or at least it should. After centuries of false promises, betrayal, and outright genocide, pandering to American Indians should not be enough. While President Obama has made nice overtures to the marginalized community, intentions simply do not cut it here as they did for the Nobel committee. President Obama appointed Kimberley Teehee as a Native American advisor (perhaps she will soon more popularly be dubbed a czar). Unfortunately, her actual ability to act is rather murky. As an advisor, Teehee can really only coordinate and pass notes. The difficult questions of poverty on reservations, poor health care, marginal higher education opportunities, violence against women, and abundant stereotypes are probably areas that Teehee can only talk about, but perhaps we can hope she will be allowed to do a bit more than reside in a symbolic position?
The fact is President Obama made more campaign promises than he can possibly keep and so the constituents he can ignore will be ignored. Unfortunately, lofty speech is Obama's checking off the box for his promises to tribal peoples. If this is the disappointing truth, he cannot be blamed any more than any other official except this is not the change so many hoped for. The problem, however, is not with him. While it is true the US government should treat American Indians like it does other races and some argue should make an amends for past atrocities, the US government simply is not the native peoples guardian and the awakening in Latin America may energize the United States.
It takes more than lofty rhetoric to woo American Indians, or at least it should. After centuries of false promises, betrayal, and outright genocide, pandering to American Indians should not be enough. While President Obama has made nice overtures to the marginalized community, intentions simply do not cut it here as they did for the Nobel committee. President Obama appointed Kimberley Teehee as a Native American advisor (perhaps she will soon more popularly be dubbed a czar). Unfortunately, her actual ability to act is rather murky. As an advisor, Teehee can really only coordinate and pass notes. The difficult questions of poverty on reservations, poor health care, marginal higher education opportunities, violence against women, and abundant stereotypes are probably areas that Teehee can only talk about, but perhaps we can hope she will be allowed to do a bit more than reside in a symbolic position?
The fact is President Obama made more campaign promises than he can possibly keep and so the constituents he can ignore will be ignored. Unfortunately, lofty speech is Obama's checking off the box for his promises to tribal peoples. If this is the disappointing truth, he cannot be blamed any more than any other official except this is not the change so many hoped for. The problem, however, is not with him. While it is true the US government should treat American Indians like it does other races and some argue should make an amends for past atrocities, the US government simply is not the native peoples guardian and the awakening in Latin America may energize the United States.
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