This morning was the Facebook/MeetThePress New Hampshire debate on NBC. I submitted the following question to the candidates. Unfortunately it was not selected to be one of the questions asked, but I would still like an answer. So I am sharing it again here.
IMMIGRATION REFORM AND NATIVE AMERICA:
I have traveled 2,500 miles to New Hampshire from my home on the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona to engage with voters and the candidates regarding the political voice of Native America. As President do any of the candidates intend to intentionally bring the Native American community into the conversation regarding Immigration Reform? To me it does not make any sense to attempt to reform our country's immigration law without first speaking to the indigenous people of this land. There is a Hopi village in Arizona named Oraibi, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in this country, settled around 1100 AD. I would think if our leaders were SERIOUS about reforming US Immigration law with integrity, they would be lining up to speak with the elders of that village. But instead they all seem to ignore the Native American voters. Even in Iowa where candidates cris-crossed the state to speak personally to as many people as possible, not a single one of them held a campaign event to speak with the only tribe to hold lands within that state, the Meskwaki Nation. I know, because I was there last week and personally spoke with members and leaders of that tribe.
After 400 years of intentional disenfranchisement is not the time past due to speak directly to the issues of the nearly 4 million Native American citizens of this country?
I am in the state of New Hampshire until Tuesday and will be happy meet any of the candidates anywhere in this state to engage with them on Native American issues.
