Jodi Rave: Sen. Obama first to visit reservation
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Filed Under:
Politics
"The
Crow Nation welcomed
Sen. Barack Obama on Monday afternoon before thousands of people, marking the Democratic presidential candidate's first campaign visit to a U.S. reservation.
“It was exciting - you felt like you were a part of history, where you can be a part of change that matters, that we matter,” said Del Laverdure, a Crow tribal attorney who attended the rally on the Crow Reservation.
Obama spoke to a estimated audience of 4,000 people, mostly Native, who arrived at Crow Agency in southeastern Montana. The event was open to the public at the tribe's Apsaalooke Veterans Park. Crow elder Barney Old Coyote, one of the most decorated Native veterans in the country, provided the opening prayer.
*
Before Obama spoke, Crow Tribal Chairman Carl Venne asked the presidential candidate to support three proposals on behalf of Indian Country, including defending indigenous rights worldwide, appointing a Native to lead the Interior Department and honoring treaty concessions. Obama was invited to visit the tribe's homeland after leaders of the Crow, or Apsaalooke, decided to endorse the Illinois senator last week.
When he took the stage, Obama announced he was proud to have been adopted - in Crow tradition - by the Black Eagle family. And he was also given a Crow name, which translates as “That Person Who Goes Throughout Our Land And Tries To Help People,” said Laverdure.
Obama's visit to the Crow Reservation marks an unusual presidential campaign foray into tribal lands. Bobby Kennedy is arguably the last known presidential candidate to do so, campaigning on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation in 1968. He was assassinated the same year in California."
Get the Story:
Jodi Rave: Crow ask Obama to support indigenous peoples
(The Missoulian 5/20)
Related Stories:
The Native Voice: On the trail with Sen. Obama
(5/19)
Oregon Tribal Leaders: Why we support Sen. Obama
(5/19)
Sen. Obama to hold rally on Crow Reservation
(5/19)
Sen. Clinton reiterates
Indian health support (5/16)
Bill
Clinton campaigns on Pine Ridge Reservation (5/15)
Jodi Rave: A candidate for the youngest generation
(5/15)
Jodi Rave: Clinton and Obama
court Indian vote (5/14)
Clinton and
Obama eye Indian vote in South Dakota (5/14)
Column: Russell Means predicts Obama win in 2008
(5/14)
Bill Clinton to campaign on Pine
Ridge Reservation (5/13)
South Dakota
Indians back Clinton for president (5/12)
Indian superdelegate backs Obama for president
(5/12)
Cherokee chief praises Obama as
'good president' (5/12)
New Mexico
selects Indian superdelegate (5/9)
Kevin
Abourezk: Obama and McCain on Indians (5/9)
Counting the Indian vote in North Carolina
(5/8)
Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton share
primary victories (5/7)
Jodi Rave: Obama
secures Indian superdelegates (5/6)
Sen.
Obama welcomes Kalyn Free's endorsement (5/6)
Clinton and Obama back Lumbee recognition (5/6)
Superdelegate Kalyn Free endorses Sen. Obama
(5/5)
Abourezk: Crow man spreads Obama's
message (5/2)
Jodi Rave: Chippewa Cree
woman in Clinton camp (04/25)
Jodi Rave:
Montana tribal leaders back Obama (4/24)
Clinton wins primary in Pennsylvania (4/23)
Indian baby gets face time with Obama and
Clinton (4/21)
Kevin Abourezk: Crow man
to help Obama in Montana (4/21)
Jodi
Rave: Clinton campaign falters on Indian policy (4/17)
Kevin Abourezk: Tom Daschle for vice president?
(4/14)
South Dakota tribal leaders
endorse Obama (4/11)
Indian lawmaker in
Montana backs Sen. Obama (4/11)
Opinion:
No defense for Obama's pastor Wright (4/10)
Indian lawmaker rescinds Obama endorsement
(4/8)
Indian superdelegate from Montana
backs Obama (4/7)
Jodi Rave: Clinton and
Obama make Indian pledges (4/7)
Lumbees
excited about Bill Clinton campaign visit (4/3)
Copyright © Indianz.Com
Subscribe