Past, present Indigenous elected leaders endorse Kamala Harris • Source New Mexico

CHICAGO — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren had just gotten done with a media interview in the buzzing hallway outside the Native American Caucus meeting. He was wearing his unmistakable flat brim hat, a feather tucked in the band on the right side, and a turquoise necklace.

“I think as a delegate, I have to endorse VP Harris, so it’s an honor to be a delegate,” Nygren said with a smile. “It’s an honor to see her as the next president of the United States.”2024

Several former, and present Indigenous elected officials — representing local, state, federal and tribal governments — endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris during the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago.

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney Butler is a member of the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee, as well as several other Native American organizations. Butler believes that another Trump presidency would negatively impact the progress made for Indigenous nations under the Biden administration.

“People are talking like there’s a choice, and there really is no choice,” Butler told ICT. “It’s a question of what’s right for Indian Country, and just looking back on the last four years of what this administration has done, as generational impact, and to think that that’s up for debate. I had to be here to make our voices heard and support Kamala (Harris) and Governor Walz.”

Gila River Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis welcomed Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff to his nation’s land in 2023. Harris heard directly from his community, located just outside what is now known as Phoenix, and this engagement made a difference for him.

“They met with tribal veterans. They met with our tribal youth,” Lewis said. “They talked about how important it is for partnership, for respect of the tribal trust responsibility, and tribal sovereignty. That spoke so directly and so strongly to all those that were there on the Gila River Indian community — to our elders, to our youth.”

Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids, Ho-Chunk, is concerned about the outcome of this year’s presidential election.

“We have to beat Donald Trump,” Davids told ICT. “I’ve been working really hard, of course, to keep my seat, and make sure that we’re doing everything we can to win the House majority.”

The Democratic Party has a majority in the U.S. Senate but not in the U.S. House, which has become a hurdle for Biden’s administration to overcome when it comes to passing legislation.

Davids hopes that a Harris presidency would build upon the work already done by the Biden administration.

“I think one of the most effective ways that we can ensure that Native people, and tribal governments, and tribal communities have a voice at the table is to participate as much as we can in this election,” she said. “I want to make sure that we not only defeat Donald Trump, but that we also keep the issues that affect Indian Country at the forefront.”

Former North Dakota State Rep. Ruth Buffalo, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, has followed along as Harris’ knowledge on Indigenous nations has grown and changed over the last decade.

“I believe she is a strong leader. I’ve watched her progress over the years in terms of working more with tribes and tribal sovereignty,” Buffalo said. “I know that when people visit communities, and build meaningful relationships, then their knowledge bandwidth grows too.”

Another plus for Buffalo is that Harris has a history of prosecuting violent crimes against women and girls.

“Just being born into a unique political relationship, and status with the federal government, we have to find ways to have advocates, and champions that can help carry our message forward, so that we can address the long standing issues like missing and murdered,” Buffalo said.

Current North Dakota State Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, Mandan and Hidatsa, was a big supporter of President Joe Biden and his reelection campaign.

“Biden is actually the one that I supported, because he’s done so much for where I’m from, on the environment, and all the policies that we have been fighting for, for the past 15 years, because we live with oil and gas,” Finley-Deville said. “He has done tremendous things for us.”

Biden took a major step back and his presence at the convention has been minimized. There hasn’t been much talk about Biden beyond messaging of passing the torch to Harris and appreciation for stepping down as the Democratic presidential candidate.

Finley-DeVille hopes that Harris continues to learn about the hundreds of treaties signed between the federal government and tribal nations that predate the creation of the United States.

Former Alaska state Rep. Charles Degnan, one of the many who pushed Congress to pass the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, believes that Democratic politicians have historically cared more about small, rural communities.

Degnan is from Unalakleet, Alaska — located in the western part of the state on the coast of the Bering Sea — that is only accessible by plane. It’s home to 765 people, 637 of whom are American Indian and Alaska Native, according to the U.S. Census.

He’s supporting Harris-Walz with the hope that their administration will address issues that rural Alaska communities face.

“Climate change is really important to us. We’re right there, and it’s changing the whole state of Alaska, and it has a big impact,” Degnan said. “Small communities need infrastructure. New houses haven’t built because everything is so expensive. The Post Office keeps raising rates, and the only way we get mail in small communities is by air. So it really has a big impact.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, who represents the entire state of Alaska, has yet to endorse Harris, or any political candidate. Alaska just had their primary election Aug. 20 and Peltola will be on the November ballot.

On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, addressed the Native American Caucus and spoke highly of Harris.

“Kamala Harris will be amazing. It’s pretty awesome to think about electing the first woman president,” Haaland said. “But that’s not all she is. She understands what struggle means. Nothing was given to her on the silver platter. She had to work while she was in college. She had to take care of a sick parent. She was raised by a single mom like my child was. She understands.”

Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night.