Tribes, Navajo president, say Obama better for native groups
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 (thumbnails, captions below)
By MARIA KONOPKEN
Cronkite News Service
PHOENIX (Wednesday, Oct. 22) _ Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. and several other Native American leaders rallied support Wednesday for Barack Obama, saying the Democratic presidential nominee would do more for the health and economic well-being of native groups.
“We need to change things around,” Shirley said during an event at Obama’s Arizona campaign headquarters. “The rest of country out there is hurting. Native America is hurting. Navajo people, my people, are hurting.”
On Tuesday, the Navajo Nation Council voted 59-21 to endorse Obama.
Shirley, in town for the convention of the National Congress of American Indians, said the doors of the White House have been closed over the years not only to Navajos but to Native Americans in general.
“I think everything will change if Obama is elected,” Shirley said in an interview after he addressed a crowd of about 100.
“We are awaking our people,” Shirley said. “We are trying to get everyone, elders, relatives, young people, to go out and vote. I think this election we, my people and everyone including non-natives, can and will make a difference.”
Ned Norris Jr., chairman of the Tohono O’Odham Nation, which endorsed Obama in January, said Obama grew up knowing what it feels like to go hungry and do without.
“I felt the truth in his words,” Norris said. “I have sense his willingness to want change, his willingness to want to help people and his commitment to do so.”
Shirley, Norris and others said they hope tribes can help Obama defeat Republican nominee John McCain in his home state. But Fred Solop, a professor and chair of Northern Arizona University’s political science department, said the endorsements shouldn’t harm McCain’s chances in Arizona because the Navajo Nation and other tribes have historically favored Democrats.
“I think it does play something of a factor, but not as a whole,” Solop said.
Recent polls have shown McCain continuing to lead Obama in Arizona.
Ivette Barajas, Southwest regional communications director for the McCain campaign, asked a reporter to e-mail questions about Wednesday’s event. She had yet to respond by late Wednesday afternoon.
Wendsler Nosie Sr., chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, said Native Americans are responding in part to Obama’s promise to appoint someone to advise him on the needs of native groups.
“Our people are concerned with their future, and we need someone who is going to represent us and listen to our needs,” Nosie said. “I think Obama’s plan to put someone who represents us is something that is needed.”
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CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TRIBES-OBAMA: Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. speaks a rally Monday in Phoenix at which he and leaders of some other tribes articulated their support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Participants in the event, held at Obama’s Arizona campaign headquarters, said Obama would do a better job than Republican John McCain at representing the interests of native groups. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Maria Konopken)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TRIBES-OBAMA: Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. speaks a rally Monday in Phoenix at which he and leaders of some other tribes articulated their support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Participants in the event, held at Obama’s Arizona campaign headquarters, said Obama would do a better job than Republican John McCain at representing the interests of native groups. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Maria Konopken)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TRIBES-OBAMA: Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. attends a rally Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008, in Phoenix at which he and leaders of some other tribes articulated their support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. Participants in the event, held at Obama’s Arizona campaign headquarters, said Obama would do a better job than Republican John McCain at representing the interests of native groups. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Maria Konopken)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TRIBES-OBAMA: Ned Norris Jr., chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, speaks a rally Monday in Phoenix at which he and leaders of some other tribes articulated their support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. With him are Leonard Tsosie, a former state senator in New Mexico and Navajo Nation Council delegate, and Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Maria Konopken)