Philadelphia, PA (August 10, 2024) — Native American advocates and organizers will be paying close attention to the first and only scheduled presidential debate tonight, looking to the candidates for their policy views on issues that Native peoples care about most. The following statement from Judith LeBlanc (Caddo), executive director of Native Organizers Alliance and NOA Action Fund, can be quoted in-full or in-part.
“Both candidates, Trump and Harris, have records on Tribal issues during their time in office, and it’s a mixed bag. From day one in office, President Trump fast-tracked oil pipeline construction and decreased the Bears Ears National Monument, a sacred place to many Tribes. Vice President Harris has a mixed record as a California prosecutor, incarcerating a disproportionate number of Native Americans and Alaska Natives and arguing on behalf of the state against the rights of sovereign nations.
Both candidates have also responded to Native and Tribal community concerns.The Biden-Harris administration instituted welcome measures to uphold Tribal sovereignty. Following pressure from Native organizations, grassroots advocates, and Tribes, President Biden selected the first Native woman, Deb Haaland, to serve in the role of Secretary of Interior, and signed an executive order directing federal agencies to improve their tribal relations and consultation process. The Trump administration launched the first-ever Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Indian Country will be watching tonight to see where the candidates stand on the issues they value the most. Candidates should not make assumptions about where Native voters stand; their support for either party is not a sure thing.
Accountability is key. Campaign promises are one thing, but we want to hear specifics and policies. It is not enough for candidates to drop in to visit Tribal nations and make promises. Our people want to see action from these candidates.
The most recent Indigenous Futures Survey found that Native voters care deeply about tribal sovereignty, racial economic disparities, and environmental protections. We want to hear how Trump and Harris plan to address these issues. We are also very aware of ongoing threats to democracy and the rise of authoritarian measures at all levels of government. Candidates must address their intentions for upholding a multi-racial democracy and mend the damage of past actions in attacks on our democracy.
Tonight we will be watching to see whether these candidates make commitments to uphold sovereignty, protect sacred places, invest in Indian Country, and honor a strong federal-tribal partnership.
The candidates should not take the Native vote for granted. In 2020, record Native voter turnout made the difference in the battleground states of Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Some have thought that the Native vote is statistically insignificant. We proved in 2020 that the margin of victory is slim and our vote is politically significant and shouldn’t be overlooked.”