Kucinich on First Nations
From the First Nations for Kucinich page on the campaign website:
The Kucinich Plan to Strengthen Federal Policy Regarding American Indians and Alaska Natives
The past must be healed through Trust and Reconciliation in order for the federal government to establish a new level of trust with AI/AN now and in the future. The dominant culture does not pay much attention to the historic plight of the First Nations in our country. Indeed, racism regarding Native Americans remains a large issue. The lack of historic truths about war, wholesale killings, roundups, and relocations of Indian peoples, the Hollywood stereo-types in the movies, and current racial profiling keep the general public from a basic understanding of what Indian peoples are facing, and who they really are.
The federal Government has failed in its chosen responsibilities as a guardian of Indian resources and as a treaty partner. The mismanagement of Indian lands and Indian mineral rights is appalling. Forced to live on reservations, which inhibit their cultural practices because of land mass size and economic development because of location, tribes are forced into poverty which breeds low self esteem, resulting in other social problems on a large scale. The federal government has failed to live up to its treaties and to its responsibilities for the welfare of our First Nations.
As President, Dennis Kucinich will re-affirm the U. S. commitment to honor its treaties with tribal governments, to maintain strict adherence to tribal sovereignty, to increase funding for tribal programs, especially health care, housing, environmental protection and education. This Presidency will enforce existing laws and enact necessary laws for the following:
Protection of tribal cultural practices through environmental protection and natural resources conservation funding and tribal consultation
Protection of Sacred Sites through federal policies and legislation as required
Protection of historical sites and grave sites through strengthening the Native American Graves Protection Act, and greater consultation with tribes.
Protection of the Alaska Natives, and Indigenous Peoples everywhere from persistent organic pollutants and the effects of global warming through reduced emissions of hydrocarbons, adherence to the Kyoto Protocols, and an aggressive energy strategy that maximizes our country's development of renewable energy sources, energy efficient automobiles, and conservation.
As President, Dennis Kucinich will insure that incentives are built into all federal programs that will maximize the ability of tribal governments and tribal peoples to develop economic enterprises that will benefit Indian peoples and create jobs for America. The federal government will work tirelessly to insure that royalties are managed properly with full accounting to tribes and individual royalty owners, and that problems of the past are rectified.
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