News from the National Congress of the American Indian
Originally published in Native American Times
IT'S TEX: NCAI numbers are in
A close presidential race
ALBUQUERQUE NM
Geneva Horsechief 11/20/2003
By Geneva Horse Chief
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—By a slim thousand, Tex Hall is able to keep his presidential seat for the National Congress of the American Indian. His only opposition Ernie Stensgar, Couer d’Alene, won 40 percent of the peoples votes.
This election year, NCAI vice president Joe Garcia, San Juan Pueblo, ran unopposed.
NCAI secretary incumbent, Juana Majel-Dixon from the Pauma-Yuma nation won more than half the votes to keep her seat. Brian Wallace was her only opposition.
Ron Allen from the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe beat two opponents for NCAI treasurer. He ran against Tina Dansforth, and Nora McDowell.
The race for the presidents seat
Presidential campaigns were heavy hitting this year both candidates brought decades of leadership experience and NCAI membership support.
A U.S. presidential election year, widespread anti-sovereignty movements, trust reform, and federal appropriations still missing the mark in the Indian country are priority reasons for Tex Hall’s campaign to keep his presidential seat for the National Congress of the American Indian.
Hall said his accomplishments during his current administration should demonstrate the leadership he brings to the forefront of several issues affecting the diverse nations who comprise Native America.
“We’re ran again because we have a good message and a good track record,” he said.
Hall’s track record includes highly public opposition to Supreme Court rulings that infringe on sovereignty rights for tribes and immediate reaction to individual attacks on sovereignty rights.
“In the case of U.S. v. Lara, a non-tribal member committed a violent crime against a tribal member of the Spirit Lake Nation and now the tribe is prosecuting. It’s a double jeopardy situation according to the last ruling by a judge. This is a litmus test for tribal sovereignty. Non-tribal members commit Sixty-six percent of abuse cases against Native American women and children. We need to have the ability to protect our people,” he said about the precedence of the case.
Almost every issue Hall has addressed and said he would address during his campaign always come back to sovereignty rights. This circle of related issues has carried through to the theme of this year’s NCAI convention, “Sovereign Nations, One Enduring Voice.”
Hall also said he would continue to push for more tribal input on trust reform.
"This accounting needs to go back to 1887. I think it's the only way for the U.S. to remedy an issue that is apparent to the American public," he said.
Two more key issues he intends to address are federal appropriations and the Native Vote 2004.
"The average American in many parts of the country will receive $7,000 for health care this year. In Indian country there are places where many Indians will receive about $800. Some places some people might receive $1,300. Congress needs to address this misappropriation," he said about findings from a report, "A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet needs in Indian Country," by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
The recent epidemic of anti-sovereignty movements throughout the nation and the recent gubernatorial election of Arnold Schwarzanegger for California are stark examples of the need for Native votes Hall said. U.S. Presidential candidates who spoke at the NCAI convention impressed Hall first because the responded to the call and they were aware of many Indian issues.
Presidential candidate Congressman Dennis Kucinich impressed Hall.
"He said once we apologize to Indian nations then we can begin to heal," he said of Kucinich's remarks. "There are candidates like this who need Indian votes."
Hall said NCAI's "Native Vote 2004" campaign will include proactive measures including door to door registering of every potential voter, pushing for federal and state elections to be held simultaneously and for tribal members to be able to use tribal identification if they don't have a state issued driver's license.
For more information about the NCAI elections or NCAI go to their Website at www.ncai.org.
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