Muslims For Kucinich

From the campaign's issues page on Native Americans:

Comprehensive American Indian Policy
American Indians and Hawaiian and Alaskan Natives

1. Sovereignty
Many people in this country have forgotten that Native Americans constitute this country's First Americans, and their tribes our First Nations. We all need to remember that Indian tribes are sovereign nations and treaties between the tribes and the federal government are treaties between sovereign equals. First and foremost, I would honor our treaties with our First Nations.

My administration will offer all First Nations an official apology for the past injustices of the United States of America toward native peoples. We cannot work together now and in the future until we reconcile the past. This healing needs to take place.

Over time, Congress and the Supreme Court have eroded the sovereignty of tribes as nations. I look to Indian leaders to help me better understand these issues and help me develop appropriate remedies that will allow tribes to more fully protect tribal lands and tribal members from erosion of the powers of tribal courts. Search and seizure by states on Indian lands without tribal court approval, and violence against Indian women by non-Indians are two examples, out of many, that deserve attention and reforms. As President, I will utilize executive orders, congressional acts, and court appointments to erode the encroaching authority of states and the federal government over tribal sovereignty.

It is clear to me that since the treaty times, and even since the 1970's when tribal government and sovereignty was restored, the federal government is on a conscious path toward the assimilation of Indian nations into the dominant society of the colonists. I do not support this policy of incremental destruction of Indian tribes in our country. In that spirit, I would streamline the recognition process for deserving tribes still seeking federal recognition.

2. Government-to-Government Relations
As President, I will work to strengthen the ability of federal agencies to consult with tribal governments, as sovereign nations, whenever rule-making or other agency activities affect or are of interest to tribes. I will consult with Indian leaders regularly to ensure that my administration is meeting the needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Hawaiian Natives. I will honor the Clinton era Executive Order requiring federal agencies to develop Indian consultation policies and maintain government-to-government relationships with tribes.

3. Trust Funds
The trust fund is only as good as the people managing it. I would overhaul the system to ensure accountability now and in the future. I will work to expedite a settlement of the Cobell vs Norton case in a manner that brings equity and justice to all Indian people that have been wronged in the past by fraudulent accounting on all levels of the bureaucracy.

4. Economic Development
I understand that it is difficult to start a business without first having the right amount of capital on hand to succeed. This is why economic development is slow for Indian nations. Banks are not inclined to loan money to tribes or private corporations for enterprises on Indian lands.

The federal government must take the initiative to ensure that worthy projects will be funded, either by grants or loans, at levels that will reasonably assure success. Assistance with economic development, leading to sustainable self-sufficiency of tribes, must be the paramount feature of our federal Indian policy. I will work with tribal leaders, through consultation, to identify mechanisms to be put into effect that assist tribes with their economic goals. We will work together to ensure that this becomes reality.

5. Gaming
I see the current process of compacts as infringing on tribal governments, which are sovereign governments. States have too much control over the process and governance of casinos. As President, I will work with tribal leaders to implement an Indian gaming development process that acknowledges the sovereignty of tribal governments, while also respecting the gambling laws of states.

6. Energy Development
The Federal government has failed in its responsibilities as a guardian of Indian resources and as a treaty partner; the mismanagement of Indian mineral rights is appalling. The mineral resources owned by tribes and tribal members are theirs to use as they deem necessary. By protecting tribal sovereignty and the trust fund, tribal governments will be able to use these resources free from the injustices of the past.

I would like to emphasize, however, the legacy of health and environmental problems from the extraction and production of uranium and fossil fuels. I am not in favor of building more nuclear power plants and more coal fired power plants, at this time. I believe that we should launch a national program to maximize energy conservation and renewable energy systems to eliminate the need for these polluting facilities that harm the health of local people, the environment, and contribute to global warming. I will ensure that the U.S. ratifies the Kyoto Treaty on global warming. Uranium, oil and coal reserves should be held in reserve for times of real need; this is not the time.

7. Housing
Tribal housing authorities require better funding levels. Tribal people could receive training for home repairs and receive funding for helping others. The current system is too slow, under funded and under staffed. As President, I will work with tribal leaders to ensure adequate housing for all, with a program that will instill pride in home ownership.

8. Indian Health Service Funding
I understand that current data proves that funding per Indian in the federal health care system is lower than the funding per patient expenditures for federal prisoners; in fact, half the amount. This injustice must be solved by increasing the level of funding above the current substandard level to match the highest levels in the system. However, infrastructure and manpower needs of the Indian Health Service needs to be met in order to ensure better quality and faster service for Indian patients. Funding levels must also ensure that Indian Health Clinics are able to conduct research on health trends of their patients and make regular reports to the tribes they serve.

Under my plan for a universal, single-payer system of health insurance for all, Native Americans would receive the same high-quality health care as will all Americans. Additionally, I would expect to see a significant increase in the number of Native Americans in the health care field as my plan for free education, from pre-K through college, will make it possible for more Native Americans to become physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals.

9. Education
As President, I will provide for free education to all, from pre-kindergarten through college. I will strengthen funding and capacity of tribal colleges and increase the numbers of tribal colleges, elementary and secondary schools serving tribes and Indian populations. I will also encourage the training of more Indian teachers through an economic incentives program.

Education is the only solution proven to reduce poverty levels. This conclusion is backed by thousands of national studies. Given the opportunity, virtually all peoples embrace education and training as a proven path out of poverty.

10. Homeland Security
Certainly in the border areas tribes need to be an integral part of our homeland security program. Tribal staff and governments should have equal opportunity to training and participation within the system, and play an important role in our security. I think, however, that homeland security is more than just a border issue. All tribes should be full participants in our homeland security system. Tribes should be funded to train and participate as federal partners for the protection of all Americans. As President, I will ensure that tribes are adequately funded and trained to serve our nation in this capacity.

11. Crime Rates on Indian Land
Certainly funding for tribal law enforcement staff and infrastructure is a very important element of this problem. As President, I will ensure that funding is adequate to the needs of tribes. On the other hand, this crime rate is all but certainly symptomatic of poverty, high unemployment, low education levels, and despair. I will work with tribes to increase economic development opportunities on Indian lands, and increase funding for education programs.

I have also sponsored a bill that will create, for the first time in our country, a Department of Peace. This department will not only deal with foreign policy initiatives, but will work to solve the issues of violence in our streets, reservations, and homes. Economic opportunity, education, and family counseling services, along with law enforcement, will be my approach to solving these problems, in addition to encouraging local approaches, including tribal courts and traditional processes.

12. Diabetes
It is my understanding that this disease, in Indian people, may be due, in part at least, to eating foods of the dominant non-Native culture rather than eating traditional native foods. European grains may be a common cause for this disease in our native populations. The high carbohydrate foods of the dominant culture may have a more severe impact on native peoples.

I also understand that traditional cultural practices, including subsistence hunting, gathering and agriculture, are difficult and nearly impossible for many on their reservations due to location. In addition, environmental pollutants threaten the areas remaining to tribes for the practice of their culture.

As President, I will work to clean up polluted tribal land, and strengthen pollution standards throughout the country. I will ensure that federal agencies assist tribes with protection of their natural resources. I will support hunting and fishing rights on tribal lands and traditional places for these practices. I will ensure that funding programs are in place to help establish Indian-owned farmers' markets, distributing foods grown by Indians. Beyond this, educational programs and increased funding to Indian Health Service for the treatment of this and related diseases will be part of my policy on this issue.