interesting

[alonewiththemoon]

Winona La Duke, who ran as Nader's choice for VP in the last two presidential elections, has endorsed Kerry.

Her endorsement statement and News from Indian Country in general are pretty indicative of Native American perspectives across the country. Sometimes their rhetoric seems over the top and reactionary, but then you read of things like a Republican flyer in South Dakota which could reasonably be construed as referring to Native Americans as varmints and dogs (you may have to enter your zip code to view the article), and then that same rhetoric seems remarkably restrained.

Comments

[nepenthedreams]

There is a lot more racism against Native Americans in the areas where they weren't all killed off. Okay that was reactionary. :-) There is more in South Dakota and Oklahoma because that's where many of the reservations are. Boy was I surprised because I didn't realize it was a problem anymore! Yes, actually, I was on the phone with a co-worker from our Tulsa office when I heard he put down "the Indians". I just couldn't believe my ears because well, people aren't upfront with any kind of racism in New England. I said "Actually, I _am_ Native American." He tried to turn his statement into a joke after that. Nice try buddy...and by the way, I control your password.

[alonewiththemoon]

Have I ever told you about the witnessing I did of Chippewa spear-fishing in northern Wisconsin? It was a real eye-opener to me, being an eastern seaboard city girl, regarding the level of racism towards Native Americans in rural parts of the US. Your observation is not so much reactionary as sadly correct.