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Prez on the Rez Makes History

On Thursday, August 23, 2007, history was made in Indian Country. On that day we saw the culmination of nine months of hard work by our talented and dedicated staff, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and our supporters throughout the nation: three presidential candidates and Governor Howard Dean assembled on Indian land in front of Indian faces addressing Indian voices.

Video Highlights

 
Unfortunately we had a technical glitch that prevented the audio from streaming on our website. We are working diligently to post the forum in its entirety on our website so that you may view it at any time. We'll let you know as soon it's ready. In the meantime, you can watch video highlights on the website of the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

The forum drew unprecedented national political coverage, with an article in USA Today, mentions on the New York Times political blog, CNN online, and MSNBC online; extensive regional print and broadcast coverage, including the NBC, CBS, and Fox local affiliates; and native media from throughout the country, including the Native American Times, Indian Country Today, Native Voice, and the Navajo Times. (You can read highlights from the press coverage at the bottom of this page, with links to full articles.)

Never before has the nation and its aspiring leaders turned its attention on one single day so completely to Indian Country. Governor Bill Richardson, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Senator Mike Gravel each promised to protect and promote tribal sovereignty, to ensure the reauthorization of the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act, and to bring our First Americans into the highest levels of the executive and judicial branches.

The presence of these candidates highlighted also the absence of the "Big Three." The shortsighted refusal of Senators Clinton, Obama, and Edwards to participate in Prez on the Rez did not go unnoticed by the leaders of Indian Country. And as we've said for months, our tribal leaders and Indian elected officials - with 300 present and 75 Indian Nations represented - refused to let the front-running candidates dictate the times and terms of our participation in the democratic process.

On Thursday, Indian Country stood and made its voice heard. Our tribal leaders were listening, eager to return home to report to their tribal members the commitments made by each of the candidates. Our national media was listening, eager to issue stories before their deadlines on the unprecedented occasion that assembled our candidates on our land. And our candidates are listening, unable to deny the success and growing power of Indian votes to determine the next President of the United States.

Prez on the Rez is an important first step, themes echoed by Chairman Robert Martin of the Morongo Tribe, moderator Mark Trahant of the Shoshone-Bannock tribes, and Governor Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. But we cannot rest on our laurels. Our work is not yet sufficient, and we are far from through.

In the coming months, we will build on the success of Prez on the Rez when we launch our Native American Network (NAN). Beginning with the Nevada caucuses - crucial due to their early date in the primaries and the state's Indian population - NAN will train field organizers in battleground states to mobilize Indian votes on behalf of candidates that are sincerely committed to restoring hope to our reservations and renewing a spirit of cooperation with American Indians to build a brighter future - together - for Indian Country.

Prez on the Rez would never have been possible without your generous and ongoing support. But our work is only beginning. Please continue to contribute to the INDN's List Education Fund as we turn our success on Thursday to success in 2008!

Yakoke,*

Kalyn Free

* "Thank You" in Choctaw.

The INDN's List Education Fund (ILEF) is a 501(c)(4) not-for-profit corporation founded in 2006 whose mission is to "promote the social welfare, and economic and social improvement and empowerment of American Indians by advocating policies and legislation at the federal, state, and local level that promote the interests of American Indians by focusing the interest and attention of elected officials and candidates on issues of concern to American Indians."

For more information regarding Prez on the Rez or the INDN's List Education Fund, call Political Director Dave Parker at (202) 494-4053. For more information on the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, call Waltona Manion, 818-785-5525


Paid for by INDN's List Education Fund. Contributions to ILEF are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Prez on the Rez, 406 South Boulder, Mezzanine Ste 200, Tulsa, OK 74103
Phone: 918.583.6100, Fax: 918.583.6104
info@prezontherez.org