Dean saying all the right things [Tribal Sovereignty]

nativetimes ^ | 12/20/2005 | Sam Lewin

[ncountylee]

What a difference a few years can make. When Howard Dean was seeking to lead the Democrats against George Bush, he came under fire for his record on Indian issues. As governor of Vermont, Dean opposed the Abenaki’s Nation’s bid for federal recognition.

The leader of the tribe called Dean's commitment to Indian issues a “joke.”

Others were even harsher in their criticism.

“Contemporary Abenakis are currently petitioning the federal government for official recognition as a tribe -- which would give them legal minority status with access to relevant civil rights laws, help them with grant-writing for schools, scholarships and health care, and make available cultural grants to help preserve the language and oral traditions,” states a 2003 article credited to Donna Bister, Marc Estrin and Ron Jacobs “…Dean is opposed to this petition. This type of vehemence towards Native Peoples rights does not bode well for other First Nations within US borders.”

“Howard Dean has revealed an abiding dread of Indian sovereignty, viewing our constitutional rights as economic and political threats to states rights,” wrote Abenaki historian Frederick Matthew Wiseman in a letter to Indian Country Today.

That was then and this is now. Dean is currently head of the Democratic National Committee, and the DNC just passed a resolution affirming tribal sovereignty.

[ncountylee]

Looks like Dean has been sent to the minors. Hope he and his mouth are back soon.

[proud_yank]

Wish we'd send him to France instead.

[grounhog]

Haven't heard much from Dean, lately. I think the Dems. put a sock in his mouth.....

[Behind Liberal Lines]

With the party of Clinton and Barney Frank, I hope that's all they put in his mouth.

[Arizona Carolyn]

He hasn't been raising any money (to speak of) and they blame it on his big mouth -- looks like they told him his job wasn't to p.o. the constituency.

[Mike Darancette]

I applaud the Democratic Party for recognizing the importance of tribal governments maintaining sovereign status, as it was guaranteed in the U.S.

Maybe they will let the tribes sell cigarettes unmolested.

[flying Elvis]

“Contemporary Abenakis are currently petitioning the federal government for official recognition as a tribe -- which would give them legal minority status with access to relevant civil rights laws, help them with grant-writing for schools, scholarships and health care, and make available cultural grants to help preserve the language and oral traditions,”

Translation: Give us all of your money.

The problem with this particular "tribe" is that their claims of being descendents of the original Abenakis is rather dubious at best.