Only 4 Presidents have ever visited an Indian Reservation while in office. Calvin Coolidge to Pine Ridge in 1927, FDR on a Cherokee reservation in 1936, Bill Clinton in 1999 on Pine Ridge, and President Obama to Standing Rock on Friday.
Tia Streeter-KX News: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are set to visit Fort Yates and Cannonball. Its a trip in which the Obamas can see first hand what's really going on in Indian Country.
Rick Collin- President Obama coming on to a reservation to see up close and personal, the misery and quality of life will really drive home to him how he can't possibly, get otherwise, to understand what needs to be done what needs to be addressed in Indian Country
Tia Streeter: During his time in office, President Obama has worked on Indian issues. Carole Barrett-a professor of American Indian studies at U Mary says this historic trip to Standing Rock will mean more than other political overture he could make.
Carole Barrett: he's had tribal summits but those are always top officials from Tribal organizations so its still political level but this is on a grass roots level which is really what means something to American Indian people.
I mean sure when it comes to destroying the country's reputation, unprovoked attacks against sovereign nations, and tanking the economy, the Republican President's still hold the lead, but in everything else.....
(Photos courtesy of The Obama Diary.)
We attended a pow-wow locally a couple of years ago and found it fascinating. I loved the dancing and the singing at this pow-wow, especially the children singing for the President and Mrs. Obama.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
The Makah Reservation (Washington State Olympic Peninsula has a marvelous museum of pre-contact artifacts from 6 long houses buried in mud 500 years ago. Not to be missed if you are in the Pacific Northwest.
Deletehttp://makahmuseum.com/
True! This museum is well worth the visit - we went twice in a 3-day visit to the area years ago. It is really not to be missed!
DeleteHow about he starts with pardoning Lenard Peltier.
ReplyDeleteThen we can start a conversation about how the state of our reservation system is a direct reflection of the idea that the Government can take care of us. Anybody that depends on the Government to take care of their problems is screwed.
What a shallow, ignorant, and patronizing concept of what has brought about the "state of our reservation system."
DeleteI think much of the history of Native Peoples in this country does not include "government can take care of us".
DeleteFor example:
http://www.uvm.edu/~lkaelber/eugenics/VT/VT.html
The Abenakis were a large group targeted by the Vermont Eugenics laws, and though, according to Paul, the last noted sterilization occurred in 1957, the Abenakis continued to be sterilized (Dowbiggin, p. 181). Between 1973 and 1976, approximately 3400 Abenaki women were sterilized in the United States, including those sterilized in Vermont.
And three out of the four are Democrats. I know its not the same but JFK visited the Crazy Horse Memorial during his tenure.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it astonishing that in the history of this country only four Presidents have bothered to visit the Native Americans who lived here first? This does not include Andrew Jackson, who fought wars with them.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Jackson was the worst president ever, killing more Natives than any other. He is the Hitler of Native Genocide.
DeleteI understand that in this context we are talking about visiting a reservation in his official capacity as president. But there are reservations all over this country. I am not particularly well traveled and I can recall having been to at least 6 reservations. For all those other presidents to have avoided going to a reservation, speaks volumes for the extent of prejudice in this country..
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing the above photos. We have the most handsome POTUS! Just look at his genuine smiles - it is so apparent they are delighted to have him/them there!
ReplyDeleteThank you, President Obama and First Lady Michelle for going to indian country! I'm sure you were able to learn a lot!
I am part Cherokee and am smiling from ear to ear!
That is a very sad statistic...very sad.
ReplyDeleteI'm embarrassed to say that the USA is a racist country - it has always been and still is!
ReplyDeleteThank god we have President Obama in office. Love the fact that he is 'one' of 'four' POTUS that has visited indian country! He so outshines any Republican POTUS!
Sitting Bull was one of my childhood heroes.
ReplyDeleteAs was Miyamoto Musashi.
Out of all the countries in the world, Kenya ranks number one in highest approval ratings for President Obama.
As they should.
Japan is second.
And, boy, am I proud of that fact.
BTW, I graduated from high school in Tokyo.
Contrary to what Right Wing fanatics want you to believe, President Obama is highly respected by countries outside the U.S. When we on the outside see the unjustified hatred and hostility that is leveled against him by these ingrates we can only imagine how hard it must be to actually have to live among these ignorant, fear mongering and delusional individuals on a daily basis.
DeleteVery Cool, and interesting , Thanks Gryphen..
ReplyDeleteYeah,But what has he done for rill muricans lately. Oh, never mind!
ReplyDeleteI love this President, and I'm not even an American. I think he's the best thing that's happened to our world in a long time. His down-to-earth care and concern for people can be felt.
ReplyDeleteBest President of my lifetime. He is also the smartest President of my lifetime. I am so glad we elected him.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures from this visit for President and Mrs. Obama are truly heartwarming, full of smiles from all, and wonderful shots of kids and the President. One can just feel the joy and happiness.
ReplyDeleteWe have failed our First People so badly and continue to do so. I hope that President Obama can push through legislation that provides better living conditions and schooling for these people, particularly on the very poor reservations around the nation. The First People/Indian Nation should be honored and respected.
I so appreciate the president's care for all people. I'm sure he has a far better understanding of the difficulties faced by the First People than most as it would mirror the discrimination and hate that he faces each and every day.
We are blessed to have him as our leader and the highest representative of our nation.
Wow, only four Presidents? President Obama is in good company, even though it's a shock he's the fourth, I'm glad he went, it means he cares and wants to build bridges. I love any photos of him with kids, they just make me smile, it's like an instant connection. And I'd rather see him interacting with kids than Sarah wrestling with one much smarter than she who's trying to run away, how sad.
ReplyDeleteHe always looks happiest when he's surrounded by kids and they always look delighted to be around him.
DeleteIt must be such a joy for him to be able to interact with them, knowing they are not trying to analyze or criticize everything he says and does or trying to get something from him.
He has so few opportunities to make that kind of genuine, no-strings connection with people.
WATCH: Anti-"Redskins" commercial to run during NBA Finals Game 3
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2014/06/watch_anti-redskins_name_commercial_to_run_during_nba_finals_game_3.html
President George Bush inacted:
ReplyDeleteProclamation 6230 - National American Indian Heritage Month, 1990.