Jeff Schultz
GOP vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
Gov. Sarah Palin: silent so far
By
Rob Capriccioso
Story Published:
Oct 17, 2008
Story Updated:
Oct 17, 2008
WASHINGTON – Since becoming the first female Republican vice presidential candidate in August, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been largely silent on issues pertaining to indigenous peoples. Some Indians have found her silence odd, given the fact that her husband and children are of Yup’ik Eskimo descent and hold shares in at least two Alaska Native corporations.
In her 2006 campaign for governor, Palin was willing to talk about her family’s heritage in an effort to connect with voters. In a campaign letter addressed to rural voters that fall, she wrote that she “so very much appreciate[s] Alaska’s First People, their proud heritage and diverse cultures so abundant in the communities throughout our state.”
Palin also promised to support tribal economic development and fishing subsistence issues, while noting personal fondness for Native culture. However, when she was ultimately elected governor, she ended up becoming the de facto head of several state lawsuits that some Natives believe have been detrimental to fishing and hunting subsistence issues, as well as tribal sovereignty and language preservation.
Some have pushed Palin to drop the lawsuits altogether, but even staunch anti-Palin Democratic Natives have said there is a slim chance. Pro-Palin supporters have defended the governor’s record, indicating that she has always listened to their concerns and has tried to balance her position on Indian issues with the duties of her main job: protecting the state’s interests.
If Palin is elected, her family’s Native blood will be just a heartbeat away from the presidency. Whether that reality would result in better policies for Indians is unknown at this point. A spokesman for Palin said the governor is willing to answer questions about her positions on Indian issues. Stay tuned.
Friday, Feb 13 at 3:02 AM daisy wrote ...
Some have pushed Palin to drop the lawsuits altogether, but even staunch anti-Palin Democratic Natives have said there is a slim chance. ********* daisy
16444577 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Thursday, Oct 23 at 1:34 AM glenda wrote ...
native people from the lower 48 states are not impressed with John McCain's running mate, it's pretty obvious that having her will bring him down.
11234624 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Tuesday, Oct 21 at 4:10 AM Gordon James wrote ...
This woman has been a thorn in most Alaska Native rights and the facts are in the lawsuites she has bending to get rid of hunting and fishing subsistance rights that where granted through ANSCA, her silence now is so that she doesn't have to show her true colors now although her performance on SNL should be some kind of enlightenment to the Native American community. also the postings of Writing Raven on Open Salon may also help those who have questions about her views on Native issues.
9471234 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Monday, Oct 20 at 1:18 PM Shanoa Pinkham wrote ...
Palin won't be a good person to Native people and no, the story about her killing wolves is not false. She isn't good to Native people and has always opposed the hunting rights of Native people in Alaska state. Being an upcoming voter in this election, I'd prefer it if other Native youth like myself were informed and given THE TRUTH about her.
9446294 Inappropriate? Alert Us!Saturday, Oct 18 at 3:39 AM jim greenwald wrote ...
The subsistence hunting/fishing issue is not as simple as the reporter makes it out to be. Subsistence rights include more than those indigenous to Alaska. This article is vague purposely to create an appearance of something rather than be informative. Much like "Palins" killing the wolves from the air, another rather dishonest and misleading story. Astonishing that a qualified VP of one party is hounded by media more than a less qualified presidential candidate of another party
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