''In our culture, children are sacred,...but women are sacred, too.'' Excellent article

[The Straight Story]

Party politics reach tipping point
Posted: November 09, 2006
by: Editors Report / Indian Country Today

To paraphrase political comic Jon Stewart, host of cable television's ''The Daily Show,'' we at Indian Country Today are experiencing an odd feeling known as - and forgive us if we mispronounce it - hope. Literally overnight, power in Congress has completely shifted toward the left, which, in our estimation, brings the balance just slightly more to the center after six years of increasing devotion to extreme right-wing conservatives. It appears citizen activism is alive and well, and that voices of dissent can indeed be heard clearly at the highest levels of government. No matter the winner or loser, we see an opportunity ripe for strengthening Indian sovereignty amid this changing political climate.

There is only so much weight one side of the balance can hold before momentum takes over, and it tips. The midterm elections signaled a dramatic turn of events for the embattled Republican Party, which has enjoyed nearly limitless partisan freedom in the White House and Congress during President Bush's two terms.

.....

As a matter of course, the mass media separated public discourse into pro-choice and anti-abortion camps, severely limiting opportunities for deeper understanding of the larger issues involved. Not so in Indian country. We heard passionate arguments about sovereignty, colonization, family and community rebuilding, and even traditional medicine practices. During this dialogue, there were no celebrations of abortion; the practice itself is not widely accepted in Indian country. But the issue of national, state and tribal authority - even over women's bodies - affects who we are as people indigenous to this land.

Urging American Indian women to vote at an election rally, Fire Thunder and Crow Creek Sioux scholar Elizabeth Cook-Lynn voiced strong opinions against the ban. ''In our culture, children are sacred,'' stated Fire Thunder in response to anti-abortion critics, ''but women are sacred, too.'' Cook-Lynn reminded us of the horrors of past reproductive rights abuse, when Indian women were sterilized without consent. Perhaps their pleas to protect tribal sovereignty tipped the balance at the South Dakota ballot boxes.

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096413995

[madmusic]

1. Yes they were indeed...

Targeted during the Progressive Era eugenics sweep. The similarities to then and now are scary.

[xchrom]

2. i simply hope that the new party in charge recognizes

that it has a debt to pay to first nations people of south dakota and montana.

[riverwalker]

3. Tester may not have won without their support

http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/016837.asp

Native vote in Montana favors Democrat Tester
Thursday, November 9, 2006

Voters on Montana's reservations helped send Democrat Jon Tester to the U.S. Senate on Election Day in one of the tightest races in the nation.

An analysis by Indianz.Com showed that counties with a significant percentage of American Indians and Alaska Natives voted overwhelmingly for Tester. With only about 2,600 votes separating Tester and Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, the Native vote played a role in an election that saw Democrats take control of the entire U.S. Congress.

Although Burns chairs the Senate subcommittee that handles Indian funding, he saw a battering of his public image due to the Jack Abramoff scandal. He steered millions to Abramoff's wealthy tribal clients, prompting Montana Natives to question his priorities.

[xchrom]

4. and i believe that's correct.

and i thank them.