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Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday her selection of Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
Gov. Walz is a former teacher and retired Army National Guardsman.
Coming from a state with 11 tribes, Walz has knowledge of Native American issues, says Robert Pilot (Ho-Chunk), host of Native Roots Radio out of the Twin Cities.
Pilot credits Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (White Earth Nation/D-MN) for helping Gov. Walz build relationships with tribes.
“Gov. Walz has been excellent with Native American issues, plugged into what’s happening in Indian Country.”
Pilot believes having that knowledge as the Democratic vice presidential candidate benefits Indian Country.
“We have a lot of allies out there that may not know our history and know what we need as individual Nations across Turtle Island. And he does know firsthand. So that can help with knowledge. His knowledge can help with other things and policies in the Harris presidency. So, I think it’s nothing but a win-win because of how well he deals with the tribes here.”
If Gov. Walz departs as governor, Lt. Gov. Flanagan would become Minnesota’s next governor, another big step for Native Americans, says Pilot.
“She is very humble. You can’t really pin her down and say things about herself. She’s about policy and about our Native community. She’s Wolf Clan, and she owns that. She owns all the things Native, and she’s inspiring, to her little daughter and her husband. And it’s just whenever she talks, I get emotional because she is such a well, she’s such a good speaker, and she has heart.”
Lt. Gov. Flanagan could become the first Native American woman to serve as governor in the country.
Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will make their first joint campaign appearance Tuesday in Pennsylvania.
Listen to Lt. Gov. Flanagan’s recent conversation on “Native America Calling”
Thursday, June 6, 2024 – Native Americans and the Democratic Party
Michigan’s Gun Lake Tribe is using federal funds for its plans to address climate change.
Chrystal Blair has more.
Michigan’s Gun Lake Tribe received grants totaling $4 million for its plans to fight climate change.
Its electric infrastructure implementation project ramped up this spring.
Phyllis Davis, a tribal council member, said they are looking at ways to could increase efficiency and reduce negative environmental impacts on their area.
“Those dollars were used to replace existing vehicles, for the government campus and our gaming venue, with electric vehicles and charging systems that we will have installed throughout the footprint of our tribal campus.”
The Gun Lake Tribe had a visit from U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), who touted their successes so far and announced an additional $120 million in grant funding to help tribal communities around the country prepare for climate-related threats.
The money is part of a larger $560 million investment in tribal climate resilience programs.
The focus is on making sure historically underfunded communities, and those seeing more pollution and environmental hazards, have a chance to improve their situations.
Davis pointed out the selection process for the funding was very competitive and shared why she believes the Gun Lake Tribe stood out among the other applicants.
“We do such a good job in grants and management, that every project that we’ve been awarded by the federal government, we have spent our dollars wisely. We have fulfilled every objective. We’ve been highly successful.”
Through federal initiatives, tribes can apply for grants for climate-related priorities, from planning and drought mitigation to wildfire prevention and coastal management.
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