‘Stand tall This
is your nation.’
Jackson
tells NCAI
□set of recommendations from the
American Indians will be waiting
for the next president and con
gress of the United States.
U.S. leaders may or may not follow
the recommendations, but the Ameri
can Indians spent five days last week
creating an agenda so their wishes are
known.
The agenda was written at the 45th
Annual Convention of the National
Congress of American Indians Oct.
24-28 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The theme
of the convention was “The Next
Generation: Here and Now.”
The Nebraska Winnebago Indians
sponsored the convention.
Reuben Snake Jr., past president of
NCAI and recently retired tribal chair
man of the Winnebagos for 11 years,
said the convention was a success.
The convention focused on eco
nomic and health issues, Indian
education, concerns over sover
eignty, natural resources and other
issues.
• a a a
^ommmees iormuiateo resolutions
to be incorporated into a single docu
ment and handed over to the presi
dent.
Snake said 300 tribes were repre
sented at the convention. NCAI has
more than 150 due-paying tribes and
is the largest American Indian organi
. zation in the country.
A representative from each NCAI
member tribe sits on a council. During
the convention, the general council
hears concerns from Indians attend- *
ing, and amends resolutions for the
Indian agenda. When the convention
adjourns, the executive council fin
ishes any business left from the
general council, Snake said.
Later, that business is turned over
to 12 vice presidents of NCAI.
Snake said the most significant
action during the convention was a
visit Friday morning from the Rev.
Jesse Jackson. Indians are a part of
Jackson’s “Rainbow Coalition’’ and
will support whatever political role
Jackson plays in the future, Snake
said.
* * *
Amid clapping and howls, cheering
and chants, the Rev. Jesse Jackson
walked onto the stage, and sat at the
right of the podium.
Members of the Winnebago Vet
erans Association presented
the flag, as the Winnebago top
male singer performed the “Flag
Song.”
As Jackson took the podium, the
crowd quieted.
“It is a great privilege to share
every chance I get with the American
Indians, and brothers and sisters and
friends, because I respect you so much
and because I love you so much ...
and because my father’s part Chero
kee.’’
Jackson spoke about the injustices
done to the American Indians since
the formation of the United States.
His eyes filled with tears as he spoke
of the Trail of Tears, where thousands
of Indians were forced off their lands
and marched across the country, and
the torture of the Cherokee, saying,
“their blood cries out (to this genera
tion).
w j e measure our character by
how we treat the least of these,
* ▼ the abandoned, those with
their backs against a wall,” Jackson
said.
He spoke of the inscription on the
Statue of Liberty, and how the Ameri
can Indians were excluded from the
Constitution.
“But I’ve come to say today that
you count.”
