Reznet

It's been a year in purgatory for Indian Country, which saw vital health legislation stall in Congress and perennial fights like the Cobell lawsuit and Freedmen controversy march on seemingly without end. But is a new day dawning for Native people?

With Washington debating a rescue of the auto industry, it's about time lawmakers take a serious look at bailing out the most endangered segment of the country: Native Americans.

You can't blame Rachel Joseph for being unwilling to give up hope that Congress will yet pass the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. She's been working on reauthorizing the act for nine years and knows how vital it is to Indian Country.

In less than two months, Frank LaMere, chairman of the Democratic Party's Native American Caucus, will watch Barack Obama take the oath of presidency. Three days later, he'll watch his daughter graduate as one of the few Native graduates of the Senate Page Program.

Former Senator Tom Daschle's nomination this week to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services is being hailed across Indian Country. But will the man now charged with revamping our country's shattered health care system really have time to address the titanic problem of Indian health care?

Children in classrooms across the country are taking part in an age-old tradition: the Native American and Pilgrim feast. But isn't there a better way to celebrate the shared history of Native Americans and Europeans?

Maybe it's too soon to pronounce this election's Native voter registration efforts a success. But I can't help but feel proud to have watched so many work so hard to get Indians out to vote and enlist Native candidates.

Longtime Indian activist Russell Means said this week he plans to declare South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation an international disaster area if elected tribal president Tuesday and is backing off an earlier plan to form an independent Republic of Lakotah.

Wizipan Garriott, Barack Obama's Native Vote director, said Thursday he plans to stay in New Mexico until the election is over, getting new and early voters to the polls and spreading his candidate's message of inclusiveness for Indian people.

Two weeks after Congress failed to pass the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, a tribal leader and a tribal health advocate joined staff from Sen. Barack Obama's campaign to tout the senator's Native health care plans.

Charlie Whitepipe never spoke about his service during World War II. Never talked about his role as a Sioux code talker. Last week, congressional leaders honored his service for the first time.

Facing a financial meltdown, the U.S. House of Representatives have neglected a bill that provides health care to Native people, possibly dooming the bill until next year.

A Red Clout blog last week has caused some consternation about this writer's allegiances. Let me set the record straight: I don't oppose or support Sarah Palin.

It can't be true what they're saying about you, Sarah Palin. How could you be opposed to Alaska Natives' right to hunt and fish? Call me. E-mail me. Let's talk about this.

At the Republican National Convention, a rare, almost mythical group of political operatives worked to improve the lives of Native people: Native Republicans.

Holly Miowak Stebing traveled the roads of Alaska this summer talking to her Native elders about segregation. On Thursday, she got to tell Barack Obama her people's story.

Some Native leaders gathered for the Democratic National Convention this week worry that not enough is being said about Native issues. Still others see their party as truly beginning to listen to Indians.

A California congressman and Democratic Party high official heaped praise on a Native grassroots effort to get Indians involved in politics. And the Native leaders he praised, in turn, thanked Mike Honda.

Kayln Free, president and founder of INDN's List, knows how crucial it is getting young Natives involved in politics. Now if she can only convince young Natives like Peter Coser Jr. to take the leap ...

Frank LaMere, a Native superdelegate and chairman of the Democratic Party's Native American Caucus, has seen his share of national conventions. He considers this week's Democratic convention to be the most important one in his political career.

Two Colorado nonprofits aren't waiting for Congress to issue a formal apology to Indian people for their mistreatment by the U.S. government. They're seeking to heal themselves through coast-to-coast bicycle relays next year that will take Native riders to Indian boarding school sites.

Sen. John McCain's promise on Monday to create a tribal government position within the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs has raised the question of his history on Native issues.

Kevin Killer is a rising star in the South Dakota Democratic Party, an energetic community organizer and, at age 29, the youngest person running for the District 27 legislative seat in his state.

Native people are increasingly faced with a new question: Barack Obama or John McCain? Considering McCain's long history of supporting Native issues, it's a question likely to force Indians to question their own political ideals.

Samuel Kohn, hired two weeks ago to serve as Sen. Barack Obama's Native American outreach coordinator in Montana, hit the road this week trying to get tribes to support his candidate.

For the first time in 15 years, imprisoned Native American activist Leonard Peltier is scheduled to get a full parole hearing in December. But some say the chances of Peltier, convicted of killing two FBI agents, getting paroled are slim.

Samuel Kohn, a Dartmouth-educated Crow tribal member, will serve as Sen. Barack Obama's Montana state Native American coordinator, a new position the campaign says is further proof of its willingness to get Indians involved.

Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle has become a close adviser to Sen. Barack Obama, a fact that some believe could mean big things for Indian people, especially if Daschle gets the nod to join Obama in his race for the White House.

Wizipan Garriott serves as Barack Obama's Native American outreach coordinator, will graduate from law school this spring and hopes to open a Native college preparatory school. Not bad for a 28-year-old from South Dakota's Rosebud Indian Reservation.

Indian rights advocates come from all walks of life. Case in point: A. Jay Adler, a Jewish son of Eastern European immigrants who grew up in New York City. Writing in a Jewish magazine, Adler recently took on the ongoing genocidal destruction of Native people.