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Samuel Kohn: "It's been an astounding response we've gotten." Courtesy photo
Young Crow Man Spreading Obama's Message
In the summer of 2006, Samuel Kohn logged more than 7,000 miles on his car criss-crossing his home state of Montana.
As a Dartmouth College freshman, he was on a mission to find out what his state's tribes thought about a state legislative act that required all K-12 students to learn about Native history and culture.
This week, the 21-year-old Crow tribal member hit the road again on a different kind of mission.
He wants to find out what tribes in Montana think about Sen. Barack Obama. And he's happy with what he's seen so far.
"It's been an astounding response we've gotten," he said.
Two weeks ago, Kohn was hired as Obama's Native American outreach coordinator in Montana. He spent this week — his first full week on the job — touring the state's Hi-Line, a term referring to northern Montana. He took part in a 100-mile wellness walk and spoke to tribal members in Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation.
On Tuesday night, he spoke to about 35 people on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, trying to encourage them to vote for Obama. At the meeting, an older Native man said he had never voted before but planned to vote for Obama.
That night, he registered to vote for the first time.
"It's great," Kohn said. "I'm honored to be a part of this movement."
He isn't the first young Native person attracted to Obama, whose campaign has drawn support from young people across the country.
Wanting to join what they see as a movement for change, future Indian leaders like Kohn and Wizipan Garriott — a 28-year-old Rosebud Sioux tribal member who's served as a Native policy adviser for Obama since last September — are getting involved.
But Kohn hasn't always lived life in the political fast lane.
He grew up on the Crow Reservation, raised on a steady diet of commodity cheese sandwiches, powwows and Crow culture.
He said he never thought there was anything strange about going to powwows with his mom and dad nearly every weekend and to sweat lodge ceremonies in the summers.
"I wasn't even aware that it was something people view as different," he said.
Now a junior at Dartmouth, Kohn attributed his academic success to the support of his parents and other relatives.
At Dartmouth, he said, he's been awakened to how big the world really is, having met students from all over the globe and even other Native students from other tribes.
"I met a lot of brilliant and promising young Native people who are going to do some great things for Indian Country," he said.
But he's also learned how petty and hateful some people can be.
After a conservative student newspaper published a racist cartoon featuring a Native warrior holding a scalp with the headline, "The Natives are Getting Restless!", in November 2006, Kohn joined other students and faculty in protesting the newspaper.
He said the newspaper cartoon capped a series of racially charged incidents at the college that Dartmouth officials had failed to address.
"It's pretty bad to see that sort of thing on our college," he said.
Despite the incident, Kohn said he has appreciated the opportunity to attend an Ivy League school and expects to graduate in June 2009 with a degree in Native American studies and digital arts. He took this spring semester off to help his family, specifically his grandma, who became ill and lost her home in a fire this winter. He plans to return to Dartmouth in the fall.
He said he's not sure what he'll do after graduation. Maybe law school or a doctoral program in American Indian education, he said.
His short-term future, however, is much clearer.
Until June 2, when his state decides which Democratic candidate to support, he'll continue spreading Obama's message of hope to Montana's tribes.
"I'm just a small time kid from Montana," he said. "I'm honored so often."
Most views in the last week:
- Tell us what you think about the 'Navajobama' T-shirt, and we'll send your comments to the manufacturer—and to the Obama for President campaign. (No profanities, please.)
- A Native American gay wedding ceremony takes place at a Two Spirit gathering in Montana.
- Omission disappoints Native Americans attending the presidential candidate's speech in Wisconsin. Others express concern over Obama's stance on Indian gaming.
- Here's how our petite, 5-foot-4 Navajo reporter managed to elbow her way through a mob of crazed sports journalists and ask the Super Bowl superstar what he knows about Indian people. And as for that football player who looked down her blouse ...
- Floyd Red Crow Westerman's death has left a void in Indian Country and a burden Native people must find a way to shoulder in his absence.
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Comments?
Obama or Hillary as long as Governor Richardson is Next VP
am PROUD of this young man. Dartmouth started out as an Indian School!
I support Obama because of the possibility of Governor Richardson being his Vice Presidential candidate.
If this happens, Hillary or Obama, I will vote for them. Also, I am sick of the racism and gender cards used by Hillary.
Richardson if you go to his Presidential web page has the most extensive Native American Policy initiatives and he does come from a Chicano (Mexican Mother), back ground! He just does not brag about his heritage!
Go to this link and research, Governor Richardson is the MAN!
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/communities/native_americans/pressreleases?id=0001
Welcome to Native Americans for Richardson
I stand with Native Americans to fight for what is important to all Americans: providing quality healthcare; insuring equal opportunity to education; caring for our elders; creating jobs and building basic infrastructure; and planning for future generations.
I believe in honoring American Indian, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiians communities by strengthening tribal governments and supporting the self-sufficiency of Native communities, including Native urban populations. I don’t just talk about these ideas. I’ve done it in Congress, at the Department of Energy and as Governor of New Mexico. As President, I will work to restore the trust between our government and our country’s Native peoples. My administration will focus on policies that promote the continued strength, integrity, and resiliency of Native Americans.
The relationship between the federal government and tribes has increasingly come under assault. President Bush’s Administration has created an environment that undermines Tribal America’s forward progress. The attack on tribal sovereignty must stop.
Governor Richardson discusses his positions on Native American issues at the Prez on the Rez event.
National Native American Advisory Council for Bill Richardson
Hon. Joe Garcia (Ohkay Owingeh) New Mexico
Native Advisors Co-Chair and President of NCAI
Mr. Ron Andrade (La Jolla) California
Director, Los Angeles Indian Commission
Ms. Shenan Atcitty (Navajo) Washington, D.C.
Attorney, Holland & Knight
Hon. Irene Auginaush (White Earth) Minnesota
Councilwoman, White Earth Tribal Council
Hon. Don Barlow (Ottawa) Washington
Representative, Washington State Legislature
Hon. J. Robert Benavides (Isleta Pueblo) New Mexico
Governor, Pueblo of Isleta
Hon. Lora Ann Chaisson (United Houma Nation) Louisiana
United Houma Nation Tribal Council
Hon. J. Michael Chavarria (Santa Clara) New Mexico
Governor, Pueblo of Santa Clara
Hon. Conroy Chino (Acoma Pueblo) New Mexico
Former NM Secretary of Labor
Hon. Norman Cooeyate (Zuni Pueblo) New Mexico
Governor, Pueblo of Zuni
Ms. Helen Doherty (Cherokee) California
Chair, Native American Caucus, California Democratic Party
Mr. Andrew Ebona (Tlingit) Alaska
Tribal Council Member of the Douglas Village - Tlingit Tribe
Hon. Elizabeth Furse, Oregon
Former U.S. Representative
Hon. Raymond Gachupin (Jemez) New Mexico
Governor, Pueblo of Jemez
Mr. Kevin Gover (Pawnee) Arizona
Former Assistant Secretary of the Dept. of Interior
Ms. LaDonna Harris (Comanche) New Mexico
President, Americans for Indian Opportunity
Hon. Jason Johnson (Acoma Pueblo) New Mexico
Governor, Pueblo of Acoma
Mr. Tadd Johnson (Mille Lacs Ojibwe) Minnesota
Former Chair, National Indian Gaming Commission
Ms. Onawa Lacy (Navajo) New Mexico
Former Miss New Mexico USA
Hon. Kevin Leecy (Bois Forte) Minnesota
Chair, Bois Forte and Vice Chair, National Indian Gaming Assoc.
Mr. Harold Lockwood (Laguna Pueblo)
Sgt. at Arms, National American Indian Veterans
Ms. Elizabeth Lohah Homer (Osage) Washington, D.C.
Partner, Homer Law
Hon. Alvin Moyle (Fallon Paiute-Shoshone) Nevada
Chairman, Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
Hon. Stuart Paisano (Sandia Pueblo) New Mexico
Former Governor, Pueblo of Sandia
Hon. Ivan Posey (Eastern Shoshone) Wyoming
Chairman, Eastern Shoshone Tribe
Hon. George Rivera (Pojoaque Pueblo) New Mexico
Governor, Pueblo of Pojoaque
Mr. Sonny Skyhawk (Rosebud Lakota Nation) California
Chairman, American Indians in Film & Television
Mr. Ron Solimon (Laguna Pueblo) New Mexico
Director, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Col.(US Army, Ret) Joey Strickland (Choctaw-Cherokee) Louisiana
Deputy Secretary, LA Dept of Veterans Affairs
Hon. Hugh Stevens (Te-moak of Western Shoshone) Nevada
Former Chair, Temoak Tribe of Western Shoshone
Mr. Wes Studi (Cherokee) New Mexico
Actor
Hon. Gilbert Suazo (Taos Pueblo) New Mexico
Governor, Pueblo of Taos
Hon. Eddie Tullis (Poarch Creek Band) Alabama
Republican Indians for Richardson
Hon. Dennis Vigil (Nambe Pueblo) New Mexico
Governor, Pueblo of Nambe
Hon. Gil Vigil (Tesuque Pueblo) New Mexico
Former Governor, Pueblo of Tesuque
Hon. Brian Wallace (Washoe Tribe) Nevada
Former Chairman, Washoe Tribe
Hon Alvin Warren (Santa Clara Pueblo) New Mexico
Lt. Governor, Pueblo of Santa Clara
Hon. Judy Winchester (Pokagon Band Potawatomi) Michigan
Secretary, Pokagon Band
Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
The Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico
The Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico
The Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico
The Pueblo de San Ildefonso, New Mexico
Dr. Mel
Northern Paiute or Northern Uto-Aztecan While Chicano implies proud of Native heritage or Southern Uto-Aztecan : )
Indians should forget Obama, Native Vet's support McCain
Indian Nation leaders in Montana and South Dakota should really look at Obama the man, before telling others to support him for president.
Forget the Rev. Wright issue, Obama is a member of the all Black Congressional Caucus, an American Indian in congress could not join their caucus if they wanted to, other representatives have tried and were told no, your not Black.! The black Caucus is supported with tax payers dollars.
The Black Caucus fully support's Congresswoman Watson Of CA. house bill 2824, in calling for federal termination of the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation over it's citizenship vote held last year March 2007 under it's nations constitutional rights for it's citizens. The Black Caucus is withholding all Indian Nations federal funding over this one issue.
Obama, a U.S. Senator and member of the Black caucus has made it a point not to say one word about this on going bill before congress. If elected, Obama would be at the Black Caucus side in letting his caucus friends fire away at Indian Nations sovereignty bill after bill.
Indians paid a big price for the republicans having control of the White House and congress, anti-Indian groups have no problem supporting democrats that are willing to in act bills going after Indian nations sovereignty.
John McCain would be the would be the eight hundred-pound political gorilla against anti Native American groups & U.S. representatives.
Native American veterans will join with active duty servicemen and women in addition to other veterans groups around the country to elect John McCain as our next president.
www.UniteNativeAmerica.com
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