Candidates attend the Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum

The first ever presidential forum focusing entirely on Native American issues: The Frank LaMere Presidential Candidate Forum, was held on Monday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 20. The forum was co-hosted by Four Directions, which LaMere helped start, and the National Congress of American Indians. Several groups, such as the Native American Rights Fund were co-sponsors.

The Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum is named in honor of Frank LaMere, a well-known and beloved Native American civil rights activist from the Sioux City area, who passed in June.

Over two days, the LaMere Forum drew nine of the Democratic contenders, and the national press corps that tags along with them. Attending presidential candidates included: Marianne Williamson, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Steve Bullock, Mark Charles, John Delaney, Kamala Harris, Julian Castro, Bernie Sanders and Bill de Blasio.

Over the two days, each candidate made an individual appearance and responded to questions from panels of tribal leaders and Native American youth. Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women was one of the many topics and many Native American women who are tribal and community leaders were among the panelists, including Gay Kingman, the executive director of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association. Each panel was moderated by Indian Country Today Editor Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock).

As a nonpartisan event, all major Democratic and Republican presidential candidates were invited to participate in the forum, including President Donald Trump and Republican challenger William Weld.

According to Indian Country Media, O.J. Semans, Sr., co-executive director of the national Native American voting rights organization Four Directions, stated, “This forum isn’t about ‘gotcha’ moments. It’s about ‘get it’ moments. We want candidates to grasp the challenges and aspirations of Indian Country. At the two nights of candidate debates in Miami, broadcast to a national audience, not one question or one candidate comment addressed Native American issues. Ignoring this forum in Iowa is ignoring the millions of First Americans who are citizens and voters.”

Elizabeth Warren highlights:

Rep. Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, introduced the presidential candidate on stage at the largest and second Native American presidential forum.

Haaland, who also received welcoming applause, spent approximately 25 minutes introducing the Massachusetts senator. Other candidates’ introductions were scheduled for around two minutes.I think it was pretty clear that [Warren] is relatively well-versed on many of the issues that Native people have,” she said.

“I thought Senator Warren did well,” one attendee stated. “I think she’s one of the favorites.”

Warren had the largest crowd of the day at the forum with more than 200 people listening.

Each policy area of her legislative proposal hit key areas that attendees want in a president: sovereignty, treaty and trust obligations, and self-determination.

Amy Klobuchar highlights:

Responding to a claim that nobody in Washington, D.C. cares about the issues his people face, Klobuchar was quick to say she does.

“I care and I think Melanie would vouch for me,” Klobuchar said referring to Mille Lacs Band chairwoman.

Klobuchar went on to explain two solutions as to how, as president, she could help fix infrastructure issues facing Native communities. The first was an immediate fix with her $1 trillion infrastructure plan, which she said is completely paid for by adjusting some of the tax cuts President Donald Trump gave large corporations.

Secondly, she spoke of the importance of taking on climate change, noting that the flooding Frazier spoke of has been getting worse.

Steve Bullock Highlights:

He joined the forum through a video conference call, saying he needed to be in Montana for a family event. It was to honor his his nephew, Jeremy, who was killed 25-years ago at a school playground. He was 11-years old when he was unintentionally shot by a schoolmate.

Bullock said he is grateful that the organizers of the forum were able to let him speak at the event, despite his absence.

Through his remarks, Bullock referred to his experience helping tribal communities as the governor. He addressed health epidemics, high suicide rates, consultation with tribes, violence against Native women and the Indian Child Welfare Act.

His campaign was the first of the 2020 candidates to release a policy plan regarding Native communities. The plan addresses tribal sovereignty, honoring treaty commitments, healthcare, housing, education, economic opportunity, environment and justice for Indigenous women, and more.

Julian Castro highlights:

His campaign was the first of the 2020 candidates to release a policy plan regarding Native communities. The plan addresses tribal sovereignty, honoring treaty commitments, healthcare, housing, education, economic opportunity, environment and justice for Indigenous women, and more.

“By centering the voices of vulnerable communities, Secretary Castro has provided the leadership needed to heal our country from the last four years,” says Jennifer K.Falcon of the Indigenous Environmental Network.

Others like South Dakota Senator Foster’s support was garnered because Castro “is an unwavering leader raised by a strong woman in a family that has been fighting for civil rights longer than Donald Trump has been trying to tear them apart.”