Thursday, March 28, 2024

Sanders highlights suicide, sovereignty in Twin Arrows speech

Sanders highlights suicide, sovereignty in Twin Arrows speech
Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks at a town hall rally Thursday night at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort.

Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero
U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks at a town hall rally Thursday night at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort.

FLAGSTAFF

U.S. Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders seemed genuinely concerned when he spoke about the high suicide and poverty rates found on Indian Country.

Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, left, takes a selfie with a supporter Thursday night after a town hall rally at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort.

Navajo Times | Donovan Quintero
U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, left, takes a selfie with a supporter Thursday night after a town hall rally at the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort.

He also acknowledged the struggle to preserve Indigenous cultures and languages, and to protect sacred lands. These were just a few issues which the Democratic senator from Vermont highlighted.

“Native Americans have not been heard on many issues that impact their communities,” said Sanders to the 2,000 or so people in attendance. “The existence of negotiated treaties… that coerced millions of acres of Native American homelands to the United States in exchange for guaranteed rights, many of those rights have not been upheld.”

Before Sanders took the stage, Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye applauded him for being the first, and so far only, presidential candidate to visit the Navajo Nation in this presidential race.

“Across Indian Country, Bernie Sanders does receive a huge support because of his commitment to government-to-government relationship and to maintaining the treaty obligations and trust responsibilities,” Begaye said. “This says a lot about this presidential candidate to come and step on Indian Country.”

Throughout his nearly two-hour speech, Sanders also acknowledged injustices that have befallen Native Americans saying, “It’s important that we lay this out because without the knowledge we cannot go forward.”

“The United States government has a duty to ensure equal opportunities and justice for all of their citizens including our first Americans…Let us be honest we are not doing that today,” said Sanders. “One in four Native Americans are living in poverty, and the second leading cause of death is suicide, this speaks to incredible despair. “

A full story will publish in the March 25 edition of the Navajo Times.


 To read the full article, pick up your copy of the Navajo Times at your nearest newsstand Thursday mornings!

Are you a digital subscriber? Read the most recent three weeks of stories by logging in to your online account.

  Find newsstand locations at this link.

Or, subscribe via mail or online here.




About The Author

Arlyssa Becenti

Arlyssa Becenti reported on Navajo Nation Council and Office of the President and Vice President. Her clans are Nát'oh dine'é Táchii'nii, Bit'ahnii, Kin łichii'nii, Kiyaa'áanii. She’s originally from Fort Defiance and has a degree in English Literature from Arizona State University. Before working for the Navajo Times she was a reporter for the Gallup Independent.

ADVERTISEMENT

Weather & Road Conditions

Window Rock Weather

Fair

51.0 F (10.6 C)
Dewpoint: 24.1 F (-4.4 C)
Humidity: 35%
Wind: from the Southwest at 9.2 gusting to 25.3 MPH (8 gusting to 22 KT)
Pressure: 30.13

More weather »

ADVERTISEMENT