Trump supporters rally during Walz’s visit to Window Rock

WINDOW ROCK

While vice-presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke at a Native Americans for Harris-Walz campaign rally at the Navajo Nation Veterans Memorial Park, the Donald Trump campaign held a Zoom webinar with Navajo Republicans that included former Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer and Carlyle Begay, who discussed Walz’s visit to Diné Bikéyah.

“And the rising Native American GOP support that we see in this election,” explained Halee Dobbins, the Arizona communications director for the Trump campaign, which believes it has dedicated to uplifting the Natives in addressing the challenges facing their communities.

“We know the top concerns for many Native Americans today include the rising cost of goods, the rising cost of … every corner––the safety and protection of women and energy independence,” Dobbins explained. “The Trump campaign is committed to offering real solutions, offer these concerns and address these concerns: from restoring our energy dominance, lowering inflation, and supporting our law enforcement.”

The Trump campaign believes the Democrats have been hard at work destroying the energy supply with its “failed, Green New Deal agenda, fueling inflation with their out-of-control government spending and backing the deep on the police agenda.

“Native Americans in Arizona and across our nation need President Trump more than ever before and we are eager for a return to his leadership in the White House,” Dobbins added.

Former Vice President Lizer, also a businessman, actively campaigned for Trump at the Harris-Walz event. He was accompanied by a group of “compassionate Navajos” who shared his vision and commitment to their community. Together, they aimed to engage attendees and promote their message of support for Trump’s policies and leadership.

“I think the reason that Tim Walz is here (and) is very vindictive of the fact that the Democrats feel like they’re losing this election,” Lizer said as Trump supporters cheered in the background. “They are desperate. This is our response.

“We want lower prices, we want First Amendment, Second Amendment … pro-life,” he added. “There are so many things. We can’t be doomed again. Our people have been voting Democrat for over five decades and nothing’s changed. We love President Trump. Please, make sure he sees this. We need Trump here on the Navajo Nation!”

A majority of U.S. consumers believe elected officials can help lower their grocery bills. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump have made promises and released proposals to improve the U.S. economy, especially food prices.

‘Indian Country is showing up’

“Despite Governor Walz’s visit to the Navajo Nation today, the Trump coalition, particularly in Indian Country is showing up,” said Begay, the former Arizona senator for District 7 and a Native Americans for Trump Coalition member.

Begay, who is Tótsohnii and born for Kiyaa’áanii, believes the Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance ticket is actively seeking solutions to build a brighter future for tribal communities.

“I knew that directly in serving in my own capacity, representing over six different tribes, the largest geographic district in the state of Arizona and in the country,” said Begay, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Nov. 23, 2015.

“I recognized that our tribal communities were facing alarming unemployment rates––some in Arizona, up to 80 percent, certainly after the closure of the Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine,” he explained, “even higher. Infrastructure, including roads and bridges, continue to deteriorate in our tribal communities.”

Begay suggests that many Native families lack the basic access to electricity, clean running water and that the high school graduation rate for Native students is lower than the national average.

“The thing that hurts me the most is our Native American teens face the highest suicide rates of any demographic group in the country. This is not the legacy of our distinguished ancestors,” Begay said. “They envisioned a brighter future for our people and serving that state senate, the people and the leaders that actually wanted to seek solutions … were Republican Party.”

When Begay looks at economic opportunities, especially under another Trump administration, there’s a push to empower Native communities economically, which he believes Trump did during his four years in the White House. Begay says he was involved in that effort.

“There is a record that Trump has in terms of his impact for our tribal communities, not only in Arizona but across the U.S.,” Begay said.

Walz’s visit to Navajo Nation

The Trump campaign supporters believe Walz’s visit to Diné Bikéyah demonstrates “how scared” the Harris-Walz campaign is of losing the election less than 10 days away.

“We recognize that our Native American voters, particularly the Navajo Nation, are very important but they don’t really have much of a record to run on,” Begay said. “The (former) Trump Administration … prioritized Native American communities. They recognized the importance of preserving and protecting our Native American culture, our language, our history, but more importantly, they also ensured prosperity and opportunity for all Native Americans.”

Begay added he’s interested in what Walz is going to tell the Diné and visitors who attended the event today.

Read more in the Oct. 31, edition of the Navajo Times.

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