Heitkamp Wins North Dakota Senate Seat with Native Vote

Heitkamp Owes Senate Seat to Native American Voters

By Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson

A razor thin margin separates Democrat Heidi Heitkamp and GOP Congressman Rick Berg in a race for one of the last undecided Senate contests in the United States.  Heitkamp currently has a 2,994 vote lead out of 318,400 votes cast.  This 1% deficit could trigger a recount until Congressman Berg announced that he will concede to Heitkamp.  Heidi joins Tammy Baldwin (D) from Wisconsin, Elizabeth Warren (D) from Massachusetts as freshman to a United States Senate where 20 Senators are women, the highest number ever.

This was a hotly contested race and I wrote about this on October 22 and stated that “a strong Native American voter turn-out…could affect Senate Majority,” and this bears out in the numbers.  Heitkamp carried the counties on the Indian Reservations with 68% of the vote, garnering 8,505 votes to Berg’s 3,916 votes, a difference of 4,589.  This allowed Heidi to eek out a narrow 1% victory and make up a gap of 1,595 votes and win by 2,994 votes.  In the previous, I stated that Heitkamp would need to be within 2-3% points of the non Indian votes of an estimated 315,000 votes I forecasted (I was only off by 2,000), and that she could make up the gap in Indian Country, the race played out as I predicted and I am proud of the support Indian Country gave to Heidi in North Dakota.

In fact, Heitkamp’s two largest county wins were in Sioux County on the Standing Rock Reservation where Heitkamp won 83.9% of the vote and in Rolette County, home of the Turtle Mountain Reservation, where Heitkamp won 80.3% of the vote.  Contrast this with her home county of Ransom, where Heitkamp won 69% of the vote.  Standing Rock and Turtle Mountain supported Heitkamp in a greater percentage than the county where she was born and raised!

Senator elect Heitkamp owes a lot to her strong Native American team, she was the only candidate that hired Native Americans, including Prairie Rose and Three Affiliated Tribes, Diane Johnson.  This was an amazing opportunity for the Native Americans of North Dakota to show the Country how important their votes are and that congress should start listening to us and pushing forward with the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (WAWA), more funding for Indian Health Services, more funding for Housing, more funding for Education, and more funding to combat drug and alcohol abuse.  All of this will allow Native Americans an opportunity to succeed in this country and enjoy true self-determination.

Indian Country has played a part in several races in the past, including the 2002 U.S. Senate race between Senator Democratic Tim Johnson’s win over John Thune by 524 votes which was decided on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  Another high profile race was the 2006 U.S. Senate race in Montana where Jon Tester won 83% of the vote on the Blackfeet Reservation where Tester earned 2,042 votes to incumbent GOP Senator Conrad Burns earned 419 votes, a swing of 1,623 votes.  Overall on the Reservations, Tester garnered 17,000 votes and won 75% of the vote.  After the election Tester stated he owed the victory to the strong Native American support he received.

Congratulations Senator Heitkamp we hope you will take a seat on the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs and represent Indian Country well and do not forget us!

Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Dakota Sioux) of the Lake Traverse Reservation.  He publishes articles on Tribal Issues, Energy, Economic Development, Business, Gaming, and Marketing.  He can be reached at theron@scarletraven.com and his blog is www.scarletravenpowwow.blogspot.com

North Dakota GOP Secretary of State "forgets" about Native American Students

North Dakota GOP Secretary of State Forgets About Native Students

By Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson

Imagine this, the GOP Secretary of State, Al Jaeger, distributed a letter to North Dakota Universities and advised them of best practice of voting when they live in a dormitory.

In his letter, he states:

A college student has the choice of voting in the precinct associated with her or her North Dakota home residential address or he or she may vote in the precinct of the residential address the student has while attending college.

Further it state for Out-of-State students attending college that they may cast their ballot in North Dakota or the student may cast an absentee ballot in their home State.

This was all great information for college students but what was Secretary of State Jaeger did NOT provide this Sample letter to the 2,500-2,600 Native American students attending Tribal colleges across the State of North Dakota.  When this was brought to his attention and a request to his office to provide this letter to the Tribal colleges, Jaeger’s Deputy stated “they would do better in the next election cycle”.

Knowing what we know about Native American voting Democrat in an over 80% National average, it is not surprising that the North Dakota Secretary of State would want to wait until the next election cycle before sending information for Native American students to vote.  The United States Senate race is razor thin between GOP Congressman Rick “Abortion is a Felony” Berg and Democrat Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp.  This race and the U.S. Senate majority could be decided by less than 1,000 votes either way, why give the Native American students an opportunity to vote and perhaps swing the race to Democrat Heidi Heitkamp?

Here’s a copy of the Press Release the North Dakota Democratic Party issued about their request to Secretary of State Jaeger and their request he send the Student Voter Information letter to the Tribal Colleges of North Dakota:

North Dakota Dem-NPL Demands 

Sec. of State to Treat Tribal Colleges Fairly

Bismarck, ND—The North dakota Democratic-NPL Party discovered that the North Dakota Secretary of State, Al Jaeger, distributed a letter to North Dakota universities, advising students on best practices of voting when they live in a dormitory (attached). 

Secretary Jaeger failed to release the same letter and information to Tribal Colleges across the state. A letter was sent to Jaeger, urging him to extend the same courtesy the Native American student population, and rather than rectify this gross oversight, Jaegar's Deputy stated they would do better during the next election cycle.

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL released the following statement from Communications Director, Rania Batrice after Sec. Jaeger's failure to act:

"It's shameful that Sec. Jaeger would overlook our Tribal Colleges, when for too long Native Americans were denied the basic right to vote. Sec. Jaeger should immediately fix his mistake and ensure that Tribal students receive his letter in order to ensure that ALL student voices are heard." 

###

It is important to get the word out to all Native Americans in North Dakota, especially the students who may not know their rights for voting in North Dakota.   Please share this diary entry and have them refer to Secretary of State Jaeger’s letter here:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/112002917/Jaeger-NDUS-College-Student-Letter-10-2012

Please get the word out and make sure all North Dakota students know their rights and push the State of North Dakota to be inclusive of ALL students, not just the ones they want to vote!

UPDATE (11/16/12):

Native American student made a formal request to GOP North Dakota Secretary of State to not overlook Native American students attending Tribal Colleges in future elections:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rania Batrice
701-220-2261

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Member Calls on ND Sec. of State to Rectify Overlooking Native Community

Bismarck, ND—During a press conference outside of the Secretary of State’s office this morning, Rania Batrice, Communications Director for the Dem-NPL, and member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Courtney Garza released the statements below.

Following the press conference, Garza submitted a letter to Secretary of State, Al Jaeger, urging him to distribute the voting information letter he released to college students across North Dakota in mid-October (letter attached).

Statement from Rania Batrice:
Today I'm here to introduce Courtney Garza.

The reason we are here is that it came to our attention that the North Dakota Secretary of State, Al Jaeger, distributed a letter to North Dakota universities, advising students on best practices of voting when they live in a dormitory. But the problem is that Sec. Jaeger declined to extend the same courtesy to the Native American student population at the tribal colleges here in North Dakota. So today, I'm here to introduce Courtney Garza, a student who has attended Sitting Bull College and is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Statement from Courtney Garza:
Thank you. I am here today to deliver a letter to Secretary Jaeger asking that he fix his mistake, and ensure that all our tribal students receive the same letter that was sent to other North Dakota college students in mid-October. This letter explained how in-state and out-of-state students can legally vote in North Dakota and where, and also served as acceptable evidence of established residency for each student. It's shameful that Secretary Jaeger would overlook our Tribal Colleges and students when for far too long, Native Americans were denied the basic right to vote. All college students here in North Dakota should be encouraged to vote, not just some of them. The Secretary of State has had time to fix this mistake, and make sure that the over 2,500 tribal students around North Dakota are treated the same as other students. Secretary Jaeger should immediately fix his mistake and ensure that Tribal students receive his letter in order to ensure that ALL student voices are heard. Today I will deliver a letter to Secretary Jaeger asking him to fix his oversight and make sure our tribal students get the same letter that all other North Dakota college students received.

Attached:
Audio from press conference
Letter from Courtney Garza to Sec. Jaeger

I know that a lot of so-called progressives did not see this as a huge deal, but when we examine the razor thin margin that Senator elect Heidi Heitkamp won by, you can see that if Tribes and Natives in the State had not supported her effort, we would of seen GOP Congressman Rick Berg as the new Senator for North Dakota bringing his views on women and his lack of a track record in 2-years in Congress helping Native Americans or having a Native American on his staff.

Here's a copy of Courtney's letter, which was unanswered before the election:

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Dear Secretary Jaeger,

I am writing to you today to express my disappointment in your decision not to include Tribal colleges when you dispersed a letter to college campuses with suggestions and best practices of voting for college students, living in dormitories.

As a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, I am offended by your omission, especially when, for far too long, Native Americans were denied the basic right to
vote.

My understanding is that your office has received multiple phone calls asking you to rectify the situation, and you have failed to do so.  Your continued failure to address this issue is insulting.  I am asking you today, to do the right thingand ensure that this letter is sent to Tribal College campuses immediately.

I look forward to a prompt response.

Thank you,

Courtney Garza

We need to make sure all voters are aware of rules, regulations and their votes are counted in all future elections.

Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Dakota Sioux) of the Lake Traverse Reservation.  He publishes articles on Tribal Issues, Energy, Economic Development, Business, Gaming, and Marketing.  He can be reached at theron@scarletraven.com and his blog is www.scarletravenpowwow.blogspot.com

Racist Montana Judge Rules Against Native Americans in Voter Rights Case

Voter Rights

Montana Judge Who Forwarded Racist Obama Email Denies Native American Tribes Easy Access to Polls

By Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson

Here’s an update from my earlier diary about the lawsuit filed on behalf of 15 plaintiffs and the issue of 120-mile round-trip required to participate in early voting in Montana.

On October 31^st, US District Judge Richard Cebull, who earlier this year admitted he forwarded the racist email comparing African Americans to dogs and implying that President Obama’s mother had sex with animals, shot down the request from Native Americans requesting that voting officials set-up satellite polling stations on Indian Reservations and rural areas of Montana.

As many of you recall, Cebull’s “joke” email sent from his courthouse chambers had the punchline of:

            A little boy said to his mother, “Mommy, how come I’m black and you’re white?”

His mother replied, “Don’t even go there, Barack!  From what I can remember about that party, you’re lucky you don’t bark!”

Cebull implied in his rulling that the case was not strong enough to warrant emergency action:

"I'm not arguing that the opportunity is equal for Indian persons as it is to non-Indians," Cebull said. "Because of poverty, because of the lack of vehicles and that sort of thing, it's probably not equal. However, you have to prove … that they can't elect candidates of their choice."

The US Justice Department has weighed in on this case in favor of the plaintiffs and they have sent in documents supporting the Tribal plaintiffs, this will not be completed in time for this election but after talking with lead attorney for the Native Americans, he hopes to have an expedited appeal completed by the 9^th U.S. Circuit of Appeals before Christmas.  The appeal is being bolstered by a University of Wyoming geography professor who argued that the Tribes are in an unfair disadvantage due to this ruling.

In a strange twist,  Judge Cebull announced he was stepping down as Chief Federal Judge for Montana next year, not before issuing this slap in the face to Native Americans!  Whoever is president next year will be appointing a replacement to this obviously racist judge.  Cebull’s conduct is being reviewed by the 9^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

Progressives are going to have to work their butts off in Montana to keep Senator Tester in office, as I wrote previously about the importance of the Native vote helping Tester to score a 3,652 vote victory over GOP’s Conrad Burns in the 2006 US Senate race.  Tester earned over 80% of the vote on Indian Reservations and will need a strong turn-out to defeat GOP Congressman Denny Rehberg.

Tester is working his butt off, recently completing a 4-day, 1,700 mile campaign swing to connect with voters across the State.  The polls show the candidates in a razor thin race with each campaign claiming to have a point or two lead.

The GOTV effort in Indian Country and the National Congress of American Indians will be put to the test in Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin in tight U.S. Senate races where they could tip the scale to an extension of the Democratic Senate majority.

Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Dakota Sioux) of the Lake Traverse Reservation.  He publishes articles on Tribal Issues, Energy, Economic Development, Business, Gaming, and Marketing.  He can be reached at theron@scarletraven.com and his blog is www.scarletravenpowwow.blogspot.com

President Clinton to Fargo to "Rally for Heidi"

U.S. Politics

Here Comes the Reinforcements:  Bill Clinton to help Heidi Heitkamp in close North Dakota Senate Race

The Secretary of Explaining Stuff (the one and only President Bill Clinton) is headed to Fargo, North Dakota tonight to support former Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp in her neck and neck race to beat back GOP freshman Congressman Rick Berg for the Senate seat of retiring Democrat Kent Conrad.  This is an interesting development and shows that the Democrats believe we can win this race!

The “Rally with Heidi” is scheduled for Monday, October 29^th at the Fargo Civic Center, 207 4^th Street N, in beautiful downtown Fargo!  Doors open at 6:00 PM CST and the event will kick-off at 7:00 PM.

You can RSVP online here:  http://action.heidifornorthdakota.com/signup_page/billandheidi

National attention has been focused on this race as it has tightened over the summer, polls show a deadlock or a Heitkamp + 3 or Berg +3, depending on what poll you read.  As you may all remember, Congressman Berg’s extreme views have been put under the microscope, he introduced ND House Bill 1489, which would make abortion a class AA felony, even in the case of rape or incest.  As we see the fallout from Missouri GOP Senate Candidate Todd "Legitimate Rape" Aiken and Indiana GOP Senate Candidate Richard "Gift from God" Mourdock.  This race is too close to call and it should not be overlooked!

North Dakota could decide the democratic majority and Heidi is a champion for the middle class, the farmer, and of course she is the only candidate in the race who has a Native American platform and a Native American staff member, the Three Affiliated Tribes’ own Diane Johnson!

Heidi has invited Tribal leaders from across the State for this event and I know that many members of my Tribe (Sissseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation) are heading to Fargo, including my mom, Lake Traverse District Chairperson Beverly Thompson and my Aunt and former Tribal Chairperson, Lorraine Rousseau.

It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the people of North Dakota to see the Secretary of Explaining Stuff and former POTUS William Jefferson Clinton.

If you can’t attend, consider donating!  Heidi can win this for Indian Country and for the Democrats of North Dakota!

To Contribute to Heidi’s campaign please go here:  https://secure.democratsenators.org/o/502/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=14410

Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Dakota Sioux) of the Lake Traverse Reservation.  He publishes articles on Tribal Issues, Energy, Economic Development, Business, Gaming, and Marketing.  He can be reached at theron@scarletraven.com and his blog is www.scarletravenpowwow.blogspot.com

Native American Vote Could Determine ND Senate Race

United States Politics:

 “A Strong Native American Voter Turn-out in North Dakota Could Affect United States Senate Majority”

By Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson

The United States Senate race in North Dakota has become one of the most contested races in the country.  This race could come down to a matter of hundreds of votes in a few remote reservation counties to decide this important race.  It has become a potential “hold” for the Democrats, when only a few months ago it was considered an easy pick-up for the Republicans by having first term, multi-millionaire member of Congress, Rick Berg, make the jump up to the U.S. Senate from the House of Representatives.  Over the summer this has become an extremely competitive race, not just because of Berg’s extreme views being put under the microscope, one of those views was ND House Bill 1489, which would make abortion a class AA felony, even in the case of rape or incest.  The race has tightened because of the surprising grass roots approach of Democratic standard bearer, former North Dakota Attorney General, Heidi Heitkamp.

The race has gone from a Berg + 9 to a statistical dead heat with some polls showing either Berg or Heitkamp in the lead.  Millions of dollars in out-of-State money has been pouring into North Dakota from both sides as well as independent PACs.  Berg is the 13^th wealthiest member of Congress and is tapping some of his own wealth to graduate from the House to the Senate after less than one term in office.

In 2008, President Obama won 13 of the 53 counties, 8 of those 13 counties are part of the 5 Indian Reservations in North Dakota.  So in a tight U.S. Senate race and a throw away Presidential race (President Obama lost North Dakota by 9 points in 2008 and is trailing Romney by 14, 54-40, in 2012), getting a strong turn-out from the 8 counties on the five reservations plus a strong Native turn-out in the cities of Fargo and Grand Forks with a population of 3,200 , could keep the Senate seat in the Democratic column. 

In a Frontline story from 2008, PBS nationally Native Americans vote democrat by as much at 95%.  Some statistics from the 2006 Senate race in Montana between Democrat Jon Tester and the GOP candidate Conrad Burns had some Tribal counties voting for the democrat at an 83% margin, if those same statics bear out in North Dakota, the Native American vote could be the deciding factor.

There are five federally recognized Indian Tribes in North Dakota (Standing Rock Sioux, Three Affiliated, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe, Spirit Lake Sioux, and Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate), the total Native American population is 36,591 who identify as American Indian only, which is 5.4 % of the total population of 672,592.  Others that identify as mixed, including American Indian is 42,996 or 6.4% of the population.  The telling data is that 55% of the Native-only population live on the five reservations in North Dakota while the others live off-reservation, this is a very important constituency for either party.

One of the most important ways that Indian Country can gauge how a candidate will treat us after they are elected is; do they have a Native American platform on their campaign website?  Have they visited the Indian Reservations and met with Tribal leaders?  What is their historical voting record on Native American issues? 

One of the candidates in North Dakota Senate race has a platform on Native American issues, Heidi Heitkamp.  She has met with the Tribes and appointed a Native American to her campaign staff, attorney Diane Johnson, a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes to assist in her Native American outreach.  Heitkamp has also stood up for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and she promises to make sure a farm bill is passed for the farmers of North Dakota.  She is also emphasizing her opposition to the GOP Ryan Budget which has sharp reductions in federal spending which will affect Indian Country more severely because of the high unemployment and lack of opportunities on the reservation.  While the National unemployment rate has dropped to 7.8%, the unemployment rate in Indian Country is anywhere from 20% to 70% plus.  Berg on the other hand has supported the Ryan Budget, which would negatively affect his Native American constituency.

Berg currently does not have a Native American link on his House page nor any information on his Berg for Senate website discussing his position on issues that are important to his Native American constituency.  Of the hundreds of statements and releases he has issued in Congress, only one joint statement with Senators Hoeven and Conrad about the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe sex abuse issue, dealt with Native Americans. Requests to Berg’s office have been answered and hopefully Berg’s position on Native American issues will be forthcoming and a follow-up article is anticipated.

For the Democrat, former Attorney General Heitkamp to win, she is going to have to hold her own in North Dakota against Berg for the non-Indian vote and stay within a percentage point or two of the estimated 315,000 votes that are typically cast in presidential election years, and that Heitkamp can overwhelm by winning the Native American vote with 80% plus (which tend to vote for Democrats in the 80-95% range), which could help her overcome a 2-3% deficit.  She will also need the Native Americans to vote early and in higher percentages than they have in previous elections.

For Berg is going to have to reach out to the Native American population like South Dakota’s GOP Senator John Thune.  Granting access to Native Americans, having an open office and open ear to their issues, as well as appointing a Native American in his office and create outreach programs to adequately represent his Native American constituency. 

Historically Native Americans have faced extreme prejudice when it comes to voter suppression, with States like South Dakota preventing Native Americans from voting until 1975, and the pending lawsuit in Montana where three Tribes are suing the State to give access to remote Native American tribes for early and absentee voting.  North Dakota Native Americans are well aware of what is transpiring in Indian Country, and in this election they have the opportunity to impact the race for the United States Senate.  While other Native Americans across the Country have the opportunity to let their voices be heard loud and clear and impact races in Montana, Washington, and New Mexico, we are not going to sit back and let others make decisions for us that affect us, and we will vote.

Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Dakota Sioux) of the Lake Traverse Reservation.  He publishes articles on Tribal Issues, Energy, Economic Development, Business, Gaming, and Marketing.  He can be reached at theron@scarletraven.com and his blog is www.scarletravenpowwow.blogspot.com

Native American Vote Suppression in Montana

Native American Vote Suppression in Montana

Lawsuit filed on October 10th:  Montana Tribes Demanding Equal Access to Early Voting

By Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson

In the 2006 race for United States Senate, Democrat Jon Tester credited his win over republican incumbent Conrad Burns to the Native vote in Montana, winning the election by a razor thin 3,562 votes.  In that mid-term election over 17,000 votes within the reservation counties propelled Tester to a U.S. senate win by earning over 75% of the vote. 

In one example of the potential of this community to swing an election, in Blackfeet Reservation 2,461 voters turned out, 83 percent of them voting in favor of Tester.        Demos.org                                      

The 83% figures equals:  Jon Tester 2,042 and Conrad Burns 419 a difference of 1,623 votes!

A 2008 Frontline story, Paying Attention to the Native American Vote (November 4, 2008), stated that Native Americans vote Democrat nationally in the 90-95% range.

Fast forward to the 2012 Montana race and you see a similar situation to what happened in Pennsylvania and Ohio to limit access to the polls for strong democratic (large minority population) districts.   You can see the same voter suppression happening in Montana of epic proportions, trying to displace the 6.4% population of Native Americans.

On October 10, 2012, 10, members of three Montana Tribes – Northern, Cheyenne, Crow, and Gros Ventre & Assiniboine – filed a voting rights lawsuit in federal court in Billings.  One defendant is Montana’s head election official, Secretary of State Linda McCulloch.  The other 13 are commissioners and election officers of Rosebud, Big Horn and Blaine counties, which overlap the three tribes’ reservations, respectively, and handle their non-tribal elections.

The Tribal members are suing because the officials do not plan to provide the three reservations with satellite offices for early voting, which got underway in Montana on October 9 and runs through election day.  The 16 plaintiffs say this violates rights protected by the United States and Montana constitutions and the Voting Rights Act (VRA).  All three counties named have lost or settled VRA suits.  Today’s failure to provide satellite and early voting reinforces a “history of racial discrimination in voting” the suit said.

Indian Country Today, Stephanie Woodward, Oct 12, 2012

Looking at the situation in Montana where many of the Native Americans on the reservation have to drive 100 miles or more roundtrip to vote early in this pivotal U.S. Senate race is key to letting their voice be heard.  Why should the Native Americans of Montana reservations only have one day to vote (election day)?  This is a violation of the VRA that is disenfranchising Native American voters in Montana and creating an opportunity for republican U.S. Senate candidate Dennis Rehberg to win the U.S. senate because of the State limiting the access to early voting.

Republicans in the State are saying that “outside agitators” are the reason for this suit being brought forward, not taking responsibility for doing what is right, which is providing equal access to all residents/citizens of Montana.  I have a hard time understanding the rationale for the State of Montana to put party before politics and limit the Native Americans from voting?  Yes, Native Americans vote Democrat by a 75% to 25% edge, but instead of trying to keep them from voting, they should try and earn their support!

I think we all have to stand up and assist the first Americans on their quest to participate equally in American democracy.  Native Americans were the last to receive the vote (1924) and many States continued to limit their right to vote up until 1975 where South Dakota fought Native voter rights in Todd, Shannon and Washabaugh (now Millette)Counties on the (Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian Reservations).  Other States such as Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, New Mexico and Washington prohibited “Indians not-taxed” from Voting (demos.org).

Bloggers of the World unite and get the message out about the voter suppression happening on America’s first people’s and share this blog and garner support to fight the Civil and Voter Rights violations happening in Montana and elsewhere.

Theron “Scarlet Raven” Thompson is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (Dakota Sioux) of the Lake Traverse Reservation.  He publishes articles on Tribal Issues, Energy, Economic Development, Business, Gaming, and Marketing.  He can be reached at theron@scarletraven.com and his blog is www.scarletravenpowwow.blogspot.com

Scarlet Raven's Pow Wow Blog

Thanks for stopping by to see my place on the world wide web.  I am a Sisseton and Wahpeton Dakota Indian from the plains of the Dakotas in the greatest country in the World.

American Indians/Native Americans in the United States still face third world living conditions and are a long ways from being able to take advantage of the American dream.  I hope to put forth insight into the condition of our people while adding to the discourse of creating opportunities in economic development, renewable energy development, digital communications, and being able to reach out to all of the two and a half million plus Native Americans of over 560 Indian Tribes

Please stop by my Pow Wow blogspot and feel free to let me know your thoughts.  Pidamiya