Native Americans Need Hillary to Actually Be An Ally Against the Dakota Access Pipeline

Native Americans Need Hillary to Actually Be An Ally Against the Dakota Access Pipeline
Published on Thursday, October 06, 2016
by
Common Dreams

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/10/06/native-americans-need-hillary-actually-be-ally-against-dakota-access-pipeline

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Hillary has not given Native Americans many reasons to vote for her, but Trump has given us many reasons not to vote for him. Still, that will not be enough to bring Native people out in droves.

Just like any community, she needs to provide a reason to vote for her, not just against Trump. She has not provided that reason. Hillary Clinton can give Native Americans that opportunity — she can reach out a hand of allyship to us. She can show that she won’t follow in the footsteps of previous presidents who have broken hundreds of treaties and spilled the blood of so many of our brothers and sisters.

We are rising up. We are calling for change. The Dakota Access Pipeline is the biggest unity moment for Native Americans in 140 years.

Hillary’s not Bernie or Barack; she’s not someone Indian Country has gotten excited about. Yet. But she could be. With a firm stance on the Dakota Access Pipeline and treaty rights generally, she could win enthusiastic support.
Hillary Clinton has an opportunity to ally with Native Americans, to join us in a historic moment of unity, a stand for our very humanity. The question now is, will she?