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May 31, 2002
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Senator Wellstone courts Native
vote in Bemidji meeting
By Jeff Armstrong
The Minnesota Green Party's surprising nomination of an
Oglala author of numerous books on Native spirituality to contest
a tight
U.S. Senate race may serve to raise the political profile
of indigenous
issues in the state.
The message was not lost on Senator Paul Wellstone, who met
Wednesday in Bemidji with tribal officials from northern Minnesota.
Red Lake chairman Bobby Whitefeather said that while tribes
are increasingly contributing to both major parties, Wellstone is most
deserving of Native support.
"We have to be at the table. Whether tribes donate to
Democrats or Republicans is up to them," said Whitefeather. "Paul is
the only senator in recent times that has contacted Red Lake and asked
'how can
I help.'"
Wellstone denied apprehension that Green Party
candidate Ed McGaa would attract votes which would otherwise
fall in
his camp, possibly swinging the election in Republican Norm Coleman's
favor.
"I'm more concerned with the governor race," said
Wellstone. "Ken Pentel has the potential to take the 5%" vote share,
which would confirm the Greens' major party status.
Wellstone praised former Green Party vice presidential
candidate and White Earth Land Recovery Project activist Winona LaDuke
for her
efforts to persuade the party not to nominate a candidate against
Wellstone,
who is widely seen as more sympathetic to Green Party issues.
"I owe a debt of gratitude to Winona LaDuke,"
Wellstone said.
Wellstone said he would, if elected, help initiate a hearing
on a reservation in the state over human rights abuses against Natives
and
racial disparities in the legal system.
"In Congress, I'm really zeroing in on the
disproportionate detention of people of color," Wellstone said.
McGaa said his primary issues are the preservation of social
security and securing the release of former AIM activist Leonard
Peltier from
prison, two policy questions on which there would be little distinction
from
the incumbent senator. The candidate said his first bill
would be in
the form of a requirement for equal gender balance in congress.
But McGaa said his indigenous knowledge is badly needed in
the capitol.
"We are in desperate straits. I believe someone needs
to be in Washington with that knowledge," he said. "They'll listen to
Native people know. Darn right they'll pay more attention to Native
issues."
A former Republican candidate for the state legislature and
an Al Gore voter in the 2000 presidential election, McGaa said
his candidacy
would actually assist Wellstone.
"He's going to lose it if I don't run," said
McGaa, without elaborating on his reasoning.
While adamant about his role in the election, McGaa did not
rule out withdrawing from the race.
"I might just get disgusted and quit this whole
thing," said McGaa.
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