Navajo Nation: Election 2008

Navajo Nation is the largest Native American reservation in the United States. More than 38,000 of its residents are registered to vote. This year, John McCain and Barack Obama are courting the Native American vote, especially in the west, where Obama is mounting a significant challenge to western senator McCain. Indeed, the McCain camp acknowledged last week that McCain's home state, Arizona, could swing Democratic this election. Navajo Nation, spread across the "four corners" region of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona, has already seen the beginnings of presidential campaign activity.

Obama set up an office in early February in the Navajo Nation town of Shiprock. McCain, who has met with members of Navajo Nation in the past, is the former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

In this video, residents of Navajo Nation share their opinions on the presidential election, and their hopes for the future of the reservation. (The video takes a minute to load. Hit play and then pause for best playback. Play time is roughly 4 minutes.)

Voices of Navajo Nation from Rebecca Ford on Vimeo.

Comments

[CeciliaBertrand]

Nice effort. The few videos I have seen on Indian affairs in this election process have revealed an inappropriate lack of knowlege about what is going on in their own backyard. Through the years, I have been employed by several Indian tribes; WA and AK states and the government regard for these people has been as appauling in this 20th and 21st century as it was when the US government formed, established its independence from England and stole the land from the aborigines, i.e the Native American, pick a tribe!

Insofar as the Navajos, McCain has been around a long long long time - so why am I not surprised the Navajo tribe IS NOT streamlined, academically astute and abreast of world affairs?

Obama on the other hand, given 20?? years in Illinois, brought all kinds of advantages to the Illinois citizens-upgraded all their lives and continues to do so as he is enroute to being the President of the Unietd States.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmm.