Rez Baller Diaries

Palin's Greatest Hits

2008-10-01T20:05:00.001-07:00

McCain Has Cigar Indian!

2008-09-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

Check out McCain's cigar store Indian he keeps in one of his 7 homes. Hopefully he'll treat tribes with a little more respect!
Indianz.com reports

Navajo Nation Pres. Shirley Endorses Barack Obama

2008-09-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

http://navajotimes.com/politics/index.php
http://www.daily-times.com/news/ci_10595532

Derek Fish Hanging on Blackfeet Rez for Obama

2008-09-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Fish is campaigning for Obama on the Blackfeet Rez in Montana. Hahahaha I'll still vote for Obama despite the Fish's presence.

New Natives for Obama Video

2008-09-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

Obama Supports Tribal Sovereignty Over Freedman Objections

2008-09-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

Old news, but people are so mislead. Many still believe Obama unequivocally supports the Congressional Black Caucus on the Cherokee/Freedman issue. Weak. Well, here's the entire statement as well as a link to an article that discusses it. Forward on peeps.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080511_1_a17_hthes26208

From the campaign:

Barack Obama has reiterated his support for tribal sovereignty. Senator Obama said, "Tribal sovereignty must mean that the place to resolve intertribal disputes is the tribe itself. Our nation has learned with tragic results that federal intervention in internal matters of Indian tribes is rarely productive - failed policies such as Allotment and Termination grew out of efforts to second-guess Native communities. That is not a legacy we want to continue."

With respect to the Cherokee Freedman issue, Senator Obama said that while he is opposed to unwarranted tribal disenrollment, congressional interference was not warranted at this point. "Discrimination anywhere is intolerable, but the Cherokee are dealing with this issue in both tribal and federal courts. As it stands, the rights of the Cherokee Freedmen are not being abrogated because there is an injunction in place that ensures the Freedman's rights to programs during the pendency of the litigation. I do not support efforts to undermine these legal processes and impose a congressional solution. Tribes have a right to be self governing and we need to respect that, even if we disagree, which I do in this case. We must have restraint in asserting federal power in such circumstances."

Obama also reiterated his support for fulfilling the treaty obligations to tribes. "The Cherokee Freedmen issue highlights the larger issue of the unfulfilled treaty promises made by the federal government to tribes. It is these promises that Barack is most concerned with as the future president. Barack understands that the federal government owes a legal and moral obligation to tribes to provide health care, education and other essential services to tribes. This is not a handout, but compensation for millions of acres of land relinquished by tribes."

Phil Jackson is the Shit Again

2008-09-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, Phil Jackson is cool once again (he lost his cool status when he came back to coach Kobe for $ instead of sticking to his guns).

The Zen master came out against his alma mater swinging on the mascot issue and tried to set those non-understanding white-folks straight on why to get rid of the mascot. Thanks to Honor Indians blog for putting this up.

---
Phil Jackson, Head Coach for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, received an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater, the University of North Dakota on August 25^th. Honor Indians Institute would like to honor Coach Jackson, not for his receipt of the honorary doctorate, but for his remarks to the UND community. Coach Jackson used his public appearance at UND to address the “Fighting Sioux” mascot controversy. He suggested that his alma mater “…do the right thing…” and they “…have to rethink probably our nickname and moniker.” Jackson also stated that the “Fighting Sioux” mascot was “not beneficial” to the Lakota people, and that “…objectification of people is limiting to ourselves… as well as to the people objectified.” Honor Indian Institute honors Coach Jackson for using his stature in the UND community for taking this opportunity to try to gracefully resolve the “Fighting Sioux” mascot controversy.

Rhode Island Cop Gets Away With Breaking Ankle

2008-07-29T08:20:00.001-07:00

The cop broke the ankle of an unarmed Native guy that wasn't fighting back and got away with it! That kinda BS pisses me off.

http://www.projo.com/news/courts/content/TROOPER_JONES_TRIAL29_07-29-08_IUB11OS_v10.3e81e16.html

Tribe o' Mic-O-Say!!!!! a "mishmash" of Indian stereotypes

2008-07-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

wow. incredible. the ridiculousness is of the charts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe_of_Mic-O-Say

http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2008/07/scout-society-stereotypes-indians.html

Obama In Indian Country Again!

2008-05-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU4WR_rcGUA

GOP Fails to Recruit Minorities

2008-05-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10464.html

Just a few years after the Republican Party launched a highly publicized diversity effort, the GOP is heading into the 2008 election without a single minority candidate with a plausible chance of winning a campaign for the House, the Senate or governor.

Republicans will have only one minority governor, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, an Indian-American, when the dust settles on the ’08 elections. Democrats have three minority governors and 43 African-American members of Congress, including one — Illinois Sen. Barack Obama — who is their likely presidential nominee. Democrats also have several challengers in winnable House races who are either black or Hispanic.
(and at least 3 Native American Congressional candidates - Ed.)

Why She Fights On

2008-05-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/19/AR2008051902235.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

In the end, no one begrudges a bitter-ender. Robert E. Lee is not vilified because he fought on too long, wasting lives -- and all of it, mind you, in the cause of slavery. In Israel, Masada is venerated because the zealots held out and killed themselves rather than surrender. Thermopylae is not considered a defeat but a lesson to us all: Never give up!

But in the end, when Obama is crowned king of the Democrats, Clinton will throw her arms around him and the music will swell and the crowds will cheer -- and everything will be forgotten. And when that happens, Hillary Clinton -- who will be only 65 in 2012 and four years after that still will be younger than McCain is now -- will be positioned to run for president, not as someone's wife, but as a gritty fighter who just would not quit.

Another Native Superdel Supports Obama

2008-05-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/New-Mexico-superdelegate-among-9-to-back-Obama

Laurie Weahkee who is of Zuni, Navajo and Cochiti heritage, cited Obama's ability to address Native American issues. She said she believes Obama has demonstrated during the campaign that he is "an honest and genuine leader" who can build trust with Indian communities.

"That's the real key to improving relations between tribal governments and the United States government," Weahkee said. "I think he's really going to fight for Native Americans."

Obama Leads the Way on the Cherokee/Freedman and Tribal Sovereignty

2008-05-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

"Tribal sovereignty must mean that the place to resolve intertribal disputes is the tribe itself," the Illinois lawmaker said in a statement provided Saturday by his Senate office.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080511_1_A17_hThes26208

Obama in the Paint

2008-04-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

A sweet article from The Nation. Check it out.

Welcome to Rez Baller Diaries

2008-04-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Rez Baller Diaries, the internet's only stop for Rez Ball, Native Policy and unabashed Pro-Obama rantings. This site is updated on an irregular basis by a real-life Rezballer (no shit!).