Carol Juneau
Browning, MT

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Posted: M d, Y l:i p PDT

Dear Montana friends and fellow Democrats:

The past five days of the Democratic Convention have energized the Montana delegation and the Native American Caucus. Tonight, Presidential Candidate Al Gore will give his acceptance speech and the Montana delegation is anxiously waiting to receive his message and to carry that message back to Montana.

President of the National Congress of American Indians, Sue Masten, just completed her speech before the convention floor. She encouraged all Native Americans to support and vote for Al Gore for President because he will continue to support the government-to-government relationship between his administration and tribes, and this support begins with tribal sovereignty.

Last night, Joe Leiberman addressed the convention floor and discussed his history as a freedom fighter in the 1960’s in the South in the registration of voters. His discussion of his families history with the Holocaust is not unlike the relationship Indian tribes had with the early settlers in the United States. This experience with the disenfranchised is one more reason for voters in Montana, and especially Indian People, to register to vote and then go to the polls in November and elect Al Gore and Joe Leiberman.

The attention that has been given to the Native American Caucus by the National Democratic Committee has provided the 97 American Indian delegates with a sense of pride, but more importantly has provided the caucus with a feeling of inclusion, being an important part of the Democratic Party, and with a commitment to include Indian tribes in economic development, improvement in education programs, and sitting at the same table.

This convention has united the Indian delegates that represent 29 states on the urgency to return to the reservations and the Indian urban centers to register voters and to carry the Gore and Lieberman message to the voting booths because of their respect toward humankind.

This has been a great convention for the Montana delegation because it has provided an opportunity for each member to become more acquainted with each other, to have discussions on issues that are common to Montana, and now to return home and work to get out the Democratic message. The Montana delegation now realizes how important it is to elect Democratic candidates to the statewide offices and to Congress.

This has been an outstanding experience for us, in addition to meeting people from other states and tribes that have common concerns. It has been a rewarding experience to observe elected tribal leaders meeting with congressional leaders, and attending a conference where respect is the operative word by Congressional Senators, Representatives, Governors and Cabinet Members that have addressed the Native American Caucus.

See you back in Montana,

Stan and Carol Juneau