Senator John McCain's choice for vice president couldn't have been better. As an Alaskan Native, I view Sarah Palin not as a politician, but as a regular person, just like you or me.

I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and I spent a lot of my childhood growing up on the banks of the Kuskokwim River in a little village called Kalskag. I am part Athabascan Indian and Yup'ik Eskimo. I have spent my whole life living in the mighty state of Alaska

Sarah Palin was born in Sandpoint, Idaho. Her hometown now is Wasilla, Alaska, where she was the coach and hockey team manager for Valley Youth Sports. She is married to Todd Palin, a fellow Yup'ik Eskimo, and has five children. She is an average Alaskan hockey mom and proud of it.

A unique state

Palin is an avid hunter who supports the right to bear arms. Let's face it, Alaskans love their guns. Many people who live in Alaska, both Native and non-Native, depend on subsistence for their main food supply. Not only that, subsistence hunting is also an important part of Alaska Native culture.

Since Palin was chosen by McCain there have been lots of rumors in the press and online about Alaska and Wasilla. People have said that Wasilla is your basic "redneck" town, which is preposterous. That would be like generalizing all of rural Alaska as redneck.

Contrary to many rumors, rural Alaskans are not racial bigots. Many Alaskan towns are diverse in the types of people that live there. If we were racist towards either ethnic or white people we would be hating ourselves.

Palin's politics

Palin's political stands are outstanding in my opinion. She opposes abortion. She is a devout Christian, which is a plus in my book. She supports capital punishment, and I believe that is a principled position.

I am proud to say that Sarah Palin is my governor. She has taken strong political stances, and she backs political freedom and personal independence. I think that she would do a heck of a job as vice president of the proud nation of the United States of America.