This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/19/us/politics/elizabeth-warren-native-american.html
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Warren Apologizes at Native American Forum: ‘I Have Listened and I Have Learned’ | Elizabeth Warren Apologizes at Native American Forum: ‘I Have Listened and I Have Learned’ |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, speaking at a presidential forum on Native American issues on Monday, offered a direct, public apology for the “harm” she caused with her past claims of Native American ancestry and pledged to uplift Native people as president. | SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, speaking at a presidential forum on Native American issues on Monday, offered a direct, public apology for the “harm” she caused with her past claims of Native American ancestry and pledged to uplift Native people as president. |
| “Like anyone who’s being honest with themselves, I know that I have made mistakes,” said Ms. Warren, who was met with a standing ovation when she took the stage. “I am sorry for harm I have caused. I have listened and I have learned a lot, and I am grateful for the many conversations that we’ve had together.” | “Like anyone who’s being honest with themselves, I know that I have made mistakes,” said Ms. Warren, who was met with a standing ovation when she took the stage. “I am sorry for harm I have caused. I have listened and I have learned a lot, and I am grateful for the many conversations that we’ve had together.” |
| She continued, “It is a great honor to be able to partner with Indian Country, and that’s what I’ve tried to do as a senator, and that’s what I promise I will do as president of the United States of America.” | She continued, “It is a great honor to be able to partner with Indian Country, and that’s what I’ve tried to do as a senator, and that’s what I promise I will do as president of the United States of America.” |
| Ms. Warren, in keeping with her reputation as the presidential candidate with an enormous collection of detailed plans, has made a concerted effort to develop a policy agenda that would help Native Americans. | Ms. Warren, in keeping with her reputation as the presidential candidate with an enormous collection of detailed plans, has made a concerted effort to develop a policy agenda that would help Native Americans. |
| “Full funding for housing, for health care, for education, for infrastructure — those are not optional,” she said on Monday. “We need to change the rules and make it happen.” | “Full funding for housing, for health care, for education, for infrastructure — those are not optional,” she said on Monday. “We need to change the rules and make it happen.” |
| But her appearance at the forum, held at a theater in Sioux City, was closely watched because of the long-running controversy over the ancestry claims, an issue that is certain to be used against her if she is the Democratic nominee. | But her appearance at the forum, held at a theater in Sioux City, was closely watched because of the long-running controversy over the ancestry claims, an issue that is certain to be used against her if she is the Democratic nominee. |
| Ms. Warren faced criticism last year after she released the results of a DNA test that provided evidence she had a Native American ancestor. After entering the presidential race, she apologized for the DNA test and for identifying herself as Native American during her career as a law professor. | Ms. Warren faced criticism last year after she released the results of a DNA test that provided evidence she had a Native American ancestor. After entering the presidential race, she apologized for the DNA test and for identifying herself as Native American during her career as a law professor. |
| Last week, Ms. Warren rolled out a set of proposals focused on Native American issues, covering topics like tribal sovereignty and missing indigenous women. She also released an expansive legislative proposal with Representative Deb Haaland, Democrat of New Mexico and one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress, that covers areas like criminal justice, health care and education. | Last week, Ms. Warren rolled out a set of proposals focused on Native American issues, covering topics like tribal sovereignty and missing indigenous women. She also released an expansive legislative proposal with Representative Deb Haaland, Democrat of New Mexico and one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress, that covers areas like criminal justice, health care and education. |
| Some of the policy plans Ms. Warren released earlier in her campaign would provide funding to address issues like housing and the opioid crisis in Native American communities. She has also worked on Native American matters in the Senate, sponsoring legislation about suicide prevention and child abuse in Native communities. | |
| Ms. Warren drew cheers on Monday when she called for expanding the ability of tribal nations to prosecute non-Native people who commit crimes on their land. | Ms. Warren drew cheers on Monday when she called for expanding the ability of tribal nations to prosecute non-Native people who commit crimes on their land. |
| And she vowed to bring attention to the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women, including by improving the federal government’s collection of data. At the beginning of the forum, a moment of silence was held for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a Native American woman from North Dakota who disappeared two years ago Monday and was later found dead. | And she vowed to bring attention to the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women, including by improving the federal government’s collection of data. At the beginning of the forum, a moment of silence was held for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a Native American woman from North Dakota who disappeared two years ago Monday and was later found dead. |
| “A problem that is not seen is a problem that is not fixed,” Ms. Warren said. “People need to know the scope of this problem.” | “A problem that is not seen is a problem that is not fixed,” Ms. Warren said. “People need to know the scope of this problem.” |
| The two-day forum, named in honor of Frank LaMere, a Native American activist who died in June, is being hosted by Four Directions, a Native American voting rights group, and the Native Organizers Alliance. Ms. Warren was the second candidate to speak, after the author Marianne Williamson and before Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Other candidates scheduled to attend include Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Julián Castro, the former housing secretary, who last month released his own plan to support indigenous communities. | The two-day forum, named in honor of Frank LaMere, a Native American activist who died in June, is being hosted by Four Directions, a Native American voting rights group, and the Native Organizers Alliance. Ms. Warren was the second candidate to speak, after the author Marianne Williamson and before Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Other candidates scheduled to attend include Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Julián Castro, the former housing secretary, who last month released his own plan to support indigenous communities. |
| OJ and Barb Semans, the co-executive directors of Four Directions, decided that Ms. Warren would not be asked about her ancestry during her appearance, Mr. Semans said in an interview before the event. He said the Warren campaign made no requests about what she would or would not be asked. | OJ and Barb Semans, the co-executive directors of Four Directions, decided that Ms. Warren would not be asked about her ancestry during her appearance, Mr. Semans said in an interview before the event. He said the Warren campaign made no requests about what she would or would not be asked. |
| Mr. Semans, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, faulted President Trump for repeatedly calling Ms. Warren “Pocahontas.” He said he had no problem with how Ms. Warren had referred to her ancestry, and that it was more important to spend time on issues that could help the lives of Native Americans, “not whether or not her DNA test was done properly or improperly.” | Mr. Semans, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, faulted President Trump for repeatedly calling Ms. Warren “Pocahontas.” He said he had no problem with how Ms. Warren had referred to her ancestry, and that it was more important to spend time on issues that could help the lives of Native Americans, “not whether or not her DNA test was done properly or improperly.” |
| “How many times do you have to argue something that’s already done?” he asked. “That issue has been dealt with, it’s been taken care of, and we move on. But what hasn’t been dealt with and taken care of is President Trump’s continued use of it in a derogatory way.” | “How many times do you have to argue something that’s already done?” he asked. “That issue has been dealt with, it’s been taken care of, and we move on. But what hasn’t been dealt with and taken care of is President Trump’s continued use of it in a derogatory way.” |
| One of the panelists during Ms. Warren’s appearance, Aaron A. Payment, the chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, recalled a conversation with Ms. Warren in 2013 in which she discussed her heritage on “a very personal level.” | One of the panelists during Ms. Warren’s appearance, Aaron A. Payment, the chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, recalled a conversation with Ms. Warren in 2013 in which she discussed her heritage on “a very personal level.” |
| “I urged you to tell your story, and I appreciate that you did,” he said. “What I would say is, from here forward, because now we’re in a presidential election, that we take Michelle Obama’s advice and when he goes low, you go high.” | “I urged you to tell your story, and I appreciate that you did,” he said. “What I would say is, from here forward, because now we’re in a presidential election, that we take Michelle Obama’s advice and when he goes low, you go high.” |
| It remains to be seen how much the ancestry issue will linger over Ms. Warren as the campaign goes on. At a rally in New Hampshire last week, Mr. Trump repeated the “Pocahontas” slur and promised there would be more to come. | It remains to be seen how much the ancestry issue will linger over Ms. Warren as the campaign goes on. At a rally in New Hampshire last week, Mr. Trump repeated the “Pocahontas” slur and promised there would be more to come. |
| “I did the Pocahontas thing,” he said. “I hit her really hard, and it looked like she was down and out, but that was too long ago. I should have waited. But don’t worry, we will revive it.” | “I did the Pocahontas thing,” he said. “I hit her really hard, and it looked like she was down and out, but that was too long ago. I should have waited. But don’t worry, we will revive it.” |
| Everett Baxter Jr., 34, a tribal leader for the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska who attended the forum, said he believed there was no need for Ms. Warren to apologize. | Everett Baxter Jr., 34, a tribal leader for the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska who attended the forum, said he believed there was no need for Ms. Warren to apologize. |
| “I don’t think it was necessary for her to do that,” he said, adding that Ms. Warren came across as “pretty in tune, actually, to what’s going on with Indian Country.” | “I don’t think it was necessary for her to do that,” he said, adding that Ms. Warren came across as “pretty in tune, actually, to what’s going on with Indian Country.” |
| Tony Brown, 68, a member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, said of Ms. Warren, “I think she’s got her message down pat.” | Tony Brown, 68, a member of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, said of Ms. Warren, “I think she’s got her message down pat.” |
| “Actions speak louder than words,” he said. “But she has some good actions going for her, so we will see.” | “Actions speak louder than words,” he said. “But she has some good actions going for her, so we will see.” |
| But no amount of outreach or contrition from Ms. Warren will make the issue go away entirely among other Native Americans, said Mark Trahant, the editor of Indian Country Today, who is moderating the forum. | But no amount of outreach or contrition from Ms. Warren will make the issue go away entirely among other Native Americans, said Mark Trahant, the editor of Indian Country Today, who is moderating the forum. |
| “There is a significant group, mostly on Twitter but significant nonetheless, who will never take any apology from her,” he said. “They see it as a felony.” | “There is a significant group, mostly on Twitter but significant nonetheless, who will never take any apology from her,” he said. “They see it as a felony.” |
| Ms. Warren, who has said she learned of her Cherokee and Delaware ancestry through family lore, angered some Native Americans with her decision last year to use a DNA test to provide evidence of Native American descent. Though Ms. Warren did not claim citizenship in any tribe, a Cherokee Nation official said at the time that “using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong.” | Ms. Warren, who has said she learned of her Cherokee and Delaware ancestry through family lore, angered some Native Americans with her decision last year to use a DNA test to provide evidence of Native American descent. Though Ms. Warren did not claim citizenship in any tribe, a Cherokee Nation official said at the time that “using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong.” |
| Joseph M. Pierce, 36, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation who did not attend the forum but watched Ms. Warren’s remarks and tweeted about them, said Ms. Warren had eroded tribal sovereignty “by taking into her own hands the ability to determine who is and who is not Cherokee.” He said of Ms. Warren’s apology, “It’s not enough for me.” | Joseph M. Pierce, 36, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation who did not attend the forum but watched Ms. Warren’s remarks and tweeted about them, said Ms. Warren had eroded tribal sovereignty “by taking into her own hands the ability to determine who is and who is not Cherokee.” He said of Ms. Warren’s apology, “It’s not enough for me.” |
| “It seems like she’s not willing to really engage or name, even, the harm that she’s caused,” he said in an interview. “The harm is that she has shifted the conversation towards DNA testing, towards biology, towards family lore.” | |
| Ms. Haaland, who endorsed Ms. Warren last month, takes a different view. Introducing Ms. Warren at the forum, she noted that some in the news media had asked her whether Mr. Trump’s criticism of Ms. Warren over her ancestry would “hamper her ability to convey a clear campaign message.” | Ms. Haaland, who endorsed Ms. Warren last month, takes a different view. Introducing Ms. Warren at the forum, she noted that some in the news media had asked her whether Mr. Trump’s criticism of Ms. Warren over her ancestry would “hamper her ability to convey a clear campaign message.” |
| “I say that every time they ask about Elizabeth’s family instead of the issues of vital importance to Indian Country, they feed the president’s racism,” she said. “Elizabeth knows she will be attacked, but she’s here to be an unwavering partner in our struggle because that is what a leader does.” | “I say that every time they ask about Elizabeth’s family instead of the issues of vital importance to Indian Country, they feed the president’s racism,” she said. “Elizabeth knows she will be attacked, but she’s here to be an unwavering partner in our struggle because that is what a leader does.” |
| Ms. Haaland then offered a stinging appraisal of Mr. Trump: “I say the president who worships Andrew Jackson, who coddles white supremacists and defends Vladimir Putin, who cages children and freely admitted to assaulting women, is no match for a woman with a plan.” | Ms. Haaland then offered a stinging appraisal of Mr. Trump: “I say the president who worships Andrew Jackson, who coddles white supremacists and defends Vladimir Putin, who cages children and freely admitted to assaulting women, is no match for a woman with a plan.” |