In a significant policy address, Hillary Clinton presented her comprehensive Hillary Clinton Unveils South Dakota Native American Agenda, a multifaceted plan designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing the Native American community within South Dakota. This agenda, rooted in a deep respect for tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship, aimed to foster economic growth, improve healthcare access and quality, combat crime, and strengthen educational opportunities for the approximately 62,000 Native Americans residing in the state, a substantial portion of whom live on reservations.
The announcement underscored Clinton’s commitment to reversing what she characterized as years of neglect by previous administrations, particularly concerning the fulfillment of treaty obligations and the provision of essential services to Native American communities. She articulated a vision of partnership and collaboration, emphasizing the critical role of federal investment and support in empowering tribes to achieve self-sufficiency and prosperity.
Acknowledging the Historical Context and Current Realities
The Hillary Clinton Unveils South Dakota Native American Agenda was unveiled against a backdrop of persistent socioeconomic disparities and historical injustices that have profoundly impacted Native American communities in South Dakota. The state is home to nine federally recognized tribes: Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Flandreau, Lake Traverse, Lower Brule, Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Standing Rock, and Yankton. Many of these reservations, particularly Rosebud and Pine Ridge, face dire economic conditions, ranking among the poorest areas in the United States.
Decades of systemic issues, including land dispossession, forced assimilation policies, and inadequate federal funding, have contributed to pervasive challenges such as high rates of poverty, unemployment, inadequate housing, limited access to healthcare, and disproportionately high rates of crime and substance abuse. These challenges are further compounded by geographical isolation, limited infrastructure, and a lack of economic opportunities within reservation boundaries.
Key Pillars of the Agenda
The Hillary Clinton Unveils South Dakota Native American Agenda was structured around several key pillars, each designed to address specific needs and promote long-term sustainable development within Native American communities:
1. Economic Empowerment and Job Creation:
Recognizing the urgent need to stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities, the agenda focused on strategic investments in workforce development programs tailored to the specific needs of Native American communities. These programs aimed to equip individuals with the skills and training necessary to secure high-wage, high-skill jobs in the 21st-century economy.
The plan also prioritized funding for research and development in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. This initiative aimed to not only reduce energy costs for Native American families but also to create "green-collar" jobs within Indian Country, leveraging the region’s abundant natural resources. Furthermore, the agenda proposed expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and restoring funding for programs like the New Market Tax Credit and Empowerment Zones, designed to attract private capital and businesses to low-income areas, including those within South Dakota’s reservations.
2. Expanding Access to Quality Healthcare:
A central focus of the agenda was addressing the significant healthcare disparities experienced by Native Americans in South Dakota. The average life expectancy for Native Americans is significantly lower than the national average, and rates of diabetes, mental health disorders, cardiovascular disease, and infectious diseases are alarmingly high. A substantial portion of the Native American population lacks health insurance, and access to healthcare services is often limited by geographical barriers and inadequate funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS).
To address these challenges, the agenda proposed a substantial increase in funding for the IHS, with the goal of ensuring that all Native Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare. Furthermore, the plan called for elevating the director of the IHS to the Assistant Secretary level within the Department of Health and Human Services, thereby raising the profile and influence of Native American healthcare needs within the federal government.
Recognizing the particularly acute problem of juvenile diabetes among Native American youth, the agenda included a commitment to launching a comprehensive initiative to combat the disease through prevention, early detection, and improved treatment services.
3. Combating Crime and Promoting Public Safety:
The Hillary Clinton Unveils South Dakota Native American Agenda recognized the urgent need to address the high rates of crime and violence within Native American communities. Native Americans experience violence at rates more than twice the national average, and substance abuse, particularly methamphetamine use, has had a devastating impact on tribal communities.
To address these challenges, the agenda proposed providing additional resources for law enforcement in Indian Country, promoting state-tribal cooperative agreements to reduce crime, and improving the collection of data on Indian Country crime and how those crimes are handled by authorities. This included increasing the number of Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal police officers serving Native American communities, addressing staffing shortages that have left tribal lands underserved by law enforcement.
4. Strengthening Education and Cultural Preservation:
The agenda recognized the critical role of education in empowering Native American youth and preserving tribal languages and cultures. It proposed increasing funding for the Indian Head Start program, with a particular emphasis on supporting the teaching of tribal languages, such as Lakota and Dakota, in early childhood education programs.
The plan also included a commitment to expanding access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs in Native American communities, ensuring that tribally sponsored pre-K programs receive federal matching dollars on par with state programs. Furthermore, the agenda called for increased support for tribal colleges and universities, which play a vital role in providing culturally relevant education and promoting community development within Native American communities.
5. Improving Housing and Infrastructure:
Recognizing the dire housing conditions on many Native American reservations, the agenda proposed increasing funding for the Native American Housing Block Grant and modernizing the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act. These measures aimed to increase the availability of affordable housing options for low-income Native Americans and improve the overall quality of housing on tribal lands. Additionally, the agenda included provisions to support the weatherization of Native American homes, reducing energy costs and improving energy efficiency.
A Renewed Commitment to Tribal Sovereignty
Underlying the entire Hillary Clinton Unveils South Dakota Native American Agenda was a renewed commitment to tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship between the tribes of South Dakota and the federal government. The agenda emphasized the importance of respecting tribal self-determination and empowering tribes to make their own decisions regarding their economic development, healthcare, education, and other essential services. Clinton pledged to reopen the doors of the White House to tribal leaders, fostering a spirit of collaboration and partnership in addressing the challenges facing Native American communities. The agenda represented a comprehensive and ambitious plan to address the long-standing needs of Native Americans in South Dakota, grounded in a deep respect for tribal sovereignty and a commitment to fostering economic opportunity, improving healthcare access, combating crime, and strengthening education and cultural preservation.