Native Americans 'Left Out in the Cold' Under Trump Press Biden for Action

WASHINGTON – When President Joe Biden introduced Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico as his pick for interior secretary, making her the first Native American to be selected for a Cabinet position, he acknowledged the country’s long history of failing the land’s first citizens.

“The federal government has long broken promises to Native American tribes who have been on this land since time immemorial,” he said. “With her appointment, Congresswoman Haaland will help me strengthen the nation to nation relationship.”

But with Biden’s election and Haaland’s nomination, tribal communities are looking for more than vague pledges.

Angry over their treatment during the Trump administration, which oversaw a deeply flawed response to the pandemic on tribal lands and pursued other policies at odds with Native American priorities, they are now hopeful that Biden, who benefited from their enthusiastic support in battleground states like Arizona last year, will back a far-reaching agenda to address the poverty that has long ravaged their communities.

They are pushing to ensure that any infrastructure plan the Biden administration pursues includes substantial money to improve access to water and electricity and to improve roads and bridges. They want more funding for their woeful health care service. They want changes to federal land use policy to minimize environmental damage from energy projects. And they want a renewed commitment to improving their schools.

Disponível em: https://news.yahoo.com. Acesso em: 23 fev. 2021.

A população nativa dos Estados Unidos, os índios que habitavam a região antes da chegada dos Europeus, ainda enfrenta problemas estruturais em suas terras. Após a vitória do democrata Joe Biden, há uma pressão que tende a aumentar em relação ao governo por causa da(o)