BY CHARLENE NIJMEH
In Oakland on Tuesday, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly pledged to reaffirm the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s federal status “as soon as he gets to the White House”, along with other wrongfully decertified Tribes of the Termination Era of the 1950s and 60s.
In the small and insular world of federal Indian law and politics, this is a stunningly enlightened view and is a forward thinking reform that is vastly more just than anything that Joe Biden’s administration would be willing to pursue. The gaming tribes bankroll the Democratic Party and they pay tens of millions annually on lobbyists to prevent the most marginalized Tribes from affirming their existence in the eyes of the federal government. The situation is particularly pronounced among California’s gaming tribes, which tend to be much smaller in size, and tend to own much more lucrative gaming venues.
The gaming tribes spend heavily on lobbyists to prevent the affirmation of the most marginalized tribes in eyes of the federal government, for fear of emerging gaming competitors. It’s a sinister genre of corruption, and the Biden Administration ought to be scrutinized for it.
Robert F. Kennedy, in standing up for the most marginalized of Tribes, has proven again that he is a courageous truth teller who doesn’t shy away from issues because the truths are hard or because the politics are complicated.
Our aboriginal territory includes the unceded and unsurrendered lands of the ancestors of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, who are the successors of the historic, sovereign, federally recognized, and never terminated Verona Band of Alameda County.
This land was and continues to be of great historic significance to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and our People are still here today. Oakland, where Mr. Kennedy announced his Vice Presidential running mate — an extraordinarily impressive lawyer and entrepreneur by the name of Nicole Shanahan — is part of our 10,000 year homeland.
Yet the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe is not federally recognized as an official tribe, despite our existence in fact. This wrong must be made right and we know a leader like Mr Kennedy will take up our cause.
It is time we stopped the continued political erasure of the forgotten tribes of California and others across our Country. There are 80,000 members of unrecognized tribes in California. Hundreds of thousands more across the United States, in places like North Carolina, Michigan, Georgia, Virginia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Alabama, and Tennessee – who all continue to suffer the oppression of a corrupt system that favors special interest money over social, racial and historical justice.
Our people are suffering. We need leaders with the ethical and moral courage that Robert Kennedy Jr. has – in order to stand up for what is just and what is right. Robert Kennedy Jr. has protected the rights of indigenous people for 40 years and we believe in him to build on that legacy. We believe that he can and will help bring prosperity to Indian Country, and restore trust between the First Americans and the United States government.
That’s why I am proud to announce that the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council has passed an unanimous resolution to endorse Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for President of the United States. We know that this is a pivotal moment for this country, and that Robert Kennedy Jr. is the person to lead us into a brighter future.
Change won’t magically come to our people. It must be fought for – pushed for – and sometimes even bled for. Bobby Kennedy’s father fought for us. His uncle fought for us. And they both bled for us, while reaching for Justice on so many fronts. And justice was nearly within their grasp.
Mr. Kennedy, my people are praying for you. We’re praying that you will continue to have the courage to speak the truths that bring justice to all peoples. And in this moment of pronounced political polarization, we pray for your safety and protection.
I ask all my Indigenous brothers and sisters – this election year – don’t sit this one out – Fight for your Freedom – Fight for your Justice – and Fight for BOBBY KENNEDY – the way that he has always fought for us.
Charlene Nijmeh has served as the Chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe since 2018, following her mother’s 43-year tenure as Chairwoman of the Tribal government. In August, she will lead an expedition of tribal members by horseback in Washington, DC to demand that President Biden takes immediate corrective action.
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