Political Quotes

“As cochair of the Native American Caucus, I am very happy to support this resolution. The American Indian, Native Americans, occupy a unique position in this country and in the Constitution of the United States. You and I have two citizenships: I am a citizen of the United States and a citizen of the State of Michigan. Native Americans under the Constitution and under the Supreme Court decisions have three citizenships. They are citizens of the United States and they have proven that over and over again in our wars; they are citizens of the sovereign States in which they live; and they are citizens of the sovereign tribes in which they live. The Constitution says Congress shall have power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States and with the Indian tribes. Those three sovereignties are listed there. John Marshall in 1832 stated in his Supreme Court decision, the Indian nations had always been considered as distinct independent political communities retaining their original natural rights. We have an obligation under the Constitution, under the laws, and under the interpretation of the Supreme Court to make sure we keep our responsibilities to Native Americans.”