Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 20 augusT 2019

Warren apologizes for heritage claim, woos Native Americans

excellent” in her Monday
appearance and has done
a good job of addressing
her past mistakes. “I think
she did. A person has to
admit their mistakes and
move on.”
Iron Hawk said he had
hoped to talk to Warren
about tribal governance is-
sues, but she left too quick-
ly for him to catch her.
Snuffy Main, 64, who trav-
eled to the conference
from Montana, said he
doesn’t think Warren needs
to continue apologizing for
claiming Native American
heritage.
“I don’t understand why
she is constantly apologet-
ic for making a mistake,”
said Main, who is a mem-
ber of the Gros Ventre Tribe
of Montana. He said he
liked what Warren had to
say about making sure the
country honors its promises
Elizabeth Warren, 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, speaks during the first day of the Frank LaMere Native American Presidential and treaties with tribes.
Forum held Monday, Aug. 19, 2019 at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa. “If she can do even a frac-
Associated Press tion of what she promised,
By ELANA SCHOR and JOSH paign in the early days as committed on tribal lands Haaland, who last year be- that would be beneficial,”
FUNK President Donald Trump by those who don’t belong came one of the first two he said.
Associated Press began derisively referring to a tribe. Native American women Gary Funmaker, 72, of
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — to her as “Pocahontas.” Warren’s DNA analysis — elected to Congress, in- Black River Falls, Wisconsin,
Democratic presidential Now that Warren is gaining part of a broader pushback troduced Warren on Mon- said Warren had “good en-
candidate Elizabeth War- in most polls, she’s trying against Trump’s disparag- day after endorsing her ergy to her” and he didn’t
ren offered a public apol- to prove to voters that the ing nickname — showed presidential campaign last see much need for further
ogy Monday to Native controversy won’t doom evidence of a tribal ances- month and aligning with her apology.
Americans over her past her in a general election tor as far as 10 generations for new legislation aimed “That’s accepted. That’s
claim to tribal heritage, matchup against Trump. back, but the Cherokee at helping tribal commu- old news,” said Funmaker,
directly tackling an area The detailed policy agen- Nation joined some other nities. Haaland lamented a Republican who used to
that’s proved to be a big da to help Native Ameri- Native Americans in re- that Warren’s ancestry has work for the Bureau of In-
political liability. cans that she released last buking the senator for at- attracted outsized atten- dian Affairs.
“Like anyone who has week helped her secure a tributing tribal membership tion when Trump faces his Later Monday, Warren
been honest with them- warm reception from at- to genetics. Warren later own charges of racism. campaigned in Minneso-
selves, I know I have made tendees at the tribal forum. apologized privately to the Those who “ask about Eliza- ta, a state Trump hopes to
mistakes,” the Massachu- After drawing a standing Cherokee and had ad- beth’s family instead of is- take out of Democrats’ col-
setts senator said at a fo- ovation, Warren said “I dressed her regret before sues of vital importance to umn next year. The senator
rum on Native American is- have listened and I have Monday’s appearance. Indian Country,” Haaland drew her largest crowd yet
sues in this pivotal early vot- learned a lot” from conver- As of Monday, her cam- told the forum audience, — 12,000 people, accord-
ing state. “I am sorry for the sations with Native Ameri- paign website’s page con- “feed the president’s rac- ing to her campaign — to
harm I have caused.” cans in recent months, de- taining a video and other ism.” an outdoor rally at Macal-
Monday’s remarks were scribing herself as “grate- materials Warren had re- Warren’s remarks were ester College, a private lib-
an effort to move past the ful” for the dialogue. She leased on the DNA analysis well-received by attend- eral arts school in St. Paul.
fallout from her past claims fielded questions about her was no longer active. ees at the Native American “I don’t want a govern-
of tribal ancestry, which proposals, which include a The Native American forum forum. ment that works for giant
culminated in a widely legislative change for a Su- this week is expected to Manny Iron Hawk, 62, who multinational corporations.
criticized release of a DNA preme Court ruling that im- draw 10 of her White House lives on the Cheyenne River I want one that works for
analysis last year. The issue pedes tribal governments’ rivals. Sioux reservation in South our families,” she told the
nearly derailed her cam- ability to prosecute crimes New Mexico Rep. Deb Dakota, said Warren “did crowd.q