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Tribal leader supports Kamala Harris

Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

A Michigan tribal leader says he supports Kamala Harris to be Joe Biden’s running mate in the 2020 election. 

Chairperson for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Dr. Aaron Payment said he met with Harris during a democratic debate in Detroit.

“I asked her some very tough questions regarding tribal sovereignty and upholding the treaty and trust responsibility,” he said.  “She hit the ball out of the park.”

When Harris was attorney general in California, she represented the state in a case that opposed land in trust unless tribes negotiate and concede to certain things, which Payment asked her about. 

“She said because her client was the state, her job was to represent the client not the tribes. But she said on a personal level, she doesn't agree with the encumbered process for turning land into trust,” Payment said. “She said, ‘if I’m in a position of power to be able to change this and streamline the process, I will, and I’m pledging to you now.’”

Payment said that is important to him.

“As an American Indian it's our legacy to uphold the treaties that our ancestors signed.”

He said tribes should look beyond parties when voting, he says they should look who pledges sovereignty. 

“I’m encouraging people to look beyond partisanship and look beyond your typical ideology to see what candidate represents the best for us and our treaty and trust responsibility,” Payment said. “Who is running a sovereignty ticket? And who’s going to be best for tribes.”