 San Carlos, AZ— Situated 90 miles east of Phoenix the San Carlos Apache reservation is a series of stunning panoramas that range from bone dry washes to cacti littered hills that precede jagged mountains set against a cumulus infested sky. Yet at the same time, some parts of the town of San Carlos resemble the shell shock façade of Gaza strip, while in other parts, quaint wooden houses circle cul-de-sacs - a topographical paradox.
It lacks the convenience of strip malls and Cineplex’s that dot the sprawl of bigger towns, but you can get almost anything on the Internet nowadays. It is within this mishmash that the most recent tribal election took place.
The San Carlos Apache tribe has tribal elections every two to four years, usually in accordance with state and federal election schedules. The Districts of Bylas, Gilson Wash, Peridot, and Seven Mile all had council seats up for grabs. Incumbents were nervous, as were a few brazen challengers who believed it was time for a “CHANGE!” Perhaps galvanized by Obama’s rhetoric on inclusion? Tribal elections are won not only by issues but also by who serves the best food and who has the biggest family. In the past, one candidate’s bid for office was cut short when he served only spaghetti at his rallies. Such is the fickleness of tribal politics, but at the same time that is what makes it so interesting.
As most Americans cast their votes for the next President, folks on the San Carlos Apache reservation also voted in their tribal election. I was on hand at the Burdette Hall polling site watching the spectacle unfold. Tribal Council candidates and their supporters camped at the barricade marking the boundary where candidates could legally solicit votes. It was bedlam. Voices emerged from smoke emitted from BBQ grills, exclaiming, “Have a hotdog and vote for me!” Certainly these types of persuasions exist in the broader election process, but those types of allegiances are usually formed behind closed doors, and involve large sums of cash.
On a national level it seemed that 2008 was the year for the Native American vote. Although representing about one percent of the total United States population it has been said that, “the presidential race this year could easily be swung by Native voters in battleground states with high Native populations … but only if effective outreach has been made to Native communities.” San Carlos Apache member and award winning broadcast journalist Mary Kim Titla even ran for congress, alas she did not win. The heightened status of the Indian vote was seen at the Democrat National Convention in Denver where delegates from an estimated 150 Native American tribes were in attendance. Moreover, the state of Montana elected its first Native American woman, Denise Juneau from the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, to state office, as Superintendent of Public Instruction. Yet it has been difficult to ascertain the exact figures of Native Americans who voted in the presidential election. According to the San Carlos Tribal Election Board out of the 9,829 eligible voters, 5016 actually voted, or 51.03% of the voting population.
In San Carlos most Apaches were primarily focused on the tribal elections, believing their participation in local politics had a greater impact on their daily lives. And, who could blame voters who feel this way since Washington D.C. has consistently short changed Native Americans on issues ranging from health care to education. Yet at the same time it is in the federal elections where Native Americans could have a greater impact if only every Native American voted. If enough Apaches voted on the federal level they could possibly elect officials who would push for legislation benefiting Apache people. For example: The Gila River Indian Community and The San Carlos Apache Tribe have an ongoing dispute over water rights. It is a very complicated case, but in a simplified assessment, San Carlos has claimed exclusive rights over the water that flows through its boundaries, seeking financial compensation from communities downriver. Yet, The Gila River Indian Community, which lies 100 miles down river, disputed San Carlos’ claims stating they did not have to compensate San Carlos. The Gila River Indian Community, because of its large voting public and vast financial resources from casino revenue, has been able to lobby effectively against San Carlos in Congress.
In early September prospective candidates for available tribal council seats turned in their letter of intent to the San Carlos election board. Followed by a primary that streamlined the list to seventeen candidates for all the districts. In the weeks preceding the general election the rez was littered with election signs and frequent rallies took place at baseball fields, rodeo grounds and dusty lots in each district. Whereas most non-tribal elections involve slick television ads and glossy pamphlets, tribal elections are grass root affairs involving hand painted signs, and xeroxed manifestos. Channel 11, the community station, was ablaze with proclamations from each candidate proclaiming their experience and integrity. Another “grass roots” scheme used to get votes was enticing food served at the many rallies. For the most part, the majority of attendees at these rallies were the candidates’ family members - armed with leaflets. Even still, as soon as the food was served people drove off with their plates, or scattered to their cars limply honking their horns to accentuate a point made in a candidate’s speech.
The issues addressed included everything from addressing poor housing conditions to calls for a transparent tribal government- echoing the platform of the national presidential candidates. But when I pressed candidates on the specifics of how they would implement their plans I was met with hostility or dismissed altogether. “Give me your number; I’ll get back to you,” they’d tell me, but they never did call. The local paper, The San Carlos Apache Moccasin, tried to present objective coverage, but they were stone walled as well. Instead they featured “statements” issued by each candidate. A local committee called People First attempted to host a forum for each district where issues could be debated, but not one candidate participated. This is alarming because voters cannot make informed decisions at the polls if they don’t know what the candidates will do once in office. This is perhaps the biggest shortcoming of San Carlos tribal elections: everyone claims to want change, but no one wants to discuss how they plan to change the current administration in a detailed manner.
Whereas President-elect Obama’s platform stood on inclusion, tribal politics on the San Carlos rez was divisive, certainly a common practice in mainstream politics, but especially evident in this year’s San Carlos tribal election. For example, in the Seven-Mile district only one council seat was available. Yet four clan-related candidates vied for this seat. In Apache culture clans are just as important as biological relations; thus lines of allegiance were quickly drawn. It was alleged that one candidate in particular went so far as to vandalize the rally sites of their opponent, littering the ground with broken bits of glass and tearing down signs. Accordingly, on Election Day at the Burdette Hall polling site in Seven-Mile, the tension was palpable. I supported one candidate for a tribal council seat sitting with him at his camp where he was host to a barrage of hostile stares and cheap shots. Supporters of other candidates accused him of running for office out of spite for the other three candidates as opposed to running for office because of his genuine concern for the community. Yet, the incumbent was alleged to have embezzled funds meant for the community, channeling the funds to a select few denying most of their constituents’ adequate services. Those who felt excluded were angry, and instead of uniting with one candidate, they stood defiantly behind their candidate of choice. But my candidate of choice remained dignified telling me, “When this is all over we’ll still be family”. He lost; but he was correct, for when the unofficial results were read at the polling site, the tension between opposing parties dissipated save, the incumbent. Later, after several recounts, which were made at the insistence of the incumbent, and after the tribal election results were officially ratified, we all reveled together under a crisp autumn night exclaiming, “At least McCain didn’t win!” In the end, clan bonds…family, really, transcended politics.
[Images courtesy of Google images]
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Sonny Grant is an educator on the San Carlos Apache Reservation who will teach creative writing to at-risk students at the Junior High School. He has no intentions of running for political office…EVER!
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