A few days old, but here’s the transcript of the call-in show from just before Christmas. The guest is James Ramos, Chair at San Manual. Jill from LTBB called in to bring up President Bush’s flubbing of the definition of tribal sovereignty. Here’s the excerpt:
CONAN: James Ramos is chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, with us from California. 800-989-8255. Email: talk@npr.org. We want to hear from American Indian listeners today: What challenges do you face from the federal government? Jill is on the line, calling from Grand Rapids in Michigan. Hello, Jill, are you there?
JILL (Caller): Hi. I’m here. Hello.
CONAN: Yeah. You’re on the air. Go ahead, please.
JILL: Okay. I just want to say that I was pretty flabbergasted when President George Bush was asked what tribal sovereignty was, and all he could say was that it meant to be sovereign. I think with Obama, things are looking a little better. But tribal sovereignty is something that’s fought very hard for. My tribe wasn’t recognized, I don’t think, until 1993 or 1994. And I’m so thankful for what they did. It really opened a lot of doors for me. And I was able to go to college and so.
CONAN: Well, which tribe is that, Jill?
JILL: Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
Turtle Talk 