Donald Trump. Photo: Gage Skidmore
Repealing the Affordable Care Act and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act aren't the only threats facing Indian Country. Steve Russell, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, thinks Republican president-elect Donald Trump could go even further and dismantle federal Indian law:
President Trump had the blueprint down for ending tribal sovereignty long before he went into politics. My hope was that we would be so far down his priority list that he would not get around to us. A column by my colleague Lynn Armitage tells me that was a vain hope. She quotes Deswood Tome as asserting that our statutory citizenship is different than constitutional citizenship to our detriment. That was once true in one sense. It could be taken away. It was conferred without our request and it theoretically could be taken back in a similar manner, but I don’t think that’s possible now. One reason is that I do not think the courts will any longer construe the Fourteenth Amendment to deny American Indians birthright citizenship. Leaving aside the administrative nightmare, citizenship cannot be taken away from persons currently citizens absent fraud in the application (we made no application) and that makes our children birthright citizens. Tome goes on to claim that the Indian Citizenship Act makes us second-class citizens. Say what?Read More on the Story:
Steve Russell: Trump Will Repeal and Replace It! (Indian Country Today 1/3)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Trump
supporter benefits from gutting of ethics office in Congress (1/3) Gabe Galanda & Little Fawn Boland: Seize opportunity with Trump (12/29) Steven Newcomb: Trump's bad plan to 'privatize' indigenous lands (12/29)
Steve Russell: Quest for gold led to destruction of Indian treaties (12/23)
Trump's environmental nominee takes credit for tribal water deal (12/21)
Rep. Ryan Zinke was warned about 'travel fraud' with Navy SEALs (12/21)
Donald Trump picks billionaire to oversee Dakota Access Pipeline (12/20)
Gavin Clarkson: A tribal economic contract with Donald Trump (12/20)
Alex Jacobs: Indians on Trump team speak in termination tongue (12/19)
Trump's Interior pick slammed sale of federal lands as 'extreme' (12/19)
Alex Jacobs: Indians on Trump team speak in termination tongue (12/19)
Gyasi Ross: Donald Trump is coming for our lands and resources (12/16)
Donald Trump's Native American Coalition hosts meeting in D.C. (12/16)
Republican with better tribal record tapped for Interior Secretary (12/15)
Mark Trahant: Ryan Zinke is a much better pick for Indian Country (12/15)
Trump's Energy nominee sits on board for Dakota Access owner (12/14)
Donald Trump's Interior pick offers mixed record on tribal issues (12/12)
Mark Trahant: Trump's pick for Interior poses problems for tribes (12/9)
Native Sun News Today Editorial: A bumpy ride with Donald Trump (12/8)
Tribal sovereignty foe slated to join Donald Trump's administration (12/7)
Rep. Markwayne Mullin denies speculation of 'privatizing' tribal land (12/7)
Nick Zaiac: Let tribes decide what to do with their own homelands (12/7)
Indian Republicans associated with Trump seek trust land changes (12/5)
Dina Gilio-Whitaker: Why election was dangerous for Indian people (12/5)
Tiffany Midge: The women are here and we have a message for you (12/2)
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp considers role in Donald Trump administration (12/1)
Steven Newcomb: A message to the Donald Trump administration (12/1)
Native youth remain hopeful as nation transitions to new president (11/30)
Sioux Nation to President Obama: Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline (11/30)
Mark Trahant: Indian health care at risk with Trump administration (11/30)
Steve Russell: Resisting apartheid and genocide in the Trump era (11/30)
Alex Jacobs: Racist campaign propelled Trump into White House (11/29)
Steven Newcomb: All bets off with Donald Trump as president (11/28)
Peter d'Errico: Indigenous leaders must stand for nationhood (11/28)
Tiffany Midge: So it's all come down to Thanksgiving and Trump (11/23)
Zoltan Grossman: America shows its true colors with Trump win (11/22)
Terry Anderson: A President Trump can grant 'freedom' to tribes (11/22)
Alaska Natives fight Trump on name change at highest mountain (11/22)
Mark Trahant: Funding Indian health in the era of Donald Trump (11/21)
Lynn Armitage: Indian Country must give Donald Trump a chance (11/21)
Republicans get behind Trump as new challenges emerge for tribes (11/18)
James Giago Davies: Expect more of the same with Donald Trump (11/18)
Sacred land protection efforts face questions with Donald Trump (11/18)
Blackfeet Nation scores victories on sacred sites and water rights (11/17)
Native Sun News Today Editorial: Keep Sarah Palin far away from Bureau of Indian Affairs (11/17)
Native women lead massive march to White House to stop Dakota Access Pipeline (11/16)
Democracy Now: A White nationalist joins Republican Donald Trump in the White House (11/14)
Army Corps still won't issue easement for Dakota Access Pipeline (11/14)
Indian Country prepares for a new jolt on Dakota Access Pipeline (11/14)
Tim Giago: Tribes stand at major crossroads with Donald Trump in office (11/14)
Tribes working to protect Indian health with Donald Trump in office (11/11)
Tribes brace for change with Republicans in control in Washington (11/10)
Jenni Monet: What the Trump victory means for Standing Rock (11/10)
Rep. Cramer confirms Donald Trump's embrace of Dakota Access Pipeline (11/10)
Quinault Nation calls for tribal inclusion in Donald Trump's transition team (11/09)
Navajo Nation leaders congratulate Donald Trump on big victory (11/09)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe calls on President Obama to reject Dakota Access Pipeline amid uncertainty (11/09)
Doug George-Kanentiio: The war on Natives and our Earth begins (11/09)
Dakota Access Pipeline stands to gain with Donald Trump in the White House (11/09)
Republican Donald Trump secures huge victory in stunning upset (11/09)
Lynn Armitage: Trump supporters in Indian Country must speak up (11/7)
Navajo veteran who once worked for Trump praises GOP nominee (11/4)
Native Sun News Today Editorial: Native voters can make change at ballot boxes on November 8 (11/4)
Steve Russell: Stakes too high for protest vote in Indian Country (11/4)
Tribes remain cautious amid Dakota Access Pipeline uncertainty (11/03)
Navajo Republicans host Trump campaign for event in New Mexico (11/2)
Donald Trump touts Indian Country supporters but offers no policy (11/2)
Mark Trahant: Native vote tips the presidential race in 6 key states (11/2)
Victoria Vasques: Let's make sure every Native vote counts in 2016 (11/2)
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe moves to cut ties with pipeline investors (11/02)
Interior Department highlights achievements of Cobell buy-back program (11/01)
Trump avoided paying taxes on hundreds of millions in casino debt (11/1)
Republican Donald Trump invested in Dakota Access Pipeline (10/27)
Steve Russell: The magic of Donald Trump's 'plan' for America (10/26)
Dakota Access Pipeline CEO is a top donor to Republican Donald Trump (10/25)
Mark Trahant: Native candidates benefit from Clinton landslide (10/25)
Donald Trump embraces big energy projects like Dakota Access Pipeline (10/24)
John Leguizamo: Who was 'mistreating indigenous people' first? (10/21)
Utah group aims to elevate Native issues in an unusual election (10/20)
Editorial: Republicans in South Dakota embrace Monster Trump (10/19)
Delphine Red Shirt: Women face dangers in this world every day (10/18)
Mark Trahant: A Democratic House isn't a long shot thanks to Donald Trump (10/17)
Steve Russell: Donald Trump continues to grope for more votes (10/17)
Lynn Armitage: Why this Native woman supports Donald Trump (10/17)
Mark Trahant: Native Republican won't abandon Donald Trump (10/14)
Republicans in South Dakota change their tune on Donald Trump (10/13)
APTN ties Donald Trump's 1993 smear to rebuff by California tribe (10/12)
Tribal leaders and advocates slam Donald Trump as NCAI opens annual convention (10/11)
Sen. John McCain doesn't want more 'liberal' justices on Supreme Court (10/11)
Top GOP lawmaker abandons Donald Trump ahead of election (10/11)
Native Republicans in Congress silent as party abandons Trump (10/10)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump is disqualified from the presidency (10/10)
Robin Annette LaDue: The ugly truth of Republican Donald Trump (10/10)
Ivan Star Comes Out: Donald Trump brings racism out into the open (10/06)
School district on reservation in Montana condemns racist pro-Trump tshirts (10/03)
Ryan Winn: Donald Trump owes an apology to the first Americans (09/12)
Steve Russell: Getting into the White House is still political science (09/02)
Donald Trump picks Navajo man for agriculture advisory committee (08/22)
Indian Country advocate heads up Hillary Clinton's transition team (8/17)
Republican vice presidential pick Mike Pence hosts town hall at Sandia Pueblo (08/16)
Steve Russell: Donald Trump will hurt Indian Country on purpose (08/16)
Tribes left out of Republican effort to transfer public land to states (8/16)
Mark Trahant: Are there even any Republicans in Indian Country? (08/15)
Opinion: The media ignores another 'off the reservation' comment (08/15)
Charles Trimble: Tough women like Hillary Clinton deserve a chance (08/11)
End of an era nears with final White House Tribal Nations Conference (08/09)
Charles Trimble: Tribal nations must join together for Hillary Clinton (08/02)
Editorial: Donald Trump would force Black Hills settlement on tribes (08/02)
John McCain denounces Donald Trump but won't withdraw support (08/01)
Bryan Newland: Donald Trump's radical view of federal Indian law (07/29)
Tim Giago: Questioning the motto of GOP candidate Donald Trump (07/26)
Doug George-Kanentiio: Donald Trump and his campaign of hatred (07/25)
Mark Charles: The entire nation's problem with Donald Trump (07/22)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump promises a world with no treaties (07/22)
Donald Trump closes Republican convention that left out Indian Country (07/22)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump's Republican convention is one big failure (07/21)
Tribal lobbyist not buying Donald Trump's message of change (07/21)
Donald Trump officially named Republican presidential nominee (07/20)
Republicans unveil platform and project inclusion at convention (7/19)
Mark Trahant: Trump Republicans carry the banner for more coal (7/18)
Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen takes on Donald Trump with 'Make America Native Again' (07/12)
Democrats embrace tribal sovereignty in platform for convention (07/08)
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation slams Donald Trump for 'bigoted' attacks (07/07)
Mark Trahant: Republican candidates play hide the stick with Donald Trump on the ticket (07/06)
Ramapough Lunaape Nation blames Donald Trump for lack of federal status (07/05)
Mainstream media tunes into Trump's attacks on Indian gaming (7/4)
Donald Trump approved Indian gaming attack ads in New York (6/30)
Donald Trump rehashes 'Pocahontas' slur as Elizabeth Warren hits road for Hillary Clinton (06/28)
Donald Trump fares poorly against Hillary Clinton in national poll (06/27)
Leaders of three tribes meet Donald Trump during Arizona stop (06/20)
Navajo Republicans divided on Donald Trump's 'Pocahontas' slur (06/17)
Republicans slam Trump's 'racist' comments but still support him (06/08)
Sen. Barrasso to chair platform committee for GOP convention (05/25)
Donald Trump claims 'Jack Abrahamoff scandal' proves he was right about tribes (05/23)
Donald Trump's long and strained relationship with Indian gaming (05/19)
Donald Trump releases list of potential Supreme Court nominees (05/18)
Mark Trahant: Indian Republican Tom Cole backs Donald Trump (05/18)
Sen. Warren stands up to Donald Trump despite his 'Indian' insults (05/10)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump brings good news to Native candidates (05/09)
Cowlitz Tribe hosted Donald Trump to discuss his interest in casino (05/09)
Donald Trump advisor filed lawsuit to stop transfer of dam to tribe (04/20)
Donald Trump tried to bully his way into New York tribe's casino bid (04/18)
Backer of Republican Donald Trump described Indians as 'filthy' (04/12)
Donald Trump again derides Sen. Elizabeth Warren as 'the Indian' (03/22)
Donald Trump once claimed IGRA and tribal casinos were illegal (01/29)
Cowlitz Tribe turned down Donald Trump for gaming partnership (10/05)
Donald Trump not shy with invoking race when it comes to tribes (07/31)
