A day after releasing the most comprehensive platform on Indigenous issues from any presidential candidate, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro visited the Meskwaki Indian Settlement in Tama, Iowa, on Friday.
Castro has unique experience working with tribes across the country. He already knows many of the issues Native communities face from his service as Housing and Urban Development Secretary under President Obama. This was the driving force behind the planning and release of the campaign's platform, “Peoples First Indigenous Communities Policy.”
The Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa is the only federally recognized tribe in the state. The name is Meskwaki means "Red Earth People."
At the conclusion of his speech, Christina Blackcloud, Meskwaki, presented Castro with a beaded medallion.
“It’s important to be a part of the democratic process, basically have your voice heard. We are still here, that’s the main thing,” Blackcloud said. “We have a long, rich history. Our ancestors definitely fought for us to be here and we’re here and I hope we all step up and represent our tribal nations.”
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