The calendar flipped to Friday, and President Joe Biden finally managed to breakout of his seat in the Oval Office to visit the Gila River Indian Community on the outskirts of Phoenix. This marks his initial attempt to engage with a Native American tribe in his presidential capacity – an interesting choice given it’s election season. A couple of years ago, he made a well-publicized assurance to tribal chiefs that he would grace their lands, but his sudden decision to fulfill this promise seems suspiciously well-timed.
Biden’s visit settles into a larger narrative, seemingly orchestrated to paint the president as a figure actively trying to correct historical injustices. It is peculiar to note that he has emerged as the first sitting president to apologise formally for the federal Indian boarding schools’ existence. These institutions unfortunately ran for a century and a half until 1969, their primary purpose being to forcibly blend American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children into mainstream culture, sometimes resulting in abuse or even death.
A report conceived by the Interior Department revealed that the schools became deathbeds for at least 973 innocent children. Furthermore, the report recommended a formal apology for these horrors. The president’s maneuver appears, rather conveniently, in line with these guidelines. However, critics have questioned why the apology has taken this long and why it coincides so neatly with the nearing election.
The Gila River reservation, home to the O’odham and Pee-Posh tribes, interestingly encroaches on Maricopa County’s borders. This county has a substantial influence on the outcome of the 2024 presidential race. The Democrats seem to be putting their eggs into the Native American voters’ basket as the election day creeps closer, particularly in pivotal states such as Arizona.
The term ‘Blue Wall’ is well-renowned in political circles, representing the traditionally Democrat-leaning states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. These states, however, have now twisted into undecided territories. Despite these states’ waning loyalty, Biden seems to focus his energies on the Arizona visit, another sign of the apparent desperation of his administration.
Biden’s visit appears as yet another carefully planned performance by the White House, using this as a stage to showcase the presidential ‘achievements’ and promises kept. However, this convenient timing has raised eyebrows among Republicans, who see it as another political scheme crafted under the guise of reaching out to Indigenous voters.
Earlier this month, Kamala Harris and her ally, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, organized a couple of events on Gila River land. These attempts to win the favor of Native American voters align succinctly with the greater Democratic strategy. One can’t help but wonder if these efforts are genuine or purely politically motivated.
Arizona as a state currently houses more than 200,000 Native American eligible voters. The political parties, with their respective advocated and activists, are in a relentless battle to win their allegiance. Observers question whether their efforts are aimed at genuine community development or simply to gain a political advantage.
Tim Walz has already signaled his intent to return to Arizona to engage with the tribal members, eerily timed right after Biden’s departure. A peculiarly coordinated maneuver, to say the least. Meanwhile, another notable attendee attending these tribal lands is none other than Vice Presidential candidate, set to land in Window Rock, Navajo Nation’s capital.
The comprehensive Navajo Nation sprawls across parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and a portion of Utah. This expansive geographical coverage makes the demographic a critical player in the electoral result. Hence, the constant influx of political personalities to the region.
Former President Donald Trump was also present in the state on Thursday, an interesting play against the backdrop of intensified political visits. It leaves one questioning the genuine concern for Native American communities by these politicians or is it all amounts to a series of politically motivated engagements?
The Arizona GOP, looking to counter the Democrat’s self-perceived strong support among Native American voters, has initiated its outreach efforts. The party representatives can be seen actively participating in tribal events and arranging meetings with members of the Navajo Nation, decidedly more personal than the fleeting visits by the Democrats.
The Democrats’ desperate attempts to win over Native American voters with high-profile yet short visits seems out of touch compared to the Republicans’ more grounded approach. The politically orchestrated timing and events orchestrated by the Democrats, including Biden and Harris, paint a picture of an administration scrambling for electoral support.
The Democrats’ significant focus on the Native American community in Arizona reveals a deeper concern about the party’s larger electoral prospects. The constant attention given by major Democratic figures like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, despite their efforts elsewhere, underscores a sense of unease in their camp about the forthcoming election.
As the election crescendos, one can’t help but scrutinize the sudden influx of attention directed at Native communities. While Democrats’ strategic games are on full display, the real question is whether these communities will leverage these engagements to their advantage or fall prey to politically designed narratives like so many times before.