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Sidney Byrd, 90: "Our decisions were made by elders because they were wise."AIJI Photo by Natasha Kaye Johnson

The View From Flandreau on Ages of Obama, McCain

By Natasha Kaye Johnson

FLANDREAU SANTEE RESERVATION, S.D.—Native American people traditionally choose elders as tribal leaders. The theory is this: Elders' experience and knowledge become wisdom and ensure the tribe's security.

For several months, presidential candidates John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton squabbled over who best fits criteria to lead the nation. These tend to involve experience, knowledge, security and wisdom.

Sidney Byrd, one of this reservation's oldest tribal members, had a few things to say about the race. The 90-year-old retired Presbyterian minister believes that if a leader can listen to the people, age does not matter.

Byrd was kicking back at the Grace Moore Senior Citizens Center after voting on primary day. "I voted for Obama," he said, putting his crossword puzzle aside. "I don't know him that well, but he's young and he's energetic."

After discussing tribal history, Byrd began to share how Natives governed their nations. "Our decisions were made by elders because they were wise," he said. "That's how we were governed."

Saying he would not consider Obama "wise," Byrd said believes the senator is able to digest information and listen to those around him.

"He can rely on the counsel of other people," said Byrd, referring to those he might work with if elected president.

Eloise Drapeau, 61, the tribal government secretary, said the tribe has its youngest president: Joshua Weston, 33. She felt he was a bit young, but Weston defeated four other candidates in the election and, she said, has sought out elders.

"He will bring in elders to get their opinion and views on things," said Drapeau, adding that they recently came to tribal offices to provide input on a planned senior center.

Drapeau, an independent who supports Obama, said she initially felt he was too young but now believes he will have "good guidance."

"He's going to have all that knowledge at the table to guide him and give him direction," she said. "There is experience around his table."

Myrna Louis, 54, an Obama supporter, said that because the candidate was raised in a single-parent home and is of color, he will better understand minority people. She also said Clinton was a strong candidate with compassion and understanding for minorities. "It was a tough choice for me, but Obama is closer to my political philosophies," she said.

In a visit to the American Indian Journalism Institute the night before the election, Freedom Forum founder Al Neuharth told students that the maximum age for a president should be 75. He was referring to McCain, who is 71. Obama is 46, and Clinton is 60.

Louis said she does not support an age cap, especially since with age come wisdom, emotional maturity and respect.

Between bites of dessert, Ron Gourneau, 60, a Turtle Mountain Chippewa who married into the tribe, said he voted for Clinton "because I think she has more clout in Congress than what's-his-name," referring to Obama. "We've had a man in there for the past 200 years. Let us try a woman and see if they can do any better."

Gourneau also does not support an age cap. "There's nothing wrong with being old other than an old wrinkle," he said.

Gourneau said he plans to vote in the general election for Obama—"the other guy," as he put it—because he feels that Democrats have been friendlier than Republicans to Indian Country.

Elaine Stevens, 34, the tribe's education coordinator, said that a major factor in her decision to vote for Obama was his age and that McCain's age was a liability. "Taking a look at the younger generation coming up," she said, "would he [McCain] be able to support what they want?"

Among tribal members interviewed, there was generally one point of agreement: No matter the president, conditions in Indian Country will not change.

Presidential candidates "always say they're going to make change" in Indian Country, Drapeau said. "I never see it happen."

"We're just [too] trustful of politicians," Byrd said. "How many treaties have they broke?"

But Louis said she thinks the new president will make a difference. "Regardless of what party sits in the roost, we're going to see a change," she said.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was written as a class assignment at the American Indian Journalism Institute and was originally published on AIJI: Freedom Forum Diversity Institute.)

AIJI student Natasha Kaye Johnson, Navajo, is a graduate of the University of Arizona.