Two Indigenous Women Are Now in Congress, But Mainstream Media Barely Took Notice
Reps. Haaland and Davids make it unacceptable to ignore Indian Country
I got the call around the time I was scrolling my Twitter feed, wiping my eyes dry over the immense promise I felt watching newly-elected Indigenous congresswomen Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) share a heartfelt hug on the House floor. It was a cable news producer from a network that will remain anonymous, and he was calling to book a panel. He’d heard I knew a few things about Native Americans and the geopolitical frame of reference—except that’s not what he wanted to talk to me about. He wanted to know if I could sit on a televised segment to discuss Elizabeth Warren.
The news producer yammered on while I continued to gaze at Twitter, feasting on photo after photo of history literally happening right before my eyes. Two Native American women like me were doing what had never been done before—breaking into one of the highest political arenas in the land. I waited until the producer stopped talking.
I politely told him that the problem with Warren isn’t expired controversy over her silly DNA test and, now, her bid for the presidency. Rather, I said, it’s Warren and the media itself capitalizing on this issue and…
