There are plenty of Native Americans who vote Republican, and with the GOP firmly in control of the reins of the federal government after eight years, some of the most prominent are making it known they would like posts in departments that deal with Indian issues.
Some already lobbying the administration for jobs are Carlyle Begay, Jerry Ward, Jana McKeag, Carl Artman and Gavin Clarkson.
Begay, a member of the Navajo Nation, a candidate last year for Congress and an Arizona state senator (now former) has reportedly been chosen to serve in the White House as Advisor on Indian Affairs. Begay also served on the inauguration committee.
He gave the opening invocation at the National Prayer Service the day after the inauguration at the National Cathedral. He gave the prayer in the Navajo language, reportedly the first time the service has been opened by a Native American.
The day after he Tweeted: “I am honored to have prayed for the well-being of the country, the president, his administration and the new Congress.”
Begay started as a Democrat when he was appointed to the Arizona Senate in 2014, but changed parties and ran for Congress as a Republican, only to drop out of the crowded race. He also worked on the reelection campaign of U.S. Senator John McCain.
Ward is a former state senator from Alaska who served on the Trump transition team as a tribal liaison. Last month he told Alaska Public Media: “I might possibly have a more permanent position somewhere, yes, concerning Native American affairs.” He was a state senator from 1997-2002 and ran unsuccessfully three times since then. He was a delegate to the GOP convention last summer.
Jana McKeag, a member of the Cherokee Nation and Carl Arman of the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin have been mentioned for the post of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (ASIA,) who among other duties, oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA.) McKeag has a wide range of experience with Indian law and policy with more than four decades working with tribal governments on economic development, gaming, education and sovereignty issues. She also served at the Department of the Interior and the BIA for 12 years. Artman served as ASIA under George W. Bush. Clarkson, who is a member of the Choctaw Tribe has an academic background specializing in tribal economic policy and development.
The Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribe earlier this month put its support behind McKeag in a resolution. U.S. Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a Chickasaw Nation member and U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert also support her for the job.
McKeag confirmed that she has applied to serve as ASIA and is anxious to work with U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, whom Trump has nominated to be Secretary of the Interior. McKeag commented, “Yes, I am interested in the position of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. I have heard that I’m on a shortlist, and I’m hoping to soon talk to Secretary-designate Zinke.”
McKeag has said she would like to make it easier for tribes to build energy projects on reservations.
Since Artman previously held the position of ASIA from 2007-2008 he is mentioned extensively as a possible nominee. Currently a professor of law at Arizona State University he directs the university’s Tribal Economic Development Program.
Asked if he is interested in the ASIA post, Clarkson told Indian Country Media Network
“It would be an honor to serve in any capacity in the Trump administration,” Clarkson said. “Many of the campaign’s themes about rural economic empowerment, reducing the burden of federal regulations, and creating jobs have strong resonance in Indian country, and I would be delighted to contribute to helping tribes realize the promise and opportunity I see in President Trump’s vision for the nation.”
Clarkson is an associate professor in the College of Business and New Mexico State University, teaching business law and federal Indian law and policy. He has taught at the Harvard Business School and University of Houston Law Center among others and writes on tribal finance and economic development. According to Clarkson’s biography: “He has helped tribes raise more than $700 million for tribal governmental and entrepreneurial enterprises using a variety of financial mechanisms including taxable and tax-exempt bonds, bank credit facilities, and New Markets Tax Credits.”
