by Anura Guruge
on August 11, 2024
Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com
When I first heard about this, fleetingly this morning, on ‘MSNBC‘, I thought she would be the FIRST Native American Governor IF ‘Tim Walz‘ gets elected Vice President (i.e., ‘Kamala Harris‘ gets elected President over ‘Trump‘). That got me excited. Wow. A Native American Governor.
Then on doing more research, as is my wont, I discovered, to my AMAZEMENT, that we have already had two (yes, 2) Native American Governors — both in Oklahoma.
The first was ‘Johnston Murray‘ way, way back in 1951 (before I was born). I had no idea. WOW.
The second is ‘Kevin Stitt‘ who became Governor quite recently in 2019. He is a Republican. I will also confess he doesn’t appear to have any Indian in him. Not sure what the criteria is to be defined ‘native’ in Oklahoma.
So, Flanagan has precedent, but not when it comes to being female.
As some of you know I try to spend time with Native Americans — if possible on reservations. So, I got to know them, SOME. Many of them, especially on reservations, don’t fall into the ‘college educated’ bracket. They are also what I would consider deep thinkers.
That is my concern right now. Whether Native Americans, across the country, know about and APPRECIATE the Peggy Flanagan possibility. I don’t think many will KNOW — or care. Pity. SHAME.
A lot of Native Americans are Republicans. They voted for Trump. I know. I talked to them about it.
I hope some folks will try to educate them on what they can achieve. But, I doubt it. Shame.
