Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

In a wonderful tribute to the memory and life's work of Joe DeLaCruz, a new day has dawned in American politics.

After yesterday's certification by the WA Sec'y of State that Maria Cantwell beat Slade Gorton by some 1,900 votes, the only thing that remains is the state law- required recount because the margin is less than .5%. While anything is possible with the recount, no recount in WA history has ever changed the initial result in terms of winner and loser.

As Joe (Quinault Indian Nation), Ron Allen (Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe) and Billy Frank, Jr. (Franks Landing/Nisqually Tribe) stated when they created the First American Education Project (FAEP), it is only when Indian people assert for ourselves our rightful place in our political process, will we command the respect we deserve.

The defeat of Slade Gorton, and the politics he represented (that of division, blame and castigation of the powerless) is a double victory for Indian Country.

First, through the FAEP, Indian people educated the public about Gorton's true record and exposed the type of politics he practiced, while aggressively promoting Indian issues and positions in the media.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, Gorton's loss sends a message across the U.S. that politicians who so aggressively fight to destroy Indian sovereignty and mistreat Indian people will do so at their own political peril. Similarly, those who promote Indian self-determination and are committed to advocating on behalf of Indian people can look forward to assistance from Indian Country in all the various ways possible.

This marks the end of the debut project of FAEP. From this point forward, FAEP will continue in earnest it's numerous other programs intended to educate the public and policymakers about issues of significance to Indian people, retain a constant presence in the media, and play a powerful role in our political process.

We, at FAEP, could not be happier, nor be more proud to have achieved what we have… together.

It is indeed a new day.