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Written by Miko Thomas   
Wednesday, 22 April 2009 17:30
On April 10th, President Obama nominated Larry EchoHawk as the director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs awaiting approval by the Senate. EchoHawk made his mark in politics when he became the attorney general for Idaho in 1990 as the highest elected Native American to a statewide office where he served for four years.

EchoHawk is a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and very proud of his Mormon faith. It begs the question what the future holds for Indian Country especially with his "former" anti-gaming stance. While Idaho's attorney general he opposed gaming as morally corrupt, but after a series of lawsuits the tribes have won in the courts. He went as far as trying to change the Idaho constitution to prevent the state from negotiating with tribes. It was only this past February that EhcoHawk stated that he regretted his actions, which is still worrisome to some gaming tribes as his nomination gets closer to the Senate.

Some claim that his actions as attorney general that opposed working with tribes was a legal obligation attached to his job as attorney general. However, in his 1994 bid for governor, EchoHawk was still against gaming feeling that gaming wasn't the right way to empower tribal nations. It makes one wonder about his new found regrets and with statements like Mr. EchoHawk made during a debate in Twin Falls, "Like many Idahoans, I am opposed to teaching homosexuality as an alternative or normal life style." It makes me wonder what may be slashed or done away with due to moral opposition.

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 April 2009 17:34