On Rigging Elections In The West

How often would you vote if you had to drive 157 miles round trip to exercise the franchise? Not to mention being faced with racist harassment at the county seat?

Tomorrow at the ninth circuit court of appeals in Montana, the great-grandson of a Cheyenne who fought against and defeated George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn appears against the wife of one of Custer's descendants in a case over Native American voting rights.

The Guardian provides an account of what is at stake here.

It appears pretty clear that the dominant white residents of Montana (and South Dakota) have rigged the electoral system to make it virtually impossible for Native Americans to vote.

The plaintiff is a Northern Cheyenne and Vietnam veteran, wounded in defense of his country.

Personal note: my grandsons are Native Americans, and my wife and I have attended many Pow-Wows across the land. The opening ceremonies always accord special honor to both veterans and those currently serving in the US armed forces. In fact, I know no more patriotic Americans than those of Native ancestry.

Another personal note: in 1876, my great grandfather served in the U.S. 4th Cavalry Regiment in Texas. After Little Big Horn, the regiment was sent north to "round up" a band of Cheyenne and return them to their reservation. He subsequently rode with Billy the Kid in the Lincoln County Wars and is said to have served in the Indian Scout Service. I don't know the truth of that.

But I do know that across the West, Native Americans have been systematically impeded in exercising their right to vote.

The doctrine of White Supremacy is not confined to the states of the former Confederacy.