Kerry Pledges to Honor Indian Treaties

Kerry Pledges to Honor Indian Treaties and Consult on National Issues Like Health Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry attended an intertribal Native American ceremony on Sunday beneath majestic red sandstone cliffs and said "all of America's children" will receive health care if he wins the White House. Kerry also said he will uphold treaties in existence with the nation's tribes, and appoint a Native American to the White House staff to oversee issues of importance to them. The Massachusetts senator spoke at the closing powwow for the 83rd annual Intertribal Indian Ceremonial, with more than 30 tribes participating. Organizers included him in a separate ceremony after an eagle feather inadvertently fell to the ground.Kerry told his Native American audience it is a sad fact that one-third of their population has no health insurance, and their life expectancy is shorter than the national average. [more]