Tribal leaders throw pre-caucus support to Hillary Clinton

Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby, a former president of the National Congress of American Indians, is one of numerous Native American leaders in Washington who endorsed Hillary Clinton on Friday.

Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby, a former president of the National Congress of American Indians, is one of numerous Native American leaders in Washington who endorsed Hillary Clinton on Friday. Photo: Scott Eklund, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Photo: Scott Eklund, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Tribal leaders throw pre-caucus support to Hillary Clinton 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A lineup of tribal leaders from across Washington has thrown its support to Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy on the eve of Washington's Democratic presidential caucuses.

The support was solidified after a Tuesday roundtable at the Puyallup Indian Reservation in which the ex-secretary of state met with leaders of 19 tribes from the state's Native American community.

"From her work on the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and Children's Health Insurance Program, to supporting the United States' role in the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Hillary has long been by our side," said Swinomish Tribal Community chair Brian Cladoosby.

Cladoosby has recently headed the National Congress of American Indians.

W. Ron Allen, chairman of the Jamestown S'Kallam Tribe, added: "Hillary understands the tribes' goal of nation building and I believe she will honor the government-to-government relationship between the 566 Indian Nations and the U.S. government."

Allen is a former president of the National Congress of American Indians.

The chairs of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Suquamish Tribe, Tulalip Tribes and Puyallup Tribe issued statements supporting Clinton.

Seattle City Councilwoman Debora Juarez, the first Native American to serve on the council, was among those personally endorsing Clinton. So was state Sen. John McCoy, a Snohomish County legislator and leader in the Tulalip Tribes.

Clinton is a politician renowned for always being briefed, and so it was at Tuesday's meeting with tribal leaders.

"Her respect for Indian Country is so insurmountable that everything that was shared in that room she had already had in her position paper," said Roleen Hargrove, Puyallup Tribal Council vice chairwoman.

Native Americans number about 100,000 across Washington.

Ron Allen played a significant role in the 2000 election of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell over Republican incumbent Slade Gorton. Cladoosby was a guest at a White House state dinner honoring France President Francois Hollande.