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diggStepping forward
Native American candidate counts on support from Hispanic community
She is running for Congress in northern Arizona’s District 1. If elected, she would become the first Native American woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
“Native Americans are becoming active in the political process,” she says. “We’ve always had our great tribal leaders in our communities. But there is a real need for Native Americans to take on leadership outside of that. And we recognize the need for that in local communities, and the state and federal levels.”
| “I believe that the Apache and the Hispanic communities there have done a very good job of being good neighbors. There is a certain respect, and I think that each side recognizes the connection between the two cultures." |
“You are seeing an emergence of Native Americans who are stepping forward and becoming candidates,” she says. “And those who are serving at the state level will then run for Congress."
District 1 in northern Arizona is roughly the size of the state of Illinois, with 641,000 residents. The district has a diverse population of Whites, Native Americans (mostly Navajos and Apaches), and Latinos.
Titla’s face is familiar to many Arizonans. She entered their homes via the evening news on television. She was a broadcast journalist for almost 20 years, reporting for KPHX Channel 12 in Phoenix. She recognizes the political impact of her name familiarity.
“My name recognition will go a long way,” Titla says. “It is something that a candidate can only hope for when they announce that they are running for office. They (viewers) believed in me and trusted me as a journalist, and I believe they are ready to trust me as a candidate.”
Titla is vying for the Congressional seat vacated by Republican Rick Renzi, who resigned when he became the target of an federal investigation regarding deals involving federal lands and a former associate who bought the land. To date, three Republican and two Democratic candidates also are competing for the seat.
Like other candidates, she says the district’s Hispanic vote is important if she is to be elected. One of her first decisions was to pick Randy Camacho as her campaign manager. Camacho, a two-time candidate for Congress, is also the former vice chairman of the state Democratic Party.
Titla says that there is a natural affinity between Native Americans and Latinos, and she hopes that connection will translate into votes.
“I went to Globe high school for one year. There are large Hispanic communities in the Globe/Miami mining towns. My best friend at that time was Hispanic and we still keep in touch.”
She adds, “I believe that the Apache and the Hispanic communities there have done a very good job of being good neighbors. There is a certain respect, and I think that each side recognizes the connection between the two cultures. Many of their ancestors were of Indian descent. Of course they have their Spanish side. So there’s a mutual respect there.”
Titla says she knows the issues facing the districts Native American communities because she lived them.
She grew up in poverty on the reservation, living in a two-room dwelling with an outhouse. The biggest issues for Native Americans on northern Arizona’s Navajo and Apache reservations are water for drinking and farming, and managing growth and development.
She relates that Native Americans rely on an ancient tradition when deciding to venture into the political arena.
“The most important thing for me was to talk to Elders in my community and ask them what they thought,” Titla says. “As a Native American, we are taught to respect Elders, and seek their advice.
“What one Elder said to me is, ‘Something like this doesn’t just happen. Take it seriously. Pray about it, because this could be what the Creator wants you to do. This could be your calling.’ After that, I was positive that yes, I should run.”
