Robert Satiacum Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Satiacum Jr.
|
|
|---|---|
Satiacum in 2016
|
|
| Born | 1959/1960 (age 64–65) |
| Nationality | American Puyallup tribe |
| Occupation | Political and environmental activist, radio host for KLAY |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Satiacum |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) |
|
Robert Satiacum Jr. was born on February 5, 1960. He is an American activist who works to protect the environment and support political causes. He is also a member of the Puyallup tribe from Washington state. In the 2016 election, he was chosen to be a "presidential elector" for the Democratic Party. This means he was supposed to vote for the presidential candidate who won the popular vote in his state. However, he chose to vote for Faith Spotted Eagle instead. She was the first Native American person to receive an electoral vote for president. Because he voted differently than he promised, he is known as a "faithless elector."
Contents
About Robert Satiacum Jr.
Robert Satiacum Jr. comes from a family with a history of activism. His father, Robert Satiacum Sr., was a strong supporter of Native American fishing rights. His father's efforts even led to an important court decision called the Boldt Decision. Robert Jr.'s wife, Elizabeth, also served as an elector for Barack Obama in the 2008 election.
His Role in Elections
Robert Satiacum Jr. has been involved in politics for many years. In 2010, he worked as an officer for the Democratic Party in Pierce County. For the 2016 election, he supported Bernie Sanders and was a delegate for him at the Democratic National Convention. A delegate is someone chosen to represent their state's voters at a political party's meeting.
Before the 2016 election, Robert Satiacum Jr. openly said he might not vote for the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton. He felt that her plans for the environment were too similar to those of Donald Trump.
The Electoral College Vote
The Electoral College is a group of people chosen by each state to formally elect the president and vice president of the United States. When the Electoral College voted on December 19, 2016, Robert Satiacum Jr. made a unique choice. He voted for Faith Spotted Eagle for president. She is a Native American activist from South Dakota. For vice president, he voted for Winona LaDuke, an environmentalist from Minnesota.
Faith Spotted Eagle became the first Native American to receive an electoral vote for president. Winona LaDuke became the first Native American woman to receive an electoral vote for vice president. After the vote, Satiacum explained his decision. He said he had planned to vote for Bernie Sanders. However, at the last moment, he was inspired by another Native American elector, Dan Carpita, who played a ceremonial song on a flute.
Robert Satiacum Jr. was one of four electors from Washington state who did not vote as pledged in 2016. He was later fined $1,000 for his vote.
Activism and Community Work
Robert and Elizabeth Satiacum have six children and ten grandchildren. Robert Satiacum Jr. hosts a radio show called Tribal Talk on KLAY radio in the Tacoma, Washington area. He also started a group called Full Circle, which focuses on cultural activism.
In 2007, he acted in a movie called Rain in the Mountains. In the film, he played a tribal police officer. Since 2010, he has been leading an effort to officially change the name of Mount Rainier to Ti’Swaq. This is the name of an Indigenous group who lived high on the mountain's slopes.
Satiacum also teaches others about the sweat lodge ritual. He mentors people on "the red road," which is a way of life based on traditional Native American values. He has also worked with other Native American activists to support tribal fishing rights. They held "fish-ins" on the Puyallup River to protest for these rights.
