Policy


Robert Gopher Policy Institute

In an interest to respond to the ever-changing, and often radically charged political landscape; the Robert Gopher family have dug our heals in. We are in this for the long haul. This institute's focus is on policy development for now and the future.

Robert Gopher greeting Sgt. Schriver, 1965,
Great Falls, MT:  America's War on Poverty
We believe in human rights for all people, and we respect our late father's vision.  America is no longer a world leader in fulfilling human potential, especially alarming:  there is an ever growing onslaught against women, children, the elderly, unemployed, the poor, immigrants and minorities. We believe Washington D.C. should not only work for the wealthy:  our's is a government by the people and for the people.






HIGHLIGHTS

In the spirit of democracy, the legacy of Robert Gopher will continue into the future.  In our inaugural year, we want to accomplish the following policy initiatives:
Modernizing the food delivery system to American tribes to whom the U.S. government owes a treaty obligation by sponsoring federal legislation to curb the high prevalence of diabetes.
Sponsorship of a national initiative to raise awareness of the need to ban private prisons in America.
Securing federal recognition for the 220+ tribes that remain unrecognized.
Examining the long term impacts of the recent Cobell settlement, including proposing long term land use and a federal policy of land reparation to tribes.
Address poverty and job growth by a coordinated strategy, in this protracted era of high unemployment.
Raising national awareness of the broken American criminal justice system, and advocating for the release and seeking a presidential pardon of Leonard Peltier.
Seek and secure healthy food systems that are increasingly under dictatorial corporate control.
Federal legislation to force all corporations doing business in America to democratize their Boards of Directors and their boards reflect America's diversity--its here to stay.
Human trafficking and the inability of the Canadian government to address the high rate of missing women of Canada's first nations, and greater cross border/immigration fairness of the continent's original peoples.
Of course, Robert Gopher was a strong advocate for a clean and healthy environment.  In his time, he addressed transnational development that negated tribal and minority communities of color.  In our time, the struggle continues.  In an age when we seek improved energy alternatives--his vision continues to guide us, and our policy is forthcoming.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY

The Robert Gopher Policy Institute stands with all other pro-democracy groups in opposition to the United States Supreme Court ruling that corporations are people in Citizens United v. FEC, and the flow of unlimited corporate money into public elections.

~~Melinda Gopher, Director