Bernie Sanders got what he wanted during his Pine Ridge visit Thursday -- frank and often emotional testimony on the struggles of reservation life and specific failures of the federal government to help.
He also got the endorsement of Oglala Tribe President John Yellow Bird Steele.
Sanders met privately with Steele and other tribal leaders before he took the stage at the Pine Ridge High School gym, where members of a panel outlined crucial problems in health care, law and order and education, along with funding shortfalls in all three areas.
He also took questions from the mostly young audience, promising to help with free public college, better jobs and improved living conditions if he's elected.
"I really appreciated Senator Sanders, the way he come out and he didn't keep his questions just to the panel, that he actually opened his questions up to the people and the children of our reservation, which was really great, you know," said C.J. Clifford, chairman of the Oglala Tribe's Education Committee.
Clifford said Sanders gave tribal leaders important ideas on how he would make the Bureau of Indian Affairs more responsible and responsive to tribal needs. His openness to support the tribes was hopeful, Clifford said.
And Sanders showed he would be a good listener as president, Clifford said.
“As far as open communications, it was there – 100 percent, which is great for us,” he said.
Some tribal members said they came unconvinced, but after listening to him speak they went away big Bernie Sanders supporters.
“I really didn’t support anybody coming in. I didn’t know who to support. But I heard Bernie was good, and he was," said 20-year-old Jakira Velazquez. "I like how he supports Native country and how he, like, asked us questions and actually wanted to get our views."
In the process, Sanders apparently won her support, too.
"And I'll probably vote for him," she said. "I'll register now."