The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes on Tuesday issued a statement in support of the Nez Perce Tribe’s recent condemnation of a comment that Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, made last month when he reportedly told a Native American state legislative candidate to “go back to where you came from” during a forum in North Idaho.

The statement of support from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes comes after the Idaho GOP issued a statement defending Foreman and describing the incident as a “non-issue” that “didn’t happen as reported.” Foreman also issued a strongly worded statement in his defense saying he’s the victim of unfair and inaccurate criticism by the Democrats and media.

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes believe the victim in the matter was the target of Foreman’s alleged remark, Trish Carter-Goodheart.

“We find the comments made toward the Nez Perce Tribal member at a recent candidate forum unacceptable, hurtful and contrary to the values of inclusion and respect that should guide our communities,” the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes stated in reference to the comment Foreman reportedly delivered toward Goodheart.

She is a Democratic House District 6A candidate who is a Lapwai native and member of the Nez Perce Tribe. Foreman reportedly made the comment during a candidates forum on Sept. 30 in Kendrick, a small town in North Idaho.

“The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, like the Nez Perce Tribe, have a profound connection to these lands that predates the establishment of the state of Idaho by thousands of years,” the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes stated. “This enduring bond with the land, history, and culture must be respected by all who call this state home. We condemn any attempt to diminish our shared presence, and the contributions Indigenous peoples have made to this state and its economy.”

Both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes' Tuesday statement and an Oct. 7 statement from the Nez Perce Tribe referred to a United Against Hate event hosted by the FBI that took place Sept. 16 in Moscow.

“The United Against Hate summit, hosted in Moscow on September 16, 2024, aimed to strengthen bonds across various community sectors to combat hate crimes and incidents,” the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes said in their Tuesday statement. “It was an important step towards building a safer, more respectful region for all who live here. The participation of the Nez Perce Tribe and other partners shows the commitment of Indigenous communities and local agencies to promoting equality, understanding and justice.”

Additionally, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes called on local, state and national leaders to “reject divisive rhetoric and to work with us in fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.”

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes continued, “Only by standing together can we truly ensure that the state of Idaho remains a welcoming place for all. As Indigenous peoples and as communities, we believe that our future depends on collaboration, respect and unity. We are committed to working with our neighbors to build bridges, challenge ignorance, and make this region an inclusive home for everyone.”

On Oct. 7, the Idaho GOP issued a statement of its own criticizing the media’s coverage of Foreman’s alleged comment.

The Idaho GOP stated, “As you may have seen over this past week, the mainstream media has been running with this racism narrative. This was a setup, pure and simple. Dan Foreman is not a racist nor does Idaho have a systemic racism problem. This is a non-issue, as it didn’t happen as reported. It is entirely scurrilous as to what the Democrats and media are doing to this man. After reviewing and verifying, the Idaho GOP stands behind Dan Foreman.”

Further, the Idaho GOP statement included a response that Foreman posted to his political candidate Facebook page. In his own words, Foreman described the allegations against him as “patently false,” adding that he was urging the other candidates at the forum to “stop deviating from the rules of the forum.” He also stated that Idaho does not have a racism problem.

“Idaho does not practice systemic racism,” Foreman said in his statement. “That is a fact. And when my accuser was told this fact by a minority forum attendee and me, she flew into a rage and shouted at me that ‘You people don’t know what you are talking about, because you are not Native American.’ I enlightened this person to the fact I was born in America, and I am therefore a native American. There was no racial slur in my statement. However, one could easily interpret the remarks of my accuser to be utterly racist. What does ‘You people’ mean?”

Foreman characterized this exchange as a “phony incident” that he says the media has essentially blown out of proportion to “support the sensationalizing of what is quite frankly nothing more than a stereotypical left-wing hit job on a Republican candidate.”

Foreman continued, “In the final analysis, I suppose we must expect this type of behavior. Just look at what they have done to former President Trump. It seems the more effective a conservative elected official is, the more that person is attacked by the left and most, not all, of the media. I guess I must be very effective as a conservative Republican Senator. And I will continue to be so next legislative session.”