Obama promises U.S. tribal leaders he’ll tackle issues
American Indian conference is first in 15 years
BY CHRIS CASTEEL
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Published: November 6, 2009
WASHINGTON — Greeting the first American Indian conference to be sponsored by the White House in 15 years, President Barack Obama told tribal leaders Thursday he will work with them on problems that have plagued Indians for decades.
Members of the audience raise their hands Thursday in hopes of asking President Barack Obama a question during the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of Interior in Washington. To see video from the meeting, go to Today’s Paper at NewsOK.com/TheOklahoman. AP Photo
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"I promised you we’d host this conference to develop an agenda that works for your communities because I believe Washington can’t — and shouldn’t — dictate a policy agenda for
Indian Country,” Obama told more than 400 tribal leaders gathered at the
Interior Department. "Tribal nations do better when they make their own decisions.”
The day-long conference included sessions with some of Obama’s cabinet secretaries and agency officials on topics ranging from education to tribal law enforcement.
Among the participants was
Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, who said in an interview that the conference was important to re-establish a relationship with the executive branch of government.
"While we may just have one day, we’re going to cover a lot of topics ... and it’s really, really important that this information be put to them,” Anoatubby said.
After opening remarks, Obama took questions and got an earful from Indian leaders, most of whom made long statements rather than asking about a particular issue.
One of those who addressed the president was
John L. Berrey, chairman of the
Quapaw Tribe based in northeastern Oklahoma.
"I have one request,” Berrey told Obama. "The Quapaw Tribe has the honor of having the largest Superfund site in the
United States. It’s (the) Tar Creek Superfund site. We have 72 million tons of mining waste on our lands. And I would like to ask you to come visit it and see the devastation caused by this management of tribal resources, and help elevate tribes to the same level of states when we’re dealing with the remediation of Superfund sites so we can have the same voice as the state in designing a better future and environment for our people.”
Obama said he would have someone follow up with Berrey on the Tar Creek issue, and made some general comments about the environment.
Berrey said in an interview later that
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-
Tulsa, had pushed through incentives for road-building companies to use mine waste called chat, but that the
Bureau of Indian Affairs was stalling contracts to allow tribal members to sell the mine waste.
Still, Berrey said he was pleased to be in Washington at the conference.
"It feels like a new moment in tribal history,” Berrey said. "And I feel like the president’s very sincere when he talks about the tribes as governments and sovereign nations.”
Of the 39 federally-recognized tribes headquartered in
Oklahoma, 33 had notified the White House by Wednesday that they would have a representative at the conference.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5xVRXLgLxw
douch.
Think of all those children that would not have suffered lead poisoning & brain damage from it had the Ratboy gotten off his duff & helped out his constituents.... I guess he was just too busy teaching Africans about Jesus.
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