Obama: US must reverse course with Indians

[WriteDown]

Source: AP

Indians, President Barack Obama told tribal leaders Thursday gathered in Washington that he is determined to reverse the federal government's history of marginalizing Indian nations.

"You will not be forgotten as long as I'm in this White House," Obama said during opening remarks at the all-day conference of tribal leaders and government officials.

Obama said the meeting is the largest and most widely attended gathering of tribal leaders in U.S. history. Officials planned to discuss problems facing American Indians, including economic development, education, health care, public safety and housing.

Given the government's history of reneging on agreements with Native Americans, Obama said it took an "extraordinary leap of faith" for leaders to attend the meeting. Obama said he is determined to be a good partner with tribal nations.

"We're not going to go through the motions and pay tribute to each other, then furl up the flags and go our separate ways," he said.

Obama signed a presidential memorandum calling on every cabinet agency to give him a detailed plan to improve the relationship between the government and tribal communities.

During his Democratic primary last year, Obama traveled to Indian reservations and promised health care improvements.

"I'll appoint an American Indian policy adviser to my senior White House staff to work with tribes and host an annual summit at the White House with tribal leaders to come up with an agenda that works for tribal communities," Obama said in a video address to the National Congress of American Indians' convention in Phoenix during the final days of his campaign. "That's how we'll make sure you have a seat at the table when important decisions are being made about your lives, about your nations and about your people."....

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hr0j0YL8Xrnq47TgF24NEX3dRIiQD9BPEUKO1

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Semi-excited about this, but will wait to see if anything comes to fruition. We've been lied to so many times. Let's see if Obama puts his money where his mouth is and approves the Akwesasne raceway. Hillary promised she'd do it and we are still waiting.

[Cha]

1. Thanks for

this, WriteDown.

[WriteDown]

2. You're very welcome..

Want to keep this in the spotlight.

[JanusAscending]

8. I was hoping for some pictures...

and what I was really hoping for was some Ceremonial Drumming!!! Maybe tonight on MSNBC they'll show us SOMETHING worthy of this tremendous event!!!

[Staph]

9. Our darling Jackeens has supplied the pictures!

Check out http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8734330

[Cha]

13. Yes, check out the link provided for you in GDP..

Gives us more of a feel for it along with this very interesting article~

[Demeter]

3. Even More So for the Zombie Banks

Reverse Course! Before we crash into Depression.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. CNN this morning --

started to show his speech this morning then cut away to some bullshit online game they have now. :eyes:

It is high time this country do the right thng when it comes to the original peoples.

[donquijoterocket]

15. apology

I'd suspect we can be certain our wingnut countrymen will do their best to present this as a continuation of President Obama"s apology tour" to use their terminology, or try to connect it to restitution for slavery.

[treestar]

5. Your last paragraph makes no sense at all

How did Hillary have the power ever to do such a thing on her own? The Secretary of State can approve something an Indian tribe (or part of it) wants?

[WriteDown]

6. When she was running. nt

[Mari333]

7. shoot. I was hoping he meant India.

reverse course by stopping outsourcing.
and yes, I hope this isnt just more talkytalky.

[MindPilot]

23. That was my first thought too.

[Divine Discontent]

24. I was wondering who they meant to since the article didn't say Native before Indian. Poorly written

I am 1/6th Cherokee or so, and I tend to say "American Indian", and rarely think of saying, "Native American", because many of us are now 'Native American', but I read your post and thought - YEAH! reverse the outsourcing fines/fees/taxes on these companies indeed!

[niyad]

10. what is the status of the missing billions in the trust fund?

[Tim01]

11. I thought we weren't supposed to say Indian anymore? nt

[Vehl]

17. Native American is supposed to be the correct term here in the US...in Canada its the "first nations

I always felt bad for those original people of this continent... Its the duty of the US to ensure that they do not vanish as a people.

[RebelOne]

12. I say that we give back all the land we stole from them.

[elocs]

14. Promises are just empty words unless they are joined with actions and results.

It is easy and costs nothing to make promises. Politicians do it all the time. Native Americans know a lot about empty promises and lies.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and not in talking about making the pudding. We all hear more talk, words, promises and then excuses than action and results.

[thereismore]

16. White men always promise. Oh wait a minute! nt

[katkat]

18. crap

What this seems to include is a casino in southern Rhode Island, in an area which is about as close to a nature preserve as you can get without being officially one.

[WriteDown]

21. There is always some excuse to not allow Native Americans to prosper....

You should have seen Cherokee, NC before they built the Harrah's. It literally brought the area out of the depths of poverty.

[katkat]

25. I've seen Connecticut

after the casino was built there - neighboring communities destroyed, small business driven out of business, crime rate through the ceiling in what used to be a typical New England pastoral area. One of my classmates was killed and his car found in the Foxwoods parking lot where the killer was gambling with the victim's money.

There's nothing to stop the native Americans in RI from working like anyone else instead of trashing a pristine coastal area.

[WriteDown]

26. You show your lack or understanding at how the Native American

community has been decimated for centuries. Sorry the redmen ruined your White(you forgot that adjective) pastoral area. :eyes:

[katkat]

27. here's the poor downtrodden chief

of the Narragansett Indians. Sorry no room for his BMW in the photo.



And this is not a segregated area.

[WriteDown]

28. So Native Americans should not be allowed to become

wealthy? Many would rather see them in headdresses and loin cloths. Who are you to say what they can do with THEIR land?

[Liberation Angel]

29. Yikes! No bias here is there?

You expect him to wear a headress. regalia?

The Narragansetts have suffered more than most people can imagine.

I get your issue with the casinos in Connecticut, but that is what the "pale face" gave them.

Now if we start talking about the disenfranchised Native peoples in Connecticut who get NOTHING from their cousins

or

the fact that Bush and McCain and Mitt Romney's boyz have their fingers in the tills at the Connecicut casinos (and as are as corrupt s non enforcement of the RICO statutes makes possible)


Then we can complain.

Attacking the tribal leader of the Narragansetts who were slaughtered and later sold out by politicians and carpetbaggers is really uncool.
To attack his suit is tacky.

[AlphaCentauri]

42. Are there any others ways for prosperity than using the European methods

of selling alcohol and gambling?

There is a need for scientist, doctors, I think building a university in the reservations would bring more long term progress than a liquor store called Casino.

[Berry Cool]

19. After watching last night's World Series, I am in perfect agreement.

America needs to reverse course in baseball and have the Indians win for a change.

[Zhade]

20. Talk is cheap, especially when the bill never comes due.

Why should anyone believe your pretty lies anymore, Obama? You've broken too many promises.

[yurbud]

22. what will he do to extraction industries that want resources on Indian lands?

that will be the real test.

[Thothmes]

30. First think that he should do

is to try and solve the complex problems dealing with royalties to Native Americans for resource extractions that have already taken place on their lands.

[Broken_Hero]

31. I hope they

replay his speech later on tonight, and I hope he delivers, especially with funding for IHS/Higher Education.

[L. Coyote]

32. Obama ushers in a new era for Indian country

Source: Indian Country Today

Obama ushers in a new era for Indian country
By Rob Capriccioso - Nov 5, 2009


WASHINGTON – Fulfilling a pledge to forge a strong and lasting partnership with tribal nations, the leader of the free world took a day out of his schedule to address a plethora of concerns affecting Native American people and their communities.

“I’m absolutely committed to moving forward with you and forging a new and better future together,” President Barack Obama said during a Nov. 5 speech to hundreds of tribal leaders gathered in Washington from sovereign nations across the country.

“It’s a commitment that’s deeper than our unique nation-to-nation relationship. It’s a commitment to getting this relationship right, so that you can be full partners in the American economy, and so your children and your grandchildren can have an equal shot at pursuing the American dream.”

The setting for the event, called the White House Tribal Nations Conference, was the Sydney R. Yates Auditorium of the Department of the Interior. Besides the president, several Cabinet heads were in attendance, interacting with tribal leaders via moderated question-and-answer sessions throughout the day ...

Read more: http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/home/content/69340852.html

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Tribal leaders from all 564 federally recognized tribes were invited, and more than 400 attended.
This, I believe, is the largest gathering of indigenous tribal leaders in US history.

VIDEO: Obama: U.S. Must Reverse Course With Indians
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x398704

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Obama making good on promises
Nov 5, 2009 - http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/opinion/editorials/69328952.html

The list of achievements Obama recited – accomplishments Native people have, thus far, only witnessed in bits and pieces – was impressive. The appointment of Native leaders like Larry EchoHawk and Kimberly Teehee to prominent and influential positions within the Obama administration. Efforts to take policymakers to tribal communities to listen to tribes’ concerns. And, of course, hosting the Tribal Nations Conference, an event Obama promised while on the campaign trail.
The president’s declared and demonstrated commitment to consult directly with tribes and require his own administration to do the same holds great promise in improving the lives of tribal people across the country.

Tribes, by and large, expressed their support for Obama early in his presidential campaign. ......

The president’s declared and demonstrated commitment to consult directly with tribes and require his own administration to do the same holds great promise in improving the lives of tribal people across the country. That commitment is a seismic shift in government and tribal relations, as is Obama’s willingness to speak about issues previous administrations seemed all too willing to sweep under the rug. ..............

[Cha]

33. Heartfelt thanks to the Perfect Storm

that's making this happen.

[mrs_p]

35. k/r

woops, wrong place.

[Omaha Steve]

34. I'm 1/4 Cherokee

K&R!

[Cha]

38. Awesome & so Cute~ And, I'm like 1/64

Objibwa~

[nolabear]

36. K&Ho!

[AzDar]

37. Okay, this is awesome.

:loveya:

[question everything]

39. But... but... where is OUR contry

the white, male Christian?

How DARE he suggest that this is someone's ELSE country?

:puke:

[imdjh]

40. Why would you take a dump in a positive thread?

[TygrBright]

41. Time, and long past time.

Only a step on a long road, but finally it seems to be the right road, at least.

hopefully,
Bright

[okieinpain]

43. so does that mean the freedmen are fixing to get the shaft

from the president.

[David Zephyr]

44. It's too late to give this an "R", but I'm kicking it up. Great post.

Thanks WriteDown. Wish I'd seen this sooner to give it an R. It deserves it. -- DZ