President Obama will meet with leaders from the 564 federally recognized tribes on November 5 at the White House Tribal Nations Conference. American Indian and Alaska Native leaders will be invited to interact directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of his Administration. Each federally recognized tribe will be invited to send one representative to the conference.
"I look forward to hearing directly from the leaders in Indian Country about what my Administration can do to not only meet their needs, but help improve their lives and the lives of their peoples," the President said in the White House announcement. "This conference will serve as part of the ongoing and important consultation process that I value, and further strengthen the Nation-to-Nation relationship."
I don't see any reference to the Urbans. I hope they're not overlooked (again)!!!
ReplyDeleteWhether rhetoric will translate into action remains to be seen. Serious times require serious action.
ReplyDeleteWhat would really be refreshing is to hear one of these tribal representatives tell the President that it's not his job to "meet their needs", but that it is his job to execute only those presidential powers which are enumerated in the Constitution, one of which is to execute the treaties - as they are laws of the land - according to their original intent. Indian Country does not need Big Daddy Obama or any other president, senator or congressman to take care of them or to "improve their lives." If Government wants to do anything let it 1) cede all lands and property out of BIA trusts and back into the respective tribal incorporations, and 2)HONOR THE TREATIES as they were originally intended. Quit trying to seduce the tribes with ever more pig tits of public entitlements that sap away the will to be free and to exercise liberty. Tell the president to protect the borders, defend against enemy attack, execute constitutional laws, honor treaties, and then to leave the Tribes and their proud peoples to pursue happiness as they see fit, according to the dictate of their own hearts - if they still have them.
ReplyDeleteWe the citizens of the United States of America now have a President who could bring the First Nations to the table with other Nations of the World to discuss working with one another. Prosperous Nations such as Israel, Japan, China, Brazil, Egypt and the Arab Nations who can assist all the Native American population to a better life. The United States no longer controls this country--it is under the control of other Nations we all know that. We need to take a stand this round while President Obama is in. We need independency in order to become great.
ReplyDelete"We need independency in order to become great."
ReplyDeleteThe United States of America continues to be the most prosperous of all nations on the earth, with a production output that floors all others, even despite the horrendous economic travesty that President Obama is perpetrating on us (though he may yet succeed). It is incredibly naive to compare the prosperity of the citizens of the USA to the likes of China, Brazil, Egypt, and the Arab Nations, which have significant portions of their populations living in almost medieval conditions - such an assertion is positively surreal. The poorest of Americans and First Americans live as kings compared to many in those countries. Even compared to Japan and Israel, who in this country would truly want to trade his standard of living for theirs?
To become great the First Nations need to exercise the independence and freedom they already have, stop offering themselves up into slavery by bowing down at the altars of socialism and kissing the feet of the high priests of entitlement - Obama, Kennedy, et al - selling their once free souls into slavery.
The First Nations were endowed by the Creator with the rights of Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Constitution of the United States of America guarantees those rights to its citizens, even its First Citizens. But they have to exercise those rights to enjoy them. Unfortunately too many of them already have relinquished their spirits into slavery.
Awake! Rise up from the dust! Stand as Men! Cast off the shackles of sin and dependence! Your greatness lies within you as children of the Creator Himself. If you think your greatness lies with Obama, then you are destined to remain in slavery. But that is not your destiny. You will yet blossom as a rose and become a scourge to tyrants and petty tyrants who seek to sap away your liberty with the soma of socialism and godlessness.
If the President wants to help the Indian Nations than he should honor the treaties. Give back the land that was taken fron the Indians and put under the BIA without the Tribes having to pay again for what is theirs.
ReplyDeleteThe first real GOOD DEED that the government did for the Indian Nations was to grant Casinos on Indian land. Now that Casions are sussesful they want to put limits on the Tribes. Obama has it within his powers to exclude Indian Casinos from the NLRB control. Let him step up to the plate and allow the Indians to control their own destiney and their business to provide for their members.
"...even despite the horrendous economic travesty that President Obama is perpetrating on us." Seriously? How can one man do this to us during his short tenure? What about the guy before him and so on? Blaming others for your financial woes makes you a slave to your own destiny. And, using govermental handout programs doesn't make the First Nations great, rather a bit socialistic! Taking responsibility for ones own thoughts and actions make people great.
ReplyDeleteI don't see why our tribal representatives need to go to Washington DC to meet the president, our needs is here on the reservations. We need them to come out and see the people and what our needs are. We have concerns and who not to talk to them but here on our land, not theres.
ReplyDeleteIm just sadden that the person who will be representing our village tribal council is the same person who do not support the whole tribal members. Too bad we did not get a heads up on who to send over to represent us.
ReplyDeleteIs there a list of Tribal Reps?
ReplyDeleteWe'll see if we can get a list and post it on the blog. Check back in an hour or two.
ReplyDeleteThe listening session last week in St'Paul, was enlighting, I ask the creator to lend and open ear to the President and let the Indian Nations of American have direct funding from Washington D.C. Instead of giving the funding to the state, the tribes only get what the state decides to give them, As far as BIA it does not work for the Northern Regions of United States, the OJS is very rude to our Council.
ReplyDeleteI pray that our Tribal Leaders and President Obama will acknowledge and pledge to care for all of the Tribal members who make up our tribes. Most Indian people live in rural,urban, and suburban counties now and not on reservations. Look at the school data. That tells much of the story. Why should enrolled members of tribes be denied health care,education,housing,senior services,food,etc. because of where they live. If a U.S. citizen moves from New York to California, they do not lose their citizenship. American Indian children should not be starving and homeless just because they live in a city or across the road from their reservation.
ReplyDeleteWhat most non-native American people don't understand, is that the original inhabitants of this country the Native Americans don't want a handout, we just want fair treatment. We want our Constitutional rights just like any other American citizen wants. We expect the Federal government to honor the treaties or agreements made with all Tribes or Nations.
ReplyDeleteAs history was and is verbally told, the Treatys were never honored. The tribal land base was never the First Peoples land base. The language, and traditional way of life was taken," give it up or go to jail" was the law.Are we as the the "First People of this country going to request to President Obama, to retrieve all this back.Our languages are almost all gone, our elders were the law of our land, because they were the ones who knew all the past history. They knew all the ways of survival, now we as modern day Natives of this country only know english and modern day technology. If we don't have an education then we are homeless and without. The BIA makes sure we know that we do not own our lands, we are only care-takers.My prayers are for equality, and the ability to be proud of my self identity.Education for our Children , in both their worlds, which will empower them with their self- identity and the ability to function in the now world.
ReplyDeleteWill the president even see these comments people have shared or these comments going to be censored. Some of comments are what people have expereinced. Do some of Tribal officials have the same shared concerns as the PEOPLE do?
ReplyDeleteI hope President Obama has a better health care plan for American Indians. Congress seems unwilling to adequately fund Indian Health so that many needs are not being met locally. Our Chairman went to the conference, but I wonder if he was able to speak to Obama personnally and bring our needs up to him. Anyway, its a start. I don't believe the previous administration had such a meeting. Things can only get better.
ReplyDeleteHow can only one person represent for their tribe because pueblo leaders are appointed, often uneducated to understand the needs of their people whom they are suppose to help. To date women are not allowed to vote for leaders. How can this be in the year 2009? As long as they get highly paid, they do not worry about the needs of the poor who are doing without. The president should meet with the poor who does not get represented most of the time. The fat cats need to go and those who are not given a voice, should be heard.
ReplyDeleteIf we the true owners of this country, we are not given our constitutional rights, equality and equal justice. Just check the article what happned to the 41 members who were held in contempt by the Judge Sanchez, transported 72 miles away from their home area and let go only to find their way back home on their own. the web site for the article is www.taosnews.com Call the governers office, Ruben Romero and ask why he did not defend the people he is suppose to serve? Secondly, ask him how much he and his staff earns or gives themselves. We do not have the privlege to know. Time and time they go to Washington for what we do not know. Have they accomplished anything? questionable. Very interesting operation here.
ReplyDelete