Historic tribal summit opens Thursday

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau - 11/4/2009


WASHINGTON — U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday that more than 400 of the nation's federally recognized American Indian tribes are expected to attend a tribal conference later this week with President Barack Obama.

Salazar said that turnout will make the event the largest of its kind in U.S. history.

He and other key members of the Obama administration briefed reporters on the plans for the event, which will be held Thursday.

Although it is being called the White House Tribal Nations Conference, the event actually will be held several blocks away at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Salazar played down the significance of the location, adding officials needed more space to accommodate the larger number of participants.

Obama is scheduled to deliver both the opening and closing remarks at the day-long event, he said, and that adds to both its significance and the meaning.

Kim Teehee, White House senior policy adviser for Native American affairs, also cited the number of Cabinet members scheduled to attend.

Teehee said that kind of participation in one event is unprecedented.

Both Salazar and Teehee sidestepped a question on whether Obama will use the event to issue some kind of executive order addressing the past wrongs visited on the tribes by the federal government.

Salazar conceded the unfair treatment but added only that he was looking forward to Obama's remarks.

"We are not about sweeping things under the rug,'' he said. "We are about telling the truth.''

A number of the 38 federally recognized Oklahoma tribes are expected to send leaders to the conference.

"This conference should do a great deal to enhance communication and relationships between tribes and the federal government, which will be in the best interest of everyone concerned,'' said Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.

"President Obama should be commended for recognizing the importance of tribal government and the people whom they represent."



Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
jim.myers@tulsaworld.com


_________________________________________________

Tulsa World Reader Comments
_________________________________________________

Biker Patriot, Broken Arrow (11/3/2009 2:36:35 PM)
Obama's indian name is "Walking Eagle". It means big bird who is too full of %$#& to fly!

oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/4/2009 5:28:45 AM)
They should recant the federal, and state sales tax on Indian smoke shops.

Few Clothes, America (11/4/2009 8:46:39 AM)
Half white speakith with forked tongue not only to Indians, but all of us.

The A Team, (11/4/2009 2:49:10 AM)
Make the Indian Lands Tax Credit permanent. This is a great economic development tool for the state of Oklahoma.

2ndjoyce, BA (11/3/2009 7:14:53 PM)
so uncalled for!

Diana D, madill (11/3/2009 2:38:25 PM)
considerng all the law suits there better be some osages up there they get about 60,000 a year including expenses to represent the tribe so they better be representing..

Welcome to America !, Claremore (11/3/2009 2:21:16 PM)
Amazing !

Loophole, (11/3/2009 2:31:15 PM)
We've given them the means to buy back the entire country. What else do they need?



Email to a Friend
Main Menu