Thursday

President Obama Speaks at the 2012 Tribal Nations Conference Closing Session (Video)

President Obama promised Native American leaders Wednesday he will “keep working together” with them, and outlined policy changes across his administration that Native Americans long have sought.

Federal officials will pay the medical bills of Native Americans who have served in the armed forces, and tribes won’t have to pay taxes on aid to their members, administration officials said.

The White House also announced millions of dollars in new transportation grants and new programs to help schools on reservations.

“But we’ve got more work to do,” Obama said at the daylong White House Tribal Nations Conference. “We’ve got to rebuild America’s infrastructure — from roads to high-speed Internet — that will help connect native communities to other parts of the country and other parts of the world.”

Representatives from the 566 federally recognized tribes were invited to the summit, which featured discussion panels with Cabinet secretaries, federal lawmakers and the heads of agencies that deal with Indian issues. Topics included law enforcement, disaster relief, education, economic development, housing, energy and infrastructure.

The summit comes as tribal leaders worry about how the “fiscal cliff,” a combination of spending cuts and tax increases set to hit Jan. 1, would affect the federal government’s trust obligations and investments in other services affecting tribes.


They said they felt comforted by the president’s remarks on Wednesday.

“I’m glad that we finally got a president who stands up for Indian people,” said a beaming Kevin Bonds of the Tule River Yokuts in California.

Wednesday’s gathering “should send a loud and clear message to everyone that Barack Obama understands the importance of Indian Country and is committed to making sure we continue to make progress,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who kicked off the summit.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the Veterans Affairs Department will reimburse the Indian Health Service for treatment of Native American veterans.


“This agreement will make it easier for tribes to enter their own agreements with VA for the health services they provide,” she said.

Robert Shepherd of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribe in South Dakota said that’s a “huge deal” for his tribe, which has many veterans.

Also at the summit, Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin announced proposed guidance on excluding from income tax certain benefits that tribal businesses provide to members, such as assistance with utility bills, tuition payments, school clothes and help for the elderly. Tribes had asked that the assistance be excluded.

“We’re a tribe who gives away a lot of money to our members,” said Jim Shakespeare of the Northern Arapaho in Wyoming. “It would devastate us if it was taxed.”
SOURCE

VIDEO 2012 White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington

Responses to "Obama vows more assistance at conference of tribal leaders"

  1. Unknown says:

    It's great that we start paying back for the amount of damage we did to Assn entire race of people...

  2. Unknown says:

    It's important that we except responsibility for things our ammeter have done to the American Natives..

  3. Unknown says:

    This is a joke right? Do you actually believe yourself? There are so many issues on each reservation and you choose the easiest way out? Come on now...
    My father fought for this country and was very proud of his service. You're disrespecting him and all of our native servicemen and women. They need better than IHS. Some need specialist, not contract health. Who, by the way, reject a lot of people who are in real need. The VA is buried in paper work. How long do you think it will take for them to approve someone? I know an 86 year old Vet that finally got approve for VA medical, just this year! That's 22 years he had to wait!
    Don't drag native people into your game. Haven't you taken enough from us? I'm very disappointed in you Mr. President. Such disrespect. Why do you continue to used pictures of yourself with the Code Talkers? Respect them, don't use them.

  4. Nasgalii says:

    Thank you for sharing this information. I pray God will continue to touch the heart of President Obama and give him the wisdom to give justice to the many ignored petitions of the First Peoples of the Americas.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Never trust these people...

  6. Anonymous says:

    dear presdent obama i have a friend in afganistan who's mother & Daughter was in bad car accadnt on sunday 12-02-12 who is in need money to pay for the medical care in nigeria can you please help please they are like family please contact josh lohsandt for more information or even steven mattew than- you From Sheryl Ray God Bless You

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