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WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama assured American Indians on Thursday that they have a place in his White House and on his agenda, telling tribal leaders that their marginalized community deserves more from its government.
"I get it. I’m on your side," Obama told the largest gathering of tribal leaders in U.S. history.Obama devoted part of his time Thursday and more of his administration’s attention to renewing relations with American Indians. He opened a conference that drew leaders from 386 tribal nations — the first meeting of its kind in 15 years — and he ordered every Cabinet agency to take further steps toward cooperation.Obama’s outreach to tribal leaders amounted to a campaign promise kept by a president who got significant support from American Indians on his way to the White House. American Indians remain entrenched in a class-action lawsuit against the federal government, claiming that the government has long swindled them out of land royalties.Obama said he didn’t blame tribal leaders for skepticism about another politician offering hopeful words. But he said he has no interest in going through the motions of just holding a summit with them.He seemed to connect best when he told those in the audience that he was like them: an "outsider" who grew up without a father, moved around a lot, and understood what it was like to struggle and be ignored."You will not be forgotten as long as I’m in this White House," Obama said to a sustained ovation.Whether that promise results in action over the next few years will be the test. In a Q&A session, audience members pressed Obama for government help on a long list of matters, from more respect for sovereignty rights to environmental cleanup to concerns about offshore drilling.Agency officials and tribal leaders discussed problems facing Indians, including economic development, education, healthcare, public safety and housing.Obama signed a memo calling on every Cabinet agency to give him a detailed plan to improve the relationship between the government and tribal communities.He has made good on pledges to hold the summit and to give Indians a prominent voice on his senior staff — and he reminded them.
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