MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

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November 8, 2009

Good first step in Indian relations

President Obama kept a campaign promise to Native Americans this past week that is very important to Oklahoma.

Obama promised greater coordination on federal issues with American Indian tribes, and he addressed representatives from more than 350 tribes, including Oklahoma’s 38 tribes, last week in Washington, D.C. The tribal leaders were there for the National Congress of American Indians.

Obama’s pledge is a first step toward cooperation. He signed a memorandum giving Cabinet agencies 90 days to submit plans to improve consultation between the federal government and tribes.

In recent decades, Native American tribes have sought greater autonomy over their lands and futures, and in many ways, they have succeeded.

However, enormous social problems still face many tribes, including, according to a recent report, “unemployment up to 80 percent on some reservations, roughly 25 percent of Native Americans living in poverty and more than 10 percent of reservation homes lacking electricity or safe water supplies.”

As tribes play a greater role in economic development, and social and environmental issues, the tribes and federal and state governments need to communicate freely with one another. They need not only to be able to communicate but reach working agreements that are mutually beneficial to everyone.

Obama also named Kimberly Teehee, a Cherokee and Northeastern State University graduate, senior policy advisor for Native American affairs. She will advise the president on issues impacting American Indian tribes.

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