National | Politics

Tribes hail White House Council on Native American Affairs

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Tribal leaders praised President Barack Obama for signing an executive order on Wednesday to establish the White House Council on Native American Affairs.

The high-level council will consist of all Cabinet secretaries and the heads of other federal agencies. It will coordinate Indian policy across the entire government.

“President Obama’s executive order represents a very strong step forward to strengthen our nation-to-nation relationship. The council has been a top priority of tribal leaders from the earliest days of the Obama administration. It will increase respect for the trust responsibility and facilitate the efficient delivery of government services," Jefferson Keel, the president of the National Congress of American Indians, said in a press release.

Fawn Sharp, the president of the Quinault Nation in Washington, also welcomed the new council. She said it could help address underfunding of Indian programs at all federal agencies.

“This executive order comes from a president who has taken the time to listen to the American Indian people. It is a document that recognizes our history and struggles and acknowledges our interests and objectives. On behalf of the Native people and the tribes I represent in my elected capacities, I thank him for his foresight and the intent of this very important decision,” Sharp said in a press release.

Daniel J. Tucker, the chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, said tribal leaders were united in their effort to make the council a reality. His organization represents 25 tribes in California.

"We worked together with Great Plains, Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, Council of Large Tribes, United South and Eastern Tribes to call for a National Council of Native Nations. President Obama responded to that call with the new White House Council on Native American Affairs. We applaud the excellent leadership that the President has provided for Native Americans!" Tucker said in a press release.

The council will be chaired by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. She is speaking at NCAI's mid-year conference today in Reno, Nevada, and will discuss the executive order.

Jewell is also holding a press call with the media this afternoon after her speech.

Executive Order:
Establishing the White House Council on Native American Affairs (June 26, 2013)