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Wednesday, November 19, 2003

During the first part of the general session of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) on Tuesday, Jennifer Farley, Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the White House, spoke to the delegates about the White House's commitment to Native Americans.

After her speech, Farley took questions from the delegates. Many of the questions had to do with how the White House had slighted tribal leaders by dismissing numerous requests for meetings.

Farley told the tribal leaders that they were not going through the right channels to reach the president. Rather than going through the main White House contacts, she said tribes should go through her office.

Farley said President Bush was very interested in hearing from the tribes on a governmental basis on appointments to the judiciary and other positions. She gave the crowd her FAX number and email address and said she would be available to meet with anyone attending NCAI.

Kevin Battise, chairman of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe, got up to tell the delegates that President Bush, as Governor of Texas, never visited the reservation despite numerous requests. He detailed his tribe's history of problems with gaming in the state.

Get the Story:
Indians Vent Anger at Bush (The Albuquerque Journal 11/19)
Tribal Leaders Question Bush Pledges (The Santa Fe New Mexican 11/19)

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