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 own time Thursday 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 ordered every Cabinet agency to take more steps toward more cooperation.
Obama’s outreach to tribal leaders amounted to a campaign promise kept from a president who got significant support from American Indians on his way to the White House. It comes as Indians remain entrenched in a class-action lawsuit against the federal government, claiming it 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.
He seemed to connect best when he told the crowd 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 an ovation.
“We respect you as a man of your word,” replied Jefferson Keel, president of the National Congress of American Indians.
During the conference, agency officials and tribal leaders discussed problems facing American Indians, including economic development, education, health care, public safety and housing.
