SilentFeathers Sacred Pathways

On December 2, 2011, President Obama hosted the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of the Interior.  As part of President Obama’s ongoing outreach to the American people, this conference provides leaders from the 565 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with the President and representatives from his Administration.  This is the third White House Tribal Nations Conference the Obama Administration has hosted and continues to build upon the President’s commitment to strengthen the government-to-government relationship with Indian Country.

 

The Navajo Nation and Crow Nation were both represented at the White House last year, two of the many Indian Nations in the west where the federal and state governments are seizing Indian water rights by way of legal maneuvers.

 

Three years ago, at the first White House Tribal Nations Conference, President Obama was criticized for showing a lack of respect to Native American leaders. In the initial announcement, Obama first invited and welcomed all Native American leaders to come to the White House. Then, however, Obama changed the meeting place to the Interior building.

 

The question remains: Didn't Obama realize in the beginning that there are 565 Indian Nations?

 

Obama further insulted Native American leaders in 2009 and 2010 by failing to greet and shake the hands of Native American leaders, as a show of respect for the arrival of leaders of sovereign nations. Obama did not host a reception to greet the leaders. Instead, Obama made a speech at the Interior building, responded to questions, and left the conference.

 

Before the White House Tribal Nations Conference began that first year in 2009, Native leaders stood in long lines in the cold outside the Interior building, waiting to get inside.

 

Already this year, Native Americans are asking: Who are the regional representatives in the select groups invited to the White House? How were they chosen? Why hasn't all of this been made public?

 

The meeting is costly to attend for each individual Indian Nation, which must provide for its own travel, hotels and meals, etc. If all 565 Indian Nations attend, those costs could easily total over $1 million.

 

Further, Native Americans want to know from both Obama and their own leaders if this meeting is just for the purpose of political grandstanding and photo ops, or if it will result in real change for Indian country.

 

 

 

 

Obama is on the campaign trail trying to get re-elected, collecting what Native American votes he can get along the way as he promises nothing but "Looking into things" so to speak, concerning Native American Education, Health Care, etc., according to contents/language of this years Tribal Nations Conference's executive order.

 

It even says in this order that they, (the govt.) will "co-chair" and if they have "some" funds available, that the gov "may" send some financial support. Nothing but a bunch of hot air in my opinion.....same ole song and dance as usual when it comes to the US gov dealings with the Native Americans.

 

This order is only a declaration of being "more involved" and the gov probably won't have any funds to financially support the Native American's either concerning education. (They made that clear in the provision above!) This executive order is full of holes and is finely crafted by Obama's team of attorneys!

There really isn't anything "concrete" in this order at all, read it for yourself....

 

 

 

If Obama Is Serious About American Indians, He'll Offer More Than Eagle Feathers

 

Read more:http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/12/02/third-white-house-tribal-nations-conference-launches-to-less-fanfare-65598

 

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/12/02/20111202obama-relations-tribes-turning-point.html#ixzz1fUDtrAuG

 

 

This president (Obama) nor any other president has ever had "The Backs" of the Native Americans....matter of fact several presidents have allowed the Native Americans backs to be broken or for them to be shot in the back legally.

 

Most Native Americans are the poorest people in America and live in the most harsh of conditions.....

 

 

 

 

Wall Street Journal

Nov. 22, 1995

By Terry L. Anderson

 

 

by Tom Rodgers

- A Challenge Too Often Ignored

“To be a poor man is hard, but to be a poor race in a land of dollars is the very bottom of hardships.” – W.E.B. Du Bois

 

 

So does this President really "have the backs" of today's Native Americans?

The truth is plain to see......