American Indian Congress highlights education, jobs, sovereignty in national address

Today, representatives of tribal nations in the US gathered in Washington DC for the State of Indian Nations. Coming fewer than 48 hours after President Obama’s State of the Union speech, in which Native Americans were mentioned only in passing, Jefferson Keel said native communities deserved greater attention from Obama.

“He’s kept his word, he has placed people in strategic and important places in his Administration and they’re doing a tremendous job, but it’s limited. Again, access is limited and we need to expand that and we need broader support.”

Keel, who is president of the National Congress of American Indians, outlined what that support should look like to address issues within the country’s more than 500 tribal nations. Those issues include improving health services and access to quality education, and strengthening sovereignty on tribal lands. Keel also pressed Congress to take action on specific legislation, such as bills aimed at reducing violence against women.

“Native women are the protectors of our culture, our families and our future we call on the senate to pass the violence against women act re-authorization and the save native women act, both of which would take critical steps to address the horrific rates of violence being perpetrated against our women.”

Closing the digital divide is also key for tribal communities, said Keel noting that only one out of every ten people living on tribal land have access to broadband Internet service.

“The Native CLASS Act offers the chance to provide the education our young people need to succeed today and build economies that Indian country needs for tomorrow. Our young people must not be left behind anymore.”

Keel also took the US to task for failing to fully put into practice the UN framework on indigenous rights. In 2007, the US voted against the declaration at the UN General Assembly and has since offered only limited support.

“We call on the president to fully implement the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. We specifically call for a review of all existing federal law to ensure that they are in alignment with the declaration.”

But Keel reserved much of his speech to call for greater control of resource development on tribal lands, identifying it as a source of much-needed jobs.

“Tribal governments have proven their capacities to grow our economies, educate our people and manage our resources. We need our federal government to put the decisions back in the hands of people who live in Indian country, the people who know best because these are our homelands, these are our people.”

The National Congress Of American Indians budget request for fiscal year 2013 proposes to do away with a $6,500 application fee for a permit to drill in Indian Country - while also requesting increased funding - up to $75 million - for the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program. Tom Cole, a member of the House of Representatives and an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation, commended the Obama Administration for easing the approval of leases for surface
mining, but said more could be done.

“I’d like to -- as an oil and gas guy and a coal guy -- to get some subsurface flexibility there but we’re going to work on that and this was a very important step in the right direction on the part of the Administration.”

But this emphasis on resource extraction worries some within the tribal community.According to the Indigenous Environmental Network, native communities are home to some of the most resource rich areas, yet also subject to government and corporate extraction of wealth that leads to severe poverty. The group calls for a greater role for local communities in managing resources.

President Keel said the election of 2012 would provide an opportunity for tribal people to advocate for issues important to the community and called on candidates to address tribal issues in debates and when forming policy.

“Our America is a place where all candidates know that we matter and America sees it at the ballot box. It’s a place where each and every president honors our unique nation to nation relationship. Where Indian Country is always at the table. Not just because it’s a good idea, it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s a smart thing to do.”

To view the complete State of Indian Nations address: http://www.livestream.com/ncai