Native Americans

Department of Interior, Washington, D.C.

November 05, 2009 -- THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Please, everybody have a seat. Thank you to Jefferson Keel, thanks for the wonderful introduction; to Clarence Jackson for the invocation. Good morning to all of you. I am honored to be with you today at this unique and historic event, the largest and most widely attended gathering of tribal leaders in our history. (Applause.) And I am so grateful to many members of Congress who could join us today, along with several members of my Cabinet who will be participating in this conference today.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today at the White House Tribal Nations Conference, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu highlighted the Department of Energy’s continued commitment to partnering with Native Americans to support the development of clean energy projects on tribal lands that will help reduce energy use, limit carbon pollution, and create new jobs for tribal communities across the country.

“The Department of Energy is committed to partnering with tribal communities to help them meet their energy needs through clean energy and energy efficiency technologies,” said Secretary Chu. “Clean energy projects will create jobs and economic opportunities on tribal lands, while reducing energy use and increasing energy security for Indian Country.”    » read more »

Report Released on Heels of Productive Discussion Between USDA, Tribal Leaders

WASHINGTON. Nov 4, 2009 - In celebration of American Indian Heritage Month the U.S. Department of Agriculture today reported that there are nearly 80,000 American Indian operators on 61,472 farms and ranches across the United States. This represents an 88-percent increase over the number of American Indian farmers USDA counted in 2002.

The report was released on the heels of a meeting held today with more than 100 tribal leaders and members and Senior USDA officials including Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan in advance of the White House Tribal Nations Conference.    » read more »

Senator Sends Letter to FCC Chairman Urging Quick Action

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-NM, today sent a letter to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing “grave concern” about the organization’s failure to extend telephone service to Indian Country, where more than 30 percent of households do not have basic service.    » read more »

Two Montanans scheduled to testify during November 5 hearing

October 30, 2009 -- (BIG SANDY, Mont.) – At the request of Senator Jon Tester, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing next week to address better health care for American Indian veterans.

Those testifying at the November 5 hearing will include Kevin Howlett, Director of Tribal Health for Montana’s Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Buck Richardson, Minority Program Coordinator at Ft. Harrison.

Tester—a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee—requested the hearing last month.    » read more »

Appropriations bill contains $66.3 million for tribal colleges; $4.6 million for UTTC

October 29, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said today that the $7 million increase in funding for tribal colleges nationwide represents a strong commitment to Native American higher education that will benefit students at tribal colleges in North Dakota.

The Interior Appropriations conference agreement includes $66.3 million for tribally controlled community colleges, which is $7 million more than last year’s level. In addition, the bill includes a provision proposed by the President including $50 million to forward fund tribal colleges so they can better plan for the academic year.    » read more »

Finds Insufficient Evidence to Acknowledge the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – There is not enough evidence to meet the legal requirements for federal recognition of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs George T. Skibine said today. The Department of then Interior, therefore, has issued a final determination not to acknowledge the petitioner group as a federally-recognized Indian tribe.

“Though the Little Shell cannot meet the mandatory criteria for federal acknowledgment through Interior’s administrative process, the U.S. Congress has the authority to recognize the Little Shell under pending legislation,” Skibine said.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to additional tribes to help improve infrastructure and water supplies while bringing jobs to Indian country.

Today’s announcements apply to five tribes that will receive a total of $47 million-the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota; the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota; and the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Reclamation previously has awarded $97 million and will award a total of $157 million in recovery funding to tribes for their water systems.    » read more »

16 October 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Ann Kirkpatrick today released the following statement mourning the loss of Willard V. Oliver, a Navajo Code Talker from Lukachukai who passed away Wednesday at the age of 88:

“The loss of Mr. Oliver deeply saddened me. Through his service as a Code Talker, Mr. Oliver did so much for this Nation. I would like to extend my sympathies to Mr. Oliver’s friends and family.

“During World War Two and the Korean War, Navajo Code Talkers saved countless American lives. Mr. Oliver’s service to our country as a distinguished representative of the Diné people will be remembered.    » read more »

Would permanently reauthorize Indian health care programs

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today joined with Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-ND) to introduce the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) of 2009, which would improve health care services throughout Indian Country. Johnson is an original co-sponsor of the bill.    » read more »

Overturning Bush Administration Precedent

In January 2008, Despite Widespread Support from NYS and Local Officials and Community Leaders, Then-Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne Denied Applications for All Pending Off-Reservation Casinos, Including Those in Catskills

October 13, 2009 -- Today U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, asking him to consider the pending applications for off reservation gambling in the Catskills on a case by case basis, and overturn the blanket ban established by his predecessor Dirk Kempthorne.    » read more »

October 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a contract totaling $27.74 million to the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority for the construction of Reaches 2 through 6 of the Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline. NECA, a construction firm wholly-owned and operated by the Navajo Nation, will use the funds to construct the remaining 21-mile stretch (out of a total project of 29 miles) of the municipal pipeline..    » read more »

05 October 2009 -- FLAGSTAFF, AZ – Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy will be making $6,079,400 available to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use on Navajo Nation. The funds will be allocated through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The grant will be used to develop a comprehensive energy efficiency and conservation strategy, conduct energy audits for homes and businesses, establish efficiency programs across the Nation and improve energy technology in tribal government facilities.    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson today announced more than $24 million in federal stimulus funds will go to schools, colleges, tribes and other agencies to improve energy efficiency all over New Mexico. The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department has awarded funding to 28 projects selected through a competitive process.    » read more »

October 07,2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) commended the Senate for formally apologizing to Native Americans for the United States’ long-history of inadequate policies regarding Indian Tribes.

The formal apology was included in the Department of Defense appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010, which passed the Senate today.. The apology amendment was sponsored by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and was based on a resolution originally co-sponsored by Cantwell.    » read more »