'You Will Not Be Forgotten,' Obama Tells Tribal Leaders
President Obama told hundreds of tribal leaders at an Interior Department summit today that he knows what it means to feel ignored and forgotten, pledging to work with them on issues including energy development and climate change.
The complete remarks can be found here at Whitehouse.gov
The president acknowledged a long history of abuse and neglect by the federal government. "Treaties were violated," he said. "Promises were broken. You were told your lands, your religion, your cultures, your languages were not yours to keep."Given the past, Obama said he wouldn't have been surprised if the leaders hadn't come today, saying it showed "an extraordinary leap of faith."
Sitting at a table on stage in the Interior auditorium, Obama signed a memorandum directing all federal agencies to develop within 90 days a plan to improve tribal consultation. "These are challenges we can only face by working together," he said
Representatives from 564 Nations were at the Conference.
Obama detailed increases in funding for education, and better health care.
He also directly addressed the rape of Native Women:
"The shocking and contemptible fact that one in three Native American women will be raped in their lifetimes is an assault on our national conscience that we can no longer ignore"
C-Span is broadcasting live from the conference now.