For too long in this country, Native Americans, the indigenous people of this land not only had their land and culture stolen, but had to endure poverty as well as discrimination, racism, neglect and abuse from their new masters. Recently, a UN investigator has recommended that some stolen land needs to be returned to Native Americans to alleviate some of their misery.
However it seems that many Native Americans have found hope in President Obama and one chief believes he is the greatest President Native Americans have had:
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker is here to help nominate President Barack Obama for a second term, and he doesn't hold anything back in his praise for the president.
Obama, Baker said here Tuesday, “is the best president for Indian Country in the history of the United States.”
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One of the reasons Baker believes this to be true is because Obama has kept all his promises to Indian Country:
“This president has made promises to Indian Country, and he's kept them,” Baker said. “He is a promise keeper. And that needs to be recognized and rewarded.”
What exactly has Obama done?
Since his election, Obama has directed his agencies to incorporate tribal input on a broad range of issues.
The Obama administration made Indian Country a significant part of the stimulus and health reform legislation.
And it resolved long-running lawsuits involving Indians and the federal government, including the one involving the mismanagement of individual Indian trust accounts.
The administration also helped push major legislation on tribal justice through Congress, has worked to streamline the leasing process for Indian trust land and launched an initiative to improve Indian schools.
Even Republicans acknowledge that Obama has done a great deal for the betterment and benefit of Native Americans:
Other top Indian leaders have echoed Baker's remarks. Rep. Tom Cole, a Moore Republican who is a member of the Chickasaw Nation and arguably the top advocate for Indians in the U.S. House, also has praised the administration's efforts for tribes.
There is still much work to be done to improve the conditions of Native Americans, but Baker has faith that Obama can help with the improvement.