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Brian Cladoosby, chairman of the Swinomish Tribe and president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians said he will be waiting to see if Obama listens more than he talks.Reznet photo by Victor Merina

Questions About Apology, Next Meeting Must Wait

By Victor Merina

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The final media query during a half-hour conference call about the White House Tribal Nations Conference seemed elusive for top officials of the Obama Administration.

The journalist said her question was about "healing the past" and asked if rumors were true that when President Obama meets tribal leaders on Thursday he will issue a formal apology to Native people.

Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar replied first.

"We know and we recognize that the story of American Indians and their contribution to this country is one that has not been treated very fairly," he said, "and, in fact, it has been swept under the rug in many different ways.

"We are not about sweeping things under the rug. We're about telling the truth and we're about having an agenda that is proactive and positive in recognizing that the nation's first Americans have a very special place at the table. And President Obama has made it very clear they will be at the table."

Teehee and Echo Hawk respond

 Kimberly Teehee, White House senior policy adviser for Native American Affairs, responded and acknowledged that past policies of assimilation, allotments and termination have afflicted Indian Country.

"Certainly, this administration embodies the whole notion of consultation, negotiation and collaboration so that we can move forward and (make) sure those kinds of policies never happen again," she said, "and we can continue to heal and move forward in helping tribes strengthen their own governments."

Finally, Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Interior Secretary for Indian Affairs, spoke.

"The best way to address the past is to honor treaty promises and respect sovereignty," he said, "and that's what this White House conference is all about. Nation-to-nation. Dialogue. Communication. And consultation to improve the quality of life for Native Americans."

No Direct Answer on Apology Question

But will the president issue any apology as part of an executive order or other formal declaration?

No one had a direct answer, although Salazar said he was looking forward to hearing what his boss will say to tribal leaders in what he called an unprecedented event for an oft-neglected people.

What exactly the president will say during the historic tribal summit has been open to speculation, and there has been a great deal of talk around Indian Country about the words and commitments that will be delivered during the president's opening and closing remarks atthe day-long conference.

Joining Obama will be a half-dozen Cabinet members, as well as a number of other senior officials in a conference that will be webcast at www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Growing Gathering Moves to Nearby Auditorium

Although billed as the White House Tribal Nations Conference, the actual event will be held at a nearby Department of Interior auditorium, in part, officials say because of the size of the gathering.

The president invited one leader from each of the 564 federally recognized tribes and, during the conference call, Salazar said representatives from more than 400 tribes have indicated they will attend.

For some tribal leaders, the invitation has produced a mixture of excitement, anticipation and a fingers-crossed attitude that this new found relationship proves lasting.

"I would hope this would be kind of like the first date," said Brian Cladoosby, chairman of the Swinomish Tribe and president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, an organization that represents 60 tribes in seven states.

"I like to equate things in terms of relationships," he said, "and so, yeah, we got a ticket to the ball — and I hope we're not Cinderella and the clock strikes midnight."

Hope that Obama Will Hear the Stories

When he attends Thursday's summit, Cladoosby will be watching to see if Obama "listens more than he speaks" as he learns details about Native communities that have been disproportionately ravaged by poverty, unemployment, failing health care and other ills.

"I hope he just listens and has compassion for the stories he will be hearing," he said, "and I hope that the tribal leaders will use real-life examples of conditions in Indian Country."

Will Cladoosby also be listening closely for an apology from the president?

"Apologies are good, but it doesn't erase the fact that things happened," he said. "I think the message that the president can give in that vein is to say, 'I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that it doesn't happen again.' "

Speculation About Apology Like Senate's

Last month, the Senate approved a resolution apologizing to Native Americans for a history of official misdeeds by the federal government and "instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect." The amendment, proposed by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), passed by unanimous consent.

The executive director of the National Congress of American Indians said she would be surprised if Obama issues a similar apology. Instead, Jacqueline Johnson Pata said she expects the president to talk about strengthening the dialogue with Indian Country and engaging tribal leaders more fully with his administration's policies.

"I imagine a statement along those lines would be more in character with where he is going, but you never know," said Johnson Pata who is Tlingit.

Jefferson Keel, NCAI president and a Chickasaw, said he understands those who put value into the power of a presidential apology.

"We've talked about the concept of having an official apology for Indian Country for several years but it's never happened," he said adding that awareness of historic wrongs is a good but not vital step. "I believe it's a starting point, and I believe it's important to at least acknowledge it, but we'll see how that goes."

An Underlying Faith in Obama's Commitment

Even without an apology, the NCAI leader said he has faith in Obama and whatever he may outline on Thursday. "I believe he is a man of his word, and he has committed himself to Indian Country."

Keel's comments came amid the packed opening gala for the new Embassy for Tribal Nations. One of the guests who showed up to greet the crowd was Echo Hawk, who was warmly greeted as he reminded the crowd they were in Washington for an historic occasion.

Afterward, Echo Hawk described the excitement that he said is running through his own staff at the Interior Department and in the Native communities he has visited in his job.

Could he confirm the belief of many in Indian Country that Obama will announce the tribal summit as an annual event? And what about reports that Obama will issue a formal apology to Native people when he faces tribal leaders?

Echo Hawk smiled and declined to talk about the president's plans or what he intends to say.

"You'll have to wait until Thursday," he said.

 

Victor Merina is reznet's senior correspondent and special projects editor. A former Los Angeles Times investigative reporter and finalist for the Pulitizer Prize, he also is a senior fellow at the USC Annenberg Institute for Justice and Journalism. Merina is a visiting faculty member at The Poynter Institute, where he leads seminars on cross-cultural reporting and writing about race.