October 12th, 2009
02:39 PM ET
13 years ago
Obama to host Tribal Nations conference
WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama will host a Tribal Nations Conference discussing issues of importance to Native Americans on November 5, the White House announced Monday.
Representatives from each the country's 564 federally recognized tribes will be invited to participate, according to the administration.
Of all the minorities in the U.S., the Native Americans are the group that truly deserves an apology and reparation for almost wiping them off the face of the earth.
Why is it that we never hear CNN or anyone else push their cause?
It's sad to see how everyone just pretends like they aren't there.
how wonderful for our president to do this. actually it is without doubt way past time. So many needs, so few long term responses.
This man needs to get over himself!
Way to go Mr. President! For many of us you inspire hope and change. And yes you deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. You inspired hope and change long before you were elected. Thank-you.
Good job President Obama. If anyone in this country would like to see what a third world country looks like and its people live, go to the reservations, especially in South Dakota. Not only are they "owed" but we, the rest of us, had better start learning from them to save our Mother Earth.
Y'all do realize that the Native Americans are actually the only true Americans that have been fighting "terriorism" since the Europeans got here don't you?
I'm a conservative and Native American (Iroqouis, Objibwa)
.....I guess that makes me a double "real American"
Seriously, every president have attended these Tribal Nations conferences before Obama, I still remember all those promises Obama made last year concerning First Americans, and so far he hasn't lived up to any of them.
To help out AustHall.....he's right! The Native Americans have been discriminated against since at least the 16th century in this country.....it ended up in the 19th and early 20th Centuries due something called "Manifest Destiny," a funny way to say "my way or the highway." Read your history, and not just the text book versions....try reading "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" and others as to how the "whites" really treated the indian tribes.
This President is credited with only giving speeches? We as Native American see this president as doing more than any previous Presidents for acknowledging the existence of Native American, and their contribution to America. All the other Presidents from the past have only given lip services, and that includes Reagan, Clinton and most of all the rest. Now I can certainly call this Great American my President. Thank goodness he also was the recipient of the Noble Peace Prize also.
IN 233 YEARS OF U.S. EXISTENCE . . . Finally, all 564 Native American Tribal Chiefs will have an uninterrupted audience with the nation's top representative – – – in the Capitol of the United States of America.
If only Chief Geronimo could see this. 🙂
It's wodnerfual that he's meeting with America's first nations and I would love to see what agenda's are being set up to help those in need. Has no other American president apologized to Native Americans before? I am just wondering cause if they havent its long over due!!! In any case, I hope Obama does well because if he does so does your country as a whole. Anna London ON Canada
Maybe they will award Obama the top totem prize, for smoking a piece pipe at some time in the future?
All I can say is ... "THANK YOU"
... to my mother's people who left the reservation and assimmilated.
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! They are, after all, the victors, right?
That's what you liberals keep saying – "we won, get over it".
Many Native Americans LEFT reservations to become legends.
An example is the great AMERICAN dancer, Maria Tallchief.
Usually, one has to leave his place of birth to "make it."
I have never been more proud of a President in my 50 years. President Obama is the most genuine person ever elected. He devotes his life 24/7 to help better the circumstances of the working class and poor in this country. All he gets from Republicans is name called and belittlement. No matter what he does, they will find fault and turn it into something ugly. I just hope and pray that the people in the country will be totally turned off by this negative, hate filled crap that they spew constantly. I'm really to have hope and look for the good in all things. I believe that President Obama is a wonderful gift given to this country in OUR time of need. God bless him!
OH HAPPY DAY . . .
Somewhere in the heavens where Native American Chiefs are relaxed and sitting around swapping life’s stories, , , Chiefs like Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Big Foot, Crazy Horse, Osceola, Geronimo, and Pontiac are smiling – – – BIG TIME. 🙂
I'm an all-American mutt, with German, Norwegian, English, Irish and Cherokee blood running through my veins. My spouse has German, Lithuanian and a bit of Scottish thrown in for good measure.
Reaching out to people is a good thing. Heck, if it weren't for the inclusive attitude and approach like that of our President, we wouldn't be here!
Why is it that some people here view an apology as a bad thing? When you're wrong, don't charge ahead blindly, acting like you are infallible. Be a real man or woman and admit your mistakes, and say you're sorry.
And this country has plenty of apologizing to do to Native Americans. My European ancestors did their best to not only take all their land, but they almost managed to obliterate their entire culture. For that, I am truly sorry and ashamed.
And no, saying this does not make me a weak person. Apologizing doesn't mean you're weak; it means you're sorry for what has happened. Is it too much to ask for people to get down off their high horses and admit it when they've made a mistake? Given the lack of civility in this country these days, maybe it is.
Thank you Mr. President for this welcome initiative.