Cherokee Nation chief calls President Obama best president ever for American Indians

[Maraya1969]

Source: NEWSOK - Powered by the Oklahoman

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.

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.




Read more: http://newsok.com/article/3707011

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I had no idea that our President was such a friend to native Americans. It's great to hear!

[Firebrand Gary]

1. This makes me so happy! nt

[Grateful for Hope]

2. Thank you for posting this

[clydefrand]

3. Thank you for informing us

I have ALWAYS thought that the Native Amerians were treated awful. This country did belong to those living here before the white guys took over.

They stole their land and took away their freedom, there land, and many many lives.

Who were the immigrants then? The white guys. Why weren't they deported??? Ha!

Why did the white guys think this land belonged to them?

Have things changed? Yes, but I hate the way the NA's were treated.

I am an OLD white woman. Do not infer that I'm a NA.

[BeyondGeography]

4. "He's a promise keeper."

[pinto]

5. Kick

[Kingofalldems]

6. I like this one

[Marrah_G]

7. Perhaps he could come to Mass and help Ms Warren with this Native Am Heritage thing.

That way the President would have one less Republican in the senate to deal with!

[goclark]

8. Fantastic!

My great grandfather was a full blooded Cherokee ...he proudly made the census worker write it in the 1920 census.
Go Obama!

[bigtree]

9. with all of the challenges yet unresolved for the Native American community

. . . and individuals, it's a significant statement that Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker has made.

[Tigress DEM]

23. kick

[skepticscott]

10. Well, the sad fact is

that's not saying much. No previous US president has a record regarding Native Americans that isn't despicable, and in some cases, genocidal.

[CountAllVotes]

11. That is absolutely the case!

Not one is right, and that includes Obama.

I was speaking with a Navajo friend of mine the other day and she is certain that there is more to these Indian casinos than meets the eye.

They are now borrowing money (from WHO?) to build hotels to go with the casinos and many of these hotels are not being used at all little business in some casese, hence a loss for many of the tribes that have gotten roped into have one built on their tribal lands.

What will happen if the tribe cannot pay the loan on the hotel that was built? Hint hint: Could it have anything at all to do w/seizing land as payment for an unpaid bill dare I suggest?

They are doing that here in America a lot these days, the call it a "government foreclosure".

As to blood quantum, who knows about this insane issue especially given the Cherokee's recent act to thwart the Freedmen from these half-baked rolls?

There are plenty of politics that go with the Cherokee people as is the case with all Indian tribes in America.

Thanks for speaking the truth about this issue. There is so little truth to be found and that is because of what you have named as the reason IMO which is that ugly word "genocide".

Restitution some say ... I think it is a bit late for that. Perhaps I am wrong.

[skepticscott]

12. Well, it is a bit late

for any real justice to be done. No president at this point, no matter how well-intentioned, could ever get the support to do the right thing with regard to Native Americans (e.g. correcting all the violations of treaties signed in supposed good faith with them). But no president even points out the enormous gap between the lot of Native Americans in this country today and other minority groups (that get a lot of play in the media for being "disadvantaged&quot . By any measure you like...unemployment, poverty, disease, crime, access to quality education and health care, lack of role models, general cultural erosion and plain discrimination, Native Americans are far worse off than any other minority/ethnic group in the country. It's something that most Americans just don't want to be reminded of.

And as far as casinos, though they may have given some Native American groups a better financial footing than they may have had otherwise, it is always at the cost of further abandoning their own culture to service the needs of other cultures.

[Tigress DEM]

19. You are right that we can't go back and undo the past.

But if we take the attitude that if we can't do it all, it's never going to be good enough, that is letting fear of the huge task ahead defeat US before we start and it's just giving the abusers of justice their way without even having to slug it out.

Here in Minnesota, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is leading the way with new energy efficiency technologies and their charitable giving is tremendous. They aren't bawling their eyes out about former injustices, but looking forward to making the world a better place for the 7th generation to come.

http://www.shakopeedakota.org/

I tell you, when it was really bleak and it seemed McCain might be re-elected, I thought about holding a Continental Congress to give America back to the Indians and live under their rule instead of the repukes.

Indian leaders have learned to be patient and pragmatic. They reward progress when it happens and will be holding Obama's feet to the fire like any good DEM going forward with the rest of US.

[Tigress DEM]

18. You are attributing wrongs from the *ush era to Obama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Abramoff_Indian_lobbying_scandal

<snip>
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon grossly overbilled their clients, secretly splitting the multimillion-dollar profits. In one case, they were secretly orchestrating lobbying against their own clients in order to force them to pay for lobbying services.

In the course of the scheme, the lobbyists were accused of illegally giving gifts and making campaign donations to legislators in return for votes or support of legislation. Representative Bob Ney (R-OH) and two aides to Tom DeLay (R-TX) have been directly implicated; other politicians have various ties.





When the CHEIF of the Cherokee Nations says these positive things he is being specific and not talking out of his rear, Obama worked to correct injustices done to the Indian nation while juggling everything else. So take your head out of your own rear and give Obama credit where it is due or keep your yap shut.

Through the years, Indian tribal chiefs have met a lot of U.S. presidents, but the meetings with Obama have been more than just superficial photo opportunities, Baker said.

“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.”

Read more: http://newsok.com/cherokee-nation-chief-calls-president-obama-best-president-ever-for-american-indians/article/3707011#ixzz260HMZwK7

[Tigress DEM]

21. It's complicated and even Indians aren't immune to fear mongering.

Since Indian lands are considered a Sovereign Nation the US CAN NOT seize any tribal land. Previously, this meant no US Bank would loan money because what would cause a person to pay back the loan?

I'll put a link with some info on a basic work around for that put in place to set up public housing on Native Land. (*** See below)

What the article says from the OP is:

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.

Read more: http://newsok.com/cherokee-nation-chief-calls-president-obama-best-president-ever-for-american-indians/article/3707011#ixzz260KJFjRG





(*** How a foreclosure happens on Indian Tribal Land)

http://www.1tribal.com/section-184-home-loan-explanation.html

<snip>
In the event of foreclosure there are several regulations in place to better protect Tribal land and rights:

The lender can only pursue liquidation of the lease and asset only after offering to transfer the loan to an eligible tribe member, the tribe, or Indian Housing Authority.
In event of foreclosure, the lender cannot sell the land to anyone other than an eligible tribe member, the tribe, or the Indian Housing Authority.

These regulations make sure the tribe’s land stays intact, and the tribe has the ability to take over the loan of foreclosed property. So, lenders and tribes rights are both protected.

[Tigress DEM]

17. I think blanket statements like this aren't helpful or accurate.

When you say, "No previous US president has a record regarding Native Americans that isn't despicable, and in some cases genocidal." I think you probably just don't know the complete story and are responding to where we are at with this situation overall.

I think you'll find some are better and some are worse in this area. In particular, I'd think that Carter and Clinton would have been further up on the continuum than "despicable" and while much progress can and should be made, it's probably not as bleak as it seems. Once we get these side shows out of office we can make a lot more progress in important areas like our relations with Native Americans.

edit for spelling

[Posteritatis]

20. It's certainly a bar set with a shovel. (nt)

[lonestarnot]

13. K & R!

[nanabugg]

14. Can we just be happy for a day that the President at least gives some thought to Native Americans? n

[Tigress DEM]

22. I am

[BlancheSplanchnik]

15. he's the best president ever for a LOT of us!!

even the morans, though they have no awareness of it.

[Tigress DEM]

16. Obama reached out in last election cycle. Crow Indians adopted him.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/obama-adopted-by-native-americans/
May 19, 2008, 9:50 pm

<snip>
CROW AGENCY, Mont. – As the Democratic presidential campaign has moved from season to season over the last 16 months, the political rallies and the town meetings often have taken on a similar feeling and a familiar flavor.

Not so today, here on the Crow Indian Reservation.
Video

As Senator Barack Obama campaigned for the presidential primary in Montana – one of two states that closes out the Democratic nominating process on June 3 – he was welcomed here by a few thousand people. In a private ceremony, he was adopted into the Crow Nation and bestowed the name, “One Who Helps People Throughout the Land.”

“Senator Obama, welcome to Crow Country,” said Carl Venne, the tribal chairman.

[Tigress DEM]

24. Obama's proposal for new rules on leasing Native American lands

This shows how Obama's thinking differently than previous presidents.

“This reform underscores President Obama’s commitment to empower Indian nations and strengthen their economies by expanding opportunities for individual landowners and tribal governments -- generating investment, new jobs and revenues.” - Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior


Obama Administration proposes new rules for leasing on Native American lands
Published: Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 1:03 PM
http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/11/post_77.html

In an effort to stimulate certain development on Native American lands, the Department of Interior (DOI) has proposed new rules that will expedite leasing permits for residential, business and wind and solar leases. These rules will replace regulations that have not been updated in 50 years, but will not affect regulations regarding agricultural or subsurface leases, which may be revised at some later point. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) can now expedite leases to speed economic development on Native American lands.

The DOI holds approximately 56 million acres in trust for Native American tribes and individuals. The old rules required that BIA review every lease prior to approval, regardless of the size of the leasehold. That meant that every lease, no matter how small, would receive the same review as an extremely large lease, resulting in unnecessary delays.

Under the new rules, the BIA has 30 days to make a decision on residential leases. Solar and business leases must be reviewed within 60 days. Currently existing leases and subleases will be automatically approved if the review extends beyond the time requirement. In addition, some activities on Native American lands will not require reviews if they have been approved by Native American Tribes or individuals. Finally, the regulation will impose a streamlined process for wind and solar energy projects on Native American lands.

DOI has also expressed the Obama Administration's support for the "Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act" or HEARTH Act. The HEARTH Act also reforms federal leasing requirements and allows Native Americans to develop their own regulations concerning leases on restricted lands for business, agricultural, public, religious, educational, recreational, or residential purposes without the approval of the DOI. However, under the Act, DOI would have to review and approve the regulations adopted by the Native American tribes.



edit to add missing info

[DeSwiss]

25. K&R

[sarcasmo]

26. This Cherokee agrees.