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Blog Posts Related to the Native American Community

Learn more about the work President Obama is doing with the Native American community.

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White House Event on Tribal Trust Case Settlements

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, senior members of the Obama Administration will join tribal leaders to announce a significant step forward in the resolution of tribal trust cases pending against the United States.
April 10, 2012 at 5:23 PM ET by Charlie Galbraith

White House Rural Council Hosts Native American Food and Agriculture Roundtable Discussion

Members of the White House Rural Council and agency representatives meet with tribal leaders to discuss Native American food and agriculture.
April 6, 2012 at 3:04 PM ET by Kimberly Teehee

Tribal Health and the Affordable Care Act

John Berry, Director of the Office of Personnel Management, highlights the numerous benefits that the Affordable Care Act has provided to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations.
March 19, 2012 at 3:19 PM ET by John Berry

Secretary Bryson Delivers Remarks at National Congress of American Indians

Secretary John Bryson speaks to the 2012 Executive Council Winter Session of the National Congress of American Indians and discusses the Commerce Department's efforts in Indian Country.
March 6, 2012 at 5:08 PM ET by Department of Commerce

Eliminating Barriers to Economic Growth in Indian Country

The Obama Administration is partnering with Federal agencies and State, local, and tribal governments to identify opportunities to make government more efficient and productive. The report, "New Flexibility for State and Local Governments," highlights examples where this new partnership is achieving a collective impact in local and tribal communities, and highlights how this new partnership is leading to the creation of opportunities for economic growth in Indian Country.
February 28, 2012 at 1:55 PM ET by Kimberly Teehee

Strengthening Support to Minority-Owned Firms

The Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency registers the best annual performance in its 41-year history, assisting minority-owned businesses gain access to nearly $4 billion in contracts and capital to support the creation of nearly 6,000 much-needed jobs.
February 24, 2012 at 11:53 AM ET by David A. Hinson

From the Cradle to the Career: Improving Education for American Indians and Alaska Natives

The Department of Education and the Department of Interior hold a roundtable on the Squaxin Island Reservation in Shelton, Washington to help guide the implementation of President Obama's Executive Order on Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities.
February 22, 2012 at 5:31 PM ET by Charlie Galbraith

Building a Fair and Stable Economy for Indian Country

In his State of the Union address, the President laid out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last. On February 13th, the President released his FY 2013 Budget that included $19.4 billion in funding for Native American programs, an increase of nearly $585 million over the 2012 funding levels.
February 13, 2012 at 4:24 PM ET by Kimberly Teehee

SBA Continues to Help Strengthen Small Businesses in Indian Country

The SBA has recently announced the 2012 Emerging Leaders executive training initiative for small business owners in 10 Native American Communities.
February 10, 2012 at 1:56 PM ET by Chris James

Celebrating the Two Year Anniversary of Let’s Move! and work in Indian Country

Let’s Move! in Indian Country brings together federal agencies, local communities, nonprofits, corporate partners, and tribes to end the epidemic of childhood obesity in Indian Country within a generation by creating a healthy start on life for children; ensuring families access to healthy, affordable, traditional foods; and increasing opportunities for physical activity.
February 9, 2012 at 11:15 AM ET by Kimberly Teehee

Implementing a New Era in our Government to Government Relationship

The Department of Interior announces the President's draft plan for the implementation of the Cobell Land Consolidation Program.
February 7, 2012 at 1:18 PM ET by Charlie Galbraith

Blueprint for an America Built to Last and Indian Country

Kimberly Teehee, Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs, outlines the initiatives in President Obama's Blueprint for an America Built to Last that will benefit Indian Country.
January 25, 2012 at 5:14 PM ET by Kimberly Teehee

A Comprehensive Funding Approach to Public Safety in Tribal Communities

The funds can be used to conduct comprehensive planning, enhance law enforcement, bolster justice systems, support and enhance tribal efforts to prevent and control juvenile delinquency and strengthen the juvenile justice system, prevent youth substance abuse and serve crime victims
January 23, 2012 at 8:03 PM ET by Tracy Russo

New Online Business Primer to Help with Job Creation in Indian Country

The Native American Small Business Primer: Strategies for Success is a free online business course developed for Native American entrepreneurs that gives an overview of basic business principles and of the SBA’s programs and services that help business owners get started.
January 5, 2012 at 2:21 PM ET by Christopher James

A Long Overdue Policy Change to Recognize the Sovereignty of Tribal Governments

Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, discusses the 2011 Tribal Nations Conference and an amendment to the Stafford Act.
December 7, 2011 at 10:08 AM ET by Craig Fugate

President Obama Meets with Tribal Leaders

On December 2, 2011, following the 2011 White House Tribal Nations Conference, President Obama met with a small and regionally diverse group of tribal leaders from across Indian Country.
December 5, 2011 at 5:46 PM ET by Charlie Galbraith and Kimberly Teehee

Obama Administration Investment Promotes Job Growth and Mitigates Environmental Risk in Tribal Communities

John R. Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, discusses the environmental issues facing Indian Country and how President Obama is working to address them.
December 5, 2011 at 11:57 AM ET by John R. Fernandez

President Obama at the Tribal Nations Conference

Today, for the third year, President Obama hosted the White House Tribal Nations Conference here in Washington, DC.
December 2, 2011 at 5:44 PM ET by Matt Compton

Native American Youth 'Champions of Change' Come to Washington

Eleven young Native American ‘Champions of Change’ share their stories of leadership and service at the White House.
December 1, 2011 at 11:53 AM ET by Charlie Galbraith

Honoring American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

Kimberly Teehee, the White House Domestic Policy Council's Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs, reflects on the contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.
November 10, 2011 at 4:19 PM ET by Kimberly Teehee

Celebrating American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

The Department of Justice holds a special event in the Great Hall commemorating National Native American Heritage Month.
November 9, 2011 at 3:34 PM ET by Tracy Russo

National Native American Heritage Month and the White House Tribal Nations Conference

Kimberly Teehee, White House Domestic Policy Council Senior Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs, hosts a listening session at the National Congress of American Indians to kick off National American Heritage Month.
November 1, 2011 at 5:03 PM ET by Kimberly Teehee

Pursuing Equal Justice for All Native Americans

Ron Whitener, an Associate Justice on the Northwest Indian Court of Appeals and presiding judge for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Indian Reservation discusses the need for legal aid to help with issues that disproportionately affect Native American communities.
October 24, 2011 at 12:38 PM ET by Ron Whitener

Osage Tribal Trust Settlement

An historic settlement with the Osage Tribe of Oklahoma, facilitated by legal teams at the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior.
October 21, 2011 at 7:09 PM ET by Ignacia S. Moreno and Hilary C. Tompkins

Share Your Story with the White House Native American Youth Challenge

Young Native American leaders who have sought to improve their communities are encouraged to submit their stories, before September 30, about how they're working to overcome the challenges facing their communities as part of the Native American Youth Challenge.
September 26, 2011 at 3:34 PM ET by Charlie Galbraith

Sacred Power: Growing Jobs and Nurturing Communities

With funding from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and the support of the Obama Administration, Sacred Power Corporation has risen to the forefront of renewable energy innovation.
September 22, 2011 at 6:25 PM ET by David Melton

Supporting Tribal Nations through Comprehensive Engagement & Investment

In line with Attorney General Holder’s commitment to enhancing public safety in Indian Country, Assistant Attorney General Tom Perrelli announces grants totaling $118.4 million to support law enforcement practices and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts.
September 15, 2011 at 11:02 AM ET by Tracy Russo

Making Progress for Indian Country

Working to fulfill President Obama’s commitment to create jobs and improve the quality of life for Native American communities, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation are working to provide safe and reliable water supplies across Indian Country as we aggressively implement an unprecedented number of Indian water rights settlements.
September 12, 2011 at 1:28 PM ET by Michael L. Connor

The American Jobs Act and Indian Country

With unemployment among Native Americans at an unacceptably high rate, the President believes that inaction is not an option. That’s why the President has put out a plan to increase the pace of job creation, and why he has called on Congress to act on this plan.
September 9, 2011 at 4:33 PM ET by Kimberly Teehee

Treasury Announces Awards to Benefit Low-Income and Distressed Native Communities

Financial institutions serving Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities will receive awards that will allow them to increase lending services, start new microloan programs and increase their capacity to serve their target markets.
August 25, 2011 at 3:49 PM ET by Donna Gambrell