Will attend meetings with Cabinet Secretaries, President Obama
Nations Conference in Washington,
D.C., where he and other tribal leaders will
meet and confer with cabinet secretaries of the
federal government, members of the White House
Council on Native American Affairs, other
high-level federal government officials, and
also with President Barack Obama.President Obama is hosting 2015 White House Tribal Nations Conference, which provides leaders from the 567 federally-recognized tribes an opportunity to interact directly with appropriate government officials, discuss issues of concern, share ideas, and provide input to formulate policy.
"The purpose of the White House Tribal Nations Conference is to cultivate a partnership with the administration to allow them to understand and respond to tribal priorities, and to systematize this nation-to-nation policy," explained Mr. Aitken.
Today's Conference is the seventh White House Tribal Nations Conference during President Obama's administration, and the third Mr. Aitken has attended. NewsBF contacted Mr. Aitken in Washington, D.C., for updates on the Conference and his views of the meeting.
Past Tribal Nations Conferences have achieved important objectives, according to Mr. Aitken. "First and foremost the importance of having a place to voice our concerns has been established," he said. "True collaboration is at work. The ability to convey our message to the cabinet members in one convenient place is priceless. The messages we carry can reach in a few days and sessions, what would otherwise take individual tribes 30 or more office visits to accomplish."
Officials
who will be giving presentations at this year's
Conference include U.S. Secretary of the
Interior Sally Jewell, who will open today's
meeting with remarks beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Eastern Time (5:30 a.m. Pacific Time), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Gina McCarthy, National Congress of American
Indians President Brian Cladoosby. Many
other government and Native American leaders
will also participate in breakout panels and
town hall meetings. President Barack Obama is
scheduled to deliver a speech to the Conference
at 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time today (1:15 p.m.
Pacific Time).For those interested, The White House Tribal Nations Conference can be watched via live internet webcast at this site: www.doi.gov/live.
Mr. Aitken believes President Obama and his administration has done more to work closely with Native Country than have past presidential administrations. "The White House Tribal Nations Conference is largely driven by Native Country to address Native Country's most pressing issues. We are not simply being paid lip service, there is an earnest attempt at working together collaboratively to be able to encourage that the federal government's trust responsibility is being taken seriously and upheld to treaty standards," said Mr. Aitken.
He went on to point out several areas where the Obama administration has been effective in working with tribes and addressing important concerns. "This administration has supported the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. An executive order has been issued improving educational opportunities and strengthening tribal colleges and universities. They have developed guidance for full implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act. They have helped pass with a bipartisan effort the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act, implementation of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act."
The White House Tribal Nations Conference is more than just speeches. Other meetings and presentational formats are also offered. "There are meetings for Tribal leaders to discuss and identify top priorities," said Mr. Aitken. "There are breakout sessions in areas such as natural resources, education, health care, economics, and resilience. In addition to break out sessions hosted by cabinet members and others suited to convey the message to the cabinet, this year there are 'town hall meetings' to allow a chance for even more meaningful dialogue to develop."
Mr. Aitken has several goals he is looking to achieve at this Conference: "A personal goal for me at this conference is to network and listen to learn what other tribes are doing to succeed and rise above issues that are also affecting our people. Also, I hope to be able to share stories of our successes and provide a blueprint for others to move forward in a positive way.
"As far as Indian Country goals, I would say that there is a heavy focus on cementing the legacy of these conferences and systematizing the process so that future administrations take full advantage of the streamlined success that has been achieved thus far."
He further feels his representing the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho at the Conference will provide additional specific benefits for the Tribe. "The benefits for the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho will be to be able to share the blueprint of our accomplishments with other tribes and agencies, and also to glean what other tribes are doing to have success in dealing with detrimental issues. The hope is to learn what others are doing successfully, and then work to apply it to our needs."
The Kootenai Tribe of Idaho is known for its success in several Boundary County area projects and programs, including, among others, work in restoration of habitat in the Kootenai River to promote fish and wildlife populations, and their work in aquaculture of sturgeon and burbot aimed toward the re-introduction of these fish into the Kootenai River. Do the successes of the Kootenai Tribe ever come up for discussion at these Washington, D.C. meetings?
" Yes," he said. "The collaboration work we have been able to lead and be a part of are offered as examples of how to be proactive in restoring our ecosystem, and how to work successfully being a part of collaboratives with entities within our communities."
"I feel the collaborative work that our community has accomplished is a blueprint and a shining beacon of how things should be done. Our story continues to impress and is something our community should be proud of. We are leaders in the truest sense of the word."
To see additional photographs of Mr. Aitken's attendance at the White House Tribal Nations Conference, click here.
(All photos courtesy Gary Aitken, Jr. with the exception of the following. Additonal Photo Credits: Photo of Ms. Jewell courtesy U.S. Department of the Interior. Photo of Ms. McCarthy courtesy U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Photo of Mr. Cladoosby courtesy National Congress of American Indians. Photo of President Obama courtesy the White House).