Post by blackcrowheart on May 1, 2007 12:18:39 GMT -5
Lawmakers address problems facing American Indians
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan
(D-N.D.), Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and former Sen. Ben Nighthorse
Campbell (R-Colo.) spoke Thursday about problems facing American Indians
at a breakfast co-sponsored by the National Congress of American Indians
(NCAI) and The Hill. “We have a lot of work to do,”
Dorgan said. “We have Third World conditions in a number of
Indian reservations in areas of housing, health and education. We need
to address these issues.” This week, the Senate Indian Affairs
Committee is set to hold a hearing to discuss the nomination of Carl
Artman as assistant secretary of the Indian Affairs Bureau, Dorgan said.
The committee will focus on healthcare, law enforcement and other issues
that spring from a “trust responsibility” between the U.S.
government and the Indian peoples. This year could mark changes for
Indian peoples, Campbell said. “Rubber really hits the road for
this year,” Campbell said. “As you know, for the last
couple of years, I think we were really sidetracked,” he added,
referring to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who exploited four Indian
tribes for millions of dollars. “Things that are really
important to us, like education and housing and nutrition and jobs and
the whole agenda went that way for us,” Campbell said, motioning
toward the window. “And very frankly, its wise of Sen. Dorgan [to
bring] it back. Those are very important issues.” Campbell, who
served as committee chairman from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2003 to
2004, said American Indians have not had adequate political power.
“We haven’t had the political muscle in the U.S. Congress
to make sure that our voice is heard more and get things through that
will benefit our people,” Campbell said. However, he said,
“That’s changing.” “We have very strong
leadership,” Campbell continued. “We’re on the move
and we’re going to make sure we stay on the move.” Dorgan
will be holding a “series of listening sessions across the
country” at which he will meet Indian tribes and representatives
to listen to their concerns and “try to understand the agenda of
the committee that I shall now chair.” His first listening
session was scheduled to take place last weekend in Minnesota. Akaka,
a member of the committee, welcomed Dorgan as chairman. “Byron
Dorgan, present chairman of the committee, follows a group of leaders
through the years that really brought this committee along. Ben
Nighthorse Campbell was one of them,” Akaka said. “I look
forward to working with [Sen. Dorgan] �" we’ll have a great
committee again.” NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Johnson and
Ietan Consulting Managing Partner Wilson Pipestem also joined in the
discussion, which was moderated by The Hill’s editor-at-large,
Albert Eisele. “It’s a special honor and significant
responsibility to be able to chair a committee in Congress that deals
with our special relationship with Indian people and Indian tribes: the
first American people,” Dorgan concluded.
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan
(D-N.D.), Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) and former Sen. Ben Nighthorse
Campbell (R-Colo.) spoke Thursday about problems facing American Indians
at a breakfast co-sponsored by the National Congress of American Indians
(NCAI) and The Hill. “We have a lot of work to do,”
Dorgan said. “We have Third World conditions in a number of
Indian reservations in areas of housing, health and education. We need
to address these issues.” This week, the Senate Indian Affairs
Committee is set to hold a hearing to discuss the nomination of Carl
Artman as assistant secretary of the Indian Affairs Bureau, Dorgan said.
The committee will focus on healthcare, law enforcement and other issues
that spring from a “trust responsibility” between the U.S.
government and the Indian peoples. This year could mark changes for
Indian peoples, Campbell said. “Rubber really hits the road for
this year,” Campbell said. “As you know, for the last
couple of years, I think we were really sidetracked,” he added,
referring to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who exploited four Indian
tribes for millions of dollars. “Things that are really
important to us, like education and housing and nutrition and jobs and
the whole agenda went that way for us,” Campbell said, motioning
toward the window. “And very frankly, its wise of Sen. Dorgan [to
bring] it back. Those are very important issues.” Campbell, who
served as committee chairman from 1997 to 2001 and again from 2003 to
2004, said American Indians have not had adequate political power.
“We haven’t had the political muscle in the U.S. Congress
to make sure that our voice is heard more and get things through that
will benefit our people,” Campbell said. However, he said,
“That’s changing.” “We have very strong
leadership,” Campbell continued. “We’re on the move
and we’re going to make sure we stay on the move.” Dorgan
will be holding a “series of listening sessions across the
country” at which he will meet Indian tribes and representatives
to listen to their concerns and “try to understand the agenda of
the committee that I shall now chair.” His first listening
session was scheduled to take place last weekend in Minnesota. Akaka,
a member of the committee, welcomed Dorgan as chairman. “Byron
Dorgan, present chairman of the committee, follows a group of leaders
through the years that really brought this committee along. Ben
Nighthorse Campbell was one of them,” Akaka said. “I look
forward to working with [Sen. Dorgan] �" we’ll have a great
committee again.” NCAI Executive Director Jacqueline Johnson and
Ietan Consulting Managing Partner Wilson Pipestem also joined in the
discussion, which was moderated by The Hill’s editor-at-large,
Albert Eisele. “It’s a special honor and significant
responsibility to be able to chair a committee in Congress that deals
with our special relationship with Indian people and Indian tribes: the
first American people,” Dorgan concluded.