Tribal leaders tout conference  

November 8, 2009

     Leaders of tribes along the Klamath River are calling a recent tribal nations conference with President Barack Obama’s administration a historic event that could lead to a better relationship with the federal government.

   Representatives from the Karuk, Yurok and Hoopa tribes attended the conference Thursday in Washington, D.C. More than 450 of the 567 federally recognized tribes were expected to have representatives at the event.

   Tribal officials said the conference was encouraging and an opportunity for tribes to discuss their issues and concerns with   the White House administration. They are waiting to see whether the improved dialogue will continue with this president and those after him.

   According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the conference is part of Obama’s outreach to Native Americans. Topics were to include economic development, natural resources, public safety, housing, education, health and others. Several federal agency directors and secretaries attended.

   Billy Colegrove, administrative assistant to Leonard Mastin, Jr., chairman of the Hoopa Tribe of California, said Mastin attended the conference and was pleased with it. Colegrove said Mastin, who is a law enforcement veteran, was able to discuss issues of public safety on tribal lands with the Obama administration.

   ‘Open to discussion’

   “The administration is really open to discussion of problems facing tribes across the nation,” Colegrove said.

   The Klamath Tribes did not send a representative to the conference but spokeswoman Taylor David said in a press release she was encouraged that the president wants to build stronger and better relationships with the nation’s tribes.  

   “I believe it was a relatively good first start, but we have a ways to go,” said Jeff Mitchell, Klamath tribal council member.

   Troy Fletcher of the Yurok Tribe confirmed that tribal chairwoman Maria Tripp attended the conference, but that he’d yet to hear from her about her impressions.

   Arch Super, Karuk tribal chairman, who attended the conference, said it was a great opportunity to meet with Obama and his administration, something the president had called for during his campaign.

   There is caution, though. Tribal representatives said while they are glad to see Obama engaging the tribal nations, the conference does not guarantee continued dialogue with his administration or the one that will come after he leaves office.  

   Still, Super said he saw during the meeting that Obama intends to develop a meaningful relationship with the nation’s tribes.

   “He’s showing his staff that they need to address tribal needs,” he said.