Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have made tremendous progress on
the major issues of concern to Indian Country. Underlying this progress is President Obama’s
belief that tribal leaders must be part of the solution to problems and have a seat at the table. The
President has hosted White House Tribal Nations Conferences, where tribal leaders have had
discussions with the President and Cabinet officials. In addition, the President signed a
memorandum directing Federal agencies to fully implement an Executive Order on tribal
consultation. These actions have led to greater tribal consultation and feedback, which has
helped shape the Administration’s policy priorities for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
These include improving the quality of care offered by the Indian Health Service, promoting
economic development in Indian Country, and making tribal communities safer.
Based on research in the United States this past spring, James Anaya, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on the
rights of indigenous peoples, presented his final report to the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva
on Tuesday. The process marks the first time that the United States has allowed an external body to formally
Investigate and comment on the situation of its indigenous communities, a notably sensitive issue.
Speaking before the council, Anaya stated that indigenous communities in the United States (also referred to
as American Indians) continue to “face significant challenges that are related to widespread historical wrongs,
including broken treaties and acts of oppression, and misguided government policies, that today manifest
themselves in various indicators of disadvantage and impediments to the exercise of their individual and
collective rights.”
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