[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 18 (Monday, May 9, 1994)]
[Pages 941-945]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Remarks to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Leaders
April 29, 1994
The President. Thank you very much, very much Chief Wilma Mankiller
and to all the other distinguished leaders here today. Let me first
welcome you here on behalf of the First Lady and Vice President and Mrs.
Gore. All of us are honored by your presence. I also wanted to
especially thank those who have spoken and participated to this point
and those who will participate in the remainder of this program. I have
listened carefully and learned a lot.
This is, as all of you know, a time of great challenge and
transition for our beloved country and for the world. As I travel across
this country and talk to the people about the problems that all
Americans share, whether it's crime or health care or the economy, I
find a concern that goes deeper even in these specific matters.
There is a great yearning in this Nation for people to be able to
reestablish a sense of community, a sense of oneness, a sense of
cooperation, of shared values and spirit. Americans are searching for
the chance to come together in friendship, instead of coming apart in
anger and distrust. There is a yearning for us to be able to live
together so that all of us can live up to our God-given potential and be
respected for who and what we are.
It is in that spirit and with great humility I say to the leaders of
the first Americans, the American Indian and Alaska Natives, welcome to
the White House. Welcome home.
So much of who we are today comes from who you have been for a long
time. Long before others came to these shores there were powerful and
sophisticated cultures and societies here: yours. Because of your
ancestors, democracy existed here long before the Constitution was
drafted and ratified.
Just last week, people all around the world celebrated the 24th
annual Earth Day. Yet for thousands of years, you have held nature in
awe, celebrating the bond between Earth and the Creator. You have
reminded people that all of us should make decisions not just for our
children and their grandchildren but for generation upon generation yet
to come.
I believe in your rich heritage and in our common heritage. What you
have done to retain your identity, your dignity, and your faith in the
face of often immeasurable obstacles is profoundly moving, an example of
the enduring strength of the human spirit.
We desperately need this lesson now. We must keep faith with you and
with that spirit and with the common heritage so many of us cherish.
That is what you came to talk to me about and what I would like to
respond to today.
In every relationship between our people, our first principle must
be to respect your right to remain who you are and to live the way you
wish to live. And I believe the best way to do that is to acknowledge
the unique government-to-government relationship we have enjoyed over
time. Today I reaffirm our commitment to self-determination for tribal
governments. I pledge to fulfill the trust obligations of the Federal
Government. I vow to honor and respect tribal sovereignty based upon our
unique historic relationship. And I pledge to continue my efforts to
protect your right to fully exercise your faith as you wish.
Let me speak for a moment about religious freedom, something
precious to you, something deeply enshrined in our Constitution. For
many of you, traditional religions and ceremonies are the essence of
your culture and your very existence. Last year, I was pleased to sign a
law that restored certain constitutional protections for those who want
to express their faith in this country.
No agenda for religious freedom will be complete until traditional
Native American
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religious practices have received all the protections they deserve.
Legislation is needed to protect Native American religious practices
threatened by Federal action. The Native American free exercise of
religion act is long overdue. And I will continue to work closely with
you and Members of Congress to make sure the law is constitutional and
strong. I want it passed so that I can invite you back here and sign it
into law in your presence.
And to make certain that you can obtain the ritual symbols of your
religious faith, in a moment I will sign a directive to every executive
department and agency of Government, not just the Department of
Interior, instructing them to cooperate with tribal governments to
accommodate wherever possible the need for eagle feathers in the
practice of Native American religions.
This then is our first principle: respecting your values, your
religions, your identity, and your sovereignty. This brings us to the
second principle that should guide our relationship: We must
dramatically improve the Federal Government's relationships with the
tribes and become full partners with the tribal nations.
I don't want there to be any mistake about our commitment to a
stronger partnership between our people. Therefore, in a moment, I will
also sign an historic Government directive that requires every executive
department and agency of Government to take two simple steps: first, to
remove all barriers that prevent them from working directly with tribal
governments and, second, to make certain that if they take action
affecting tribal trust resources, they consult with tribal governments
prior to that decision. It is the entire Government, not simply the
Department of the Interior, that has a trust responsibility with tribal
governments. And it is time the entire Government recognized and honored
that responsibility.
Part of being better partners is also being better listeners. The
Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice have never
before joined together to listen to the leaders of the Indian nations.
It's time to change that. Next week, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, both
Attorney General Reno and Secretary Babbitt and many of their sub-
Cabinet officials will meet with you for 2 days at the first National
American Indian Listening Conference. I'm looking forward to hearing
their specific ideas from the conference on ways to move our nations
forward together.
The same applies to the unprecedented series of 23 meetings that the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, under Secretary Cisneros,
will have with tribal governments by September to improve housing and
living conditions in tribal communities and to listen to you about how
you can take the lead in doing it.
All governments must work better. We must simply be more responsive
to the people we serve and to each other. It's the only way we'll be
able to do good things with the resources we have. I know that you agree
with that. More and more of you are moving to assume fuller control of
your governments. Many are moving aggressively to take responsibility
for operating your own programs. Each year the Bureau of Indian Affairs
is providing more technical services and fewer direct services.
One avenue for greater tribal control is through self-governance
contracts. There are about 30 self-compacting tribes today. We're
working with Congress to raise that number by 20 tribes every year. We'd
like self-governance to become a permanent program. But we must ensure
services will still be provided to the smaller tribes that do not choose
to participate.
What is the goal of a better and more equal partnership, and more
empowered tribes and more efficient government? Ultimately it must be to
improve the living conditions of those whom we serve. And that must be
our third and final principle.
Together we must position American Indians and Alaska Natives to
compete economically as we move toward the 21st century. I invited the
leaders of every recognized tribe here today. But I'll be the first to
acknowledge that not all have been able to join us because they simply
don't have the resources to come. And I know well that many of you have
come here at great personal sacrifice to yourselves and the members of
your tribes. That only underscores the importance of our work. Let us
dedicate ourselves to making
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certain that the next time we all meet together, conditions will be
different and better and all of our brothers and sisters will be able to
join us.
We must do more to create jobs, raise incomes, and develop capital
for new businesses. I know there are more success stories in Indian
country every year but not nearly enough as the people who bore witness
to your conditions here today so eloquently said. Strengthening tribal
economies will require new thinking and the courage to change. It will
require investing in the health, the education, and the skills of
American Indians and Alaska Natives, as we must do for all Americans.
To the extent that some of the building blocks can be put in place
here in Washington, we are working to do that. Our empowerment zone
legislation, for example, contains at your request special new
incentives for investing in reservations. This is only part of the
solution. We can continue to enforce the regulations of the Community
Reinvestment Act to make sure local banks invest and lend in Indian
communities. We've brought more tribal leaders than ever together with
bankers to improve mortgage loans, financial services, and to cut
regulations. We must make these efforts permanent and more effective.
And we know a more comprehensive approach is necessary.
At my direction, the Vice President has established a working group
on Indian economic development as part of our Community Enterprise
Board. I've asked them to study the recommendations from last year's
National Indian Economic Summit and to consult fully with you every step
of the way. Our goal is clear: to work with you to enhance economic
development in every tribe. I'd like to emphasize that what I have asked
them to do in this issue, I asked them to do on all issues. This great,
historic meeting today must be the beginning of our new partnership, not
the end of it.
I'd like to make a point about economic development that has to do
with gaming. As a former Governor, I understand some of the concerns
that the Governors have raised. But as President, I know that gaming
gives you a competitive edge when you've had precious few. And the
benefits often extend to surrounding communities in full measure. Some
of you are now able to invest more in housing and health care and child
care and infrastructure and taking care of your elders. I know that
gaming is controversial, even among tribes. As many of you have
acknowledged, it's also important that tribal governments continue to
diversify their economies. Many of you are working with congressional
leaders, Governors, and Secretary Babbitt to resolve tough issues.
My goal is this: I want the tribes to continue to benefit from
gaming, and I want current disputes over the 1988 Gaming Regulatory Act
to be worked out. I strongly support the process now underway to achieve
that goal. But just as with the national economy, we know we can't solve
every problem overnight. The important thing is to create policies that
give every tribe the chance to have a strong economy in the long run, to
develop the will and the consistency to stick with those policies over
time, and to keep working and talking together.
Last year, you were kind enough to invite the First Lady to the
Indian Health Summit. You asked her to make certain your treaty rights
to health care and your rights under the Indian Health Service be
preserved and made a part of our health care proposal. Because we work
together and because of you and your input, only one of the health care
plans now before the Congress addresses these issues and ensures that
tribal members will receive the same high-quality health care as
everyone else. That is our plan, thanks to you.
There has been a great deal of debate this year about the budget of
the Indian Health Service. It was mentioned earlier. The fact is that we
are operating under the tightest spending limits in memory. In our
efforts to bring the deficit down, I have recommended the total
elimination of 100 programs and cuts in 200 others. And that is
contributing to the country's economic revival. But I believe the health
needs of tribal communities and families and children clearly require
special attention. Therefore, I have amended next year's budget to
restore more than $120 million in funding for the Indian Health Service.
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Finally, as we heard so eloquently today, there is in America,
across the lines of race and class and region, a profound concern for
our children. Too many are poor or sick or unsupervised. Too many are
likely to use violence or be the victims of violence. Too many are
unprepared intellectually for life or work. Yet nothing is so striking
in tribal communities as your love of family and extended family and
your devotion to your children. Every segment of our society could well
take a lesson from you. But in spite of your best efforts, too many of
your children also suffer from poor health and inadequate education. And
we are trying hard to address these problems. You mentioned Head Start;
our budget calls for continued, substantial increases and expansions of
the Head Start program, as well as the Women and Infants and Children
program.
Our education plan, called Goals 2000, for the first time sets
world-class education standards for every school and all our children
and gives local communities the grassroots support they need to achieve
those goals. Goals 2000 contains millions more next year for BIA-funded
schools and schools serving Native Alaskans. And these funds cannot be
spent until the education goals of your community are considered.
In the 1980's, our Nation fell behind many Third World countries in
the rate at which we immunized children against communicable diseases. I
know the Indian Health Service does a good job of immunizing children.
Beginning this year, under the Vaccine For Children program, every
Indian child, no matter where he or she lives and regardless of whether
they are fortunate enough to live near an IHS facility, will be eligible
for free vaccine.
The Great Law of the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy contained this
advice: ``In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our
decision on the next seven generations.'' We are stewards; we are
caretakers. That standard will keep us great if we have the vision of
your forefathers.
As we look back on the American journey, the test ahead is always
whether we are moving in the right direction of more tolerance, wider
justice, and greater opportunity for all. It is the direction that
counts, always the direction. And our choices will set that direction.
Of course, as you well know, our history has not always been a proud
one. But our future can be, and that is up to us. Together we can open
the greatest era of cooperation, understanding, and respect among our
people ever. I know that we will. And when we do, the judgment of
history will be that the President of the United States and the leaders
of the sovereign Indian nations met and kept faith with each other and
our common heritage and together lifted our great nations to a new and
better place.
Thank you all.
[At this point, the President signed the memorandum. The President and
Mrs. Clinton and the Vice President and Mrs. Gore were then presented
gifts.]
The President. Before we go, I wanted to make a brief announcement
to thank you, on behalf of the First Lady, the Vice President, Mrs.
Gore, and our Cabinet for being here and for giving us a chance to be
with you and for the wonderful gifts we have received.
In keeping with a tradition that goes back to the early days of our
Republic, I want each of you, in leaving, to receive a miniature replica
of the Jefferson Indian Peace Medal. On the front is a picture of our
third President, Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of
Independence and one of the chief architects of our democracy. When you
receive your medal, you will see on the back two hands clasped, one with
a cuff showing three stripes and three buttons, the other wearing a
bracelet engraved with an eagle. The hands join with the inscription
``Peace and Friendship.''
As we pray and as we leave, let us hope that this is the beginning
of true peace, true friendship, and true progress.
Thank you.
Note: The President spoke at 4:40 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White
House. In his remarks, he referred to Chief Wilma Mankiller of the
Cherokee Tribe in Oklahoma. This item was not received in time for
publication in the appropriate issue.
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