Photo courtesy White House Office of Media Affairs Jodi Gillette, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, is an associate director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Gillette: A new era of responsibility: Expanding opportunities for Indian country
By
Jodi Gillette
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| After years of being ignored and marginalized by politicians in Washington, we finally have a partner in the White House. |
This budget cannot fix all of our country’s problems overnight, but it is the first step towards improving the lives of Native Americans. It also proves that the issues most important to tribal nations will be addressed by President Obama and his administration. The government-to-government relationship will be a full and equal partnership.
It begins with health care. Today, American Indians and Alaska Natives have a lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality rate than the average American because of poverty, discrimination and inadequate education. This puts extra strain on IHS, which makes health care services available to 1.9 million Native Americans. Still, many Indians struggle to get access to health care.
That’s why the president’s plan includes a significant increase for IHS. The president’s plan directs hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding to IHS – one of the largest increases in 20 years. With more than $4 billion for this effort, the budget begins a multi-year investment to strengthen and expand services and prevention initiatives that will address persistent health disparities.
This commitment is on top of IHS funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided $500 million for health information technology, construction, equipment and improvements for hospitals and health care clinics in Indian country.
President Obama’s budget also focuses on strengthening Native communities through education and law enforcement – giving nations and families the tools they need to succeed. The president’s budget includes $161 million in increased funding for the BIA, and additional funding that will be available through the departments of Justice and Education. All this will serve to strengthen tribal courts, detention centers and police programs to help Native Americans protect their communities.
| The president’s plan directs hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding to IHS – one of the largest increases in 20 years. |
To ensure that Indian students will be able to compete with young people across the country and around the world, the budget also provides $50 million in funding earlier in the academic year for tribal colleges. The budget also increases funding for scholarships and tribal college operations by $10 million. This plan will give colleges greater financial security and ensure that the next generation of tribal leaders receives the education they deserve while maintaining Indian culture and tradition. These efforts build on the more than $275 million in Recovery Act funding that will be used for construction and repairs at Bureau of Indian Education elementary and secondary schools.
President Obama’s budget looks out for Indian country, and the administration will continue to do so in the months and years to come. In addition to a tribal point of contact in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the White House will be appointing an American Indian policy advisor to serve as a link between Indian nations and the president. After eight years of struggling to be heard, this is only the beginning of the relationship between Washington and tribal leaders.
| President Obama’s budget looks out for Indian country, and the administration will continue to do so in the months and years to come. |
President Obama is working hard to establish this relationship, and with the help of tribal leaders across the country, it will continue to be a meaningful one. This budget is one step in that process – a commitment to fund the programs that so many American Indians depend on. The president has shown his commitment to giving Indians a seat at the table, and those of us in his administration will fight tirelessly to advance the priorities of Indian country going forward.
Jodi Gillette is an associate director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
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Saturday, May 30 at 5:55 PM dog soldier wrote ...
My hope and prayers are that Jodie can explain to the powers that be that the common native is being victimized by their own tribal governments. In order for any kind of economic development on the reservation their has to be separation of powers so people can hold their elected officials accountable to their people. Our leaders are hawking our JTAC, Land, and Casino to Shakopee without consulting the people or for no reason but to live a life of luxury. No plan but to pay croonies.
22944872Tuesday, May 19 at 2:58 PM Wanbli wrote ...
We will see if this tree is the tree of life and the fruit is for the healing of all nations. The key- is taken back our traditional political power in a ceremonial way of governance. Any other ways here will fail. The President, has an opportunity to help bring about the birth of freedom in an opressed, ecconomical and morally broke society called the U.S. of America. The answer to Americas delimia before the Creator and Earth is our Sovereign First Nation collective understandings of true life
21748649Tuesday, May 19 at 1:02 PM nobody's friend wrote ...
good luck. i am not overly concerned with white house and their blah. i do wonder what it will take to change the sociodemographic factors of indians.
21740139Monday, May 18 at 2:50 PM Thomas M. Wabnum wrote ...
Our treaties,fiduciary trust,federal trust responsibility,federal Indian Laws, Sup Ct cases,Executive Orders, major public Indian Affairs investigations, trust reform, all are very important.But when Congress/President approve inadequate Indian budgets annually they breach their own doctrines. Then publicly they say they support Indian Country. Perverse.The feds/DOI are terminators on face value,Cobell proves that.We must educate ourselves and still fight for our existence.there is no trust yet.
21669382Sunday, May 17 at 3:18 AM Desatoya wrote ...
Involvement in this nations political process is a must for the native people, which has been lacking in the past. As we all have experienced, US Presidents are elected, some for short periods, especially those that advocate for our progress. It is advantageous for our people to begin political planning and implementation to secure another term for President Obama. Equally important is to keep an open mind of his policies and maintain caution on limitations proposed by his administration.
21614322Saturday, May 16 at 4:42 PM John wrote ...
So when does the anti-Indian legislation stop and when do some of the old discriminatory policies get lifted. I don't call for more funding or more pro-Indian programs, just stop trying to interfere in our affairs. It doesn't matter if you mask legislation like the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act as some "save the children" or "war on terror" law. Anyone who reads it and is competent enough to understand it knows it is designed to shut down the private sector economy of the Seneca Nation.
21603794Saturday, May 16 at 2:38 PM Two Feathers wrote ...
Where is my copper coffee pot? We shall see. What ever happened to the Indian statues that used to be in front of Dartmouth, Stanford, William and Mary, just to name a few. What about their charters, remember, to educate all American Native Indians. Education should be free to all Native American Indians any where the US is sovereign. Within 16 years all Indians will be able to change everything, in all areas. Wishful thinking. God forbid that Indians get healthy and ahead. Honor the Charters.
21600674Saturday, May 16 at 10:54 AM Walter Lamar wrote ...
Jodi is the right person for Indian Country in her position at the White House,already in these early days of the administration I along with many other Native business owners have had a chance to visit the White House and meet the President. We were able to tell him the Government must fully utilize Native business via the BUY INDIAN ACT. Let those who know Indian Country engage in the delivery of service and building of critical infrastructure. A sustainable NDN Country economy depends on it.
21594274Thursday, May 14 at 5:56 PM Thomas M. Wabnum wrote ...
I believe we have the right President for the U.S.It is proven in Cobell that historical mismanagement by DOI in Indian Affairs is the result of decreasing Indian budgets. It is termination by appropriation. The real issue is the creation of an Indian Trust Policy that protects us from our own federal protector. What will the President do to correct the inherent federal corruption in Indian Affairs and trust reform? Who will fix OST that was suppose to fix the broken trust? I pray that he will.
21519992Thursday, May 14 at 2:22 PM American Indian Association of Illinois wrote ...
Good to see you hard at work on the issues....we enjoyed Eckhart Indiana and would love to talk to President Obama and you about Indian homelessness,social,economic and educational needs in Chicago and other urban areas.
21467714Thursday, May 14 at 1:24 PM Jessie wrote ...
Way to go Jodi, that's how to communicate with indian country and let us know what's going on, keep it positive and reassuring.
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