WASHINGTON – Elouise Cobell; Joe Medicine Crow; Larry EchoHawk. While there’s no doubt that individual Indians made strong strides in a variety of fields in 2009, that’s really nothing new. Every year, Native folks chip away, making a difference – often receiving little recognition, few rewards, and all too often, the promise of bigger headaches in the future.

What is rather unique about the Indian accomplishments achieved during the first year of the Obama administration is that there has been an American president who is listening – and who has taken rather sweeping actions to back up his promises.

So, while a person like Cobell has been rightfully honored by many as a “warrior woman” for fighting for justice – and actually winning some – in her multibillion dollar trust lawsuit against the federal government, President Barack Obama’s role in her ultimate accomplishment cannot be understated.

Without his willingness to become a leader on Indian country issues, Cobell’s case would have likely languished in the courts for more months and perhaps even for many more years. And, like the number or not, $3.4 billion toward settlement would not be on the table.

The settlement also requires legislative approval, and Obama immediately asked his former colleagues in Congress to provide it. So, he’s not simply saying he did a good thing, now someone else should pick up the ball and follow through. Notably, he’s actually telling the other power players to get it done – and he’ll be watching.

Without his desire to have Native faces working on Indian issues on behalf of his administration, there would be no Yvette Roubideaux leading IHS or Jodi Gillette and Kim Teehee at the White House.

Many past presidents – some considered friends of Indian country – have put non-Indians in caretaker roles on Indian issues, and, perhaps not surprisingly, not a whole lot got done.

Or much more incremental things got done, like the promise of tribal consultation.

Obama also focused on promising enhanced tribal consultation, during his Nov. 5 White House Tribal Nations Conference. But he also attached a deadline for his agencies to report to him on how exactly they are accomplishing it. Deadlines, he said, increase accountability.

This year, too, bigger things started to get done. In the early months of his administration, many in Indian country were skeptical: “Why is he not working for us more quickly?” some asked. Even Cobell said in the spring she was disappointed he had not focused on her case immediately.

But as Obama got his bearings, he did better. He put Indian advocates in place like Larry EchoHawk at the BIA, who immediately began focusing on ways to address the controversial Carcieri Supreme Court ruling.

Next, people like Hilary Tompkins, Interior’s first Native American solicitor, were called on to settle old injustices, including the long-running Cobell lawsuit.

And folks at the USDA started talking to Indian farmers who have long claimed discrimination in working with the agency.

Without Obama’s commitment to forming a “nation-to-nation” relationship with tribes – a promise he talks about in almost every statement he releases regarding Indians – there would have likely been little federal attention paid to how much of a slice of the stimulus funding tribes would receive; there would have been no follow-through on campaign promises to hold a White House conference with tribal leaders; and pro-Indian legislation might have never been supported.

Indeed, Obama has been quick to support positive Indian country-focused laws, including reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and a tribe-friendly fix to the Carcieri ruling.

Despite his accomplishments and proactive qualities, all has not been rosy.

Quite early on, he managed to rile some in Indian country during his inaugural address by saying the words, “the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve,” in reference to wanting Americans to come together.

Some Natives took his words quite literally, and, considering his past proclamations that “words matter,” they said he should have been more sensitive. There are only Indian tribes in the U.S., after all.

His decision not to keep Diane Humetewa on as the first female Native U.S. attorney in Arizona, instead choosing a non-Indian political replacement, was another area of concern.

Given the huge justice problems in Indian country, combined with Obama’s pledge to not run a “politics as usual” presidency, some felt he should have done better – and many have called on him to get more Indian players involved in the justice arena of his team.

Obama has also not moved to support signing of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People – a disheartening development for many Natives.

Even given those leadership setbacks, many leaders in Indian country are apt to point out that this was only his first year, and his positive actions have far outweighed the objectionable.

For many Indians, there is great hope for Obama for the next three years of his administration. And his commitment thus far has only served to raise expectations.