By
Osage News
Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear will meet with President Barack Obama Dec. 2 at the White House, along with 11 other tribal leaders.
For the past six years, the Obama administration has hosted a White House Tribal Nations Conference, a cabinet-level platform to discuss issues going on in Indian Country. Each year 11 tribal leaders are hand picked to attend a roundtable discussion with the president. Former Principal Chief John Red Eagle was asked to attend twice, the first time in 2010 and again in 2013.
“The Osage people have so many subjects which need attention, but if I have just one brief moment with the President of the United States I will ask him to provide more federal assistance for the education, health, and opportunities for our young people,” Standing Bear said in a prepared release.
Standing Bear said he was informed to be at the White House at 8:30 a.m. for the 11:15 a.m. meeting.
Joining him will be:
– W. “Ron” Allen, Chairman, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe
– Phyliss Anderson, Chief, Mississippi Choctaw
– Lorenzo Bates, Speaker of the Senate, Navajo Nation
– Thomas Beauty, Chairman, Yavapai Apache Nation
– Joseph M. Chavarria, Governor, Santa Clara Pueblo
– Cristina Danforth, Chairwoman, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
– Jeff Grubbe, Chairman, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
– Jerry Isaac, Alaska Federation of Natives Co-Chair, Tanacross Native Village
– Darrin Old Coyote, Chairman, Crow Nation
– Myra Pearson, Chairwoman, Spirit Lake Nation
The conference will begin early Dec. 3 and will feature comments from Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Mike Connor, Asst. Secretary of Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn and Solicitor of the Interior Hilary Tompkins, according to a release.
Tribal leaders will participate in panels on energy and climate change and supporting Indian youth. Leaders will also be able to interact with the president, ask his administration questions, and speak with the White House Council on Native American Affairs.
To watch the event live on Dec. 3, visit www.doi.gov/live
Original Publish Date: 2014-12-01 00:00:00