June 13, 2003

Tribes meet on federal policies
Leaders to discuss Bush, budget concerns Associated Press
Jun. 13, 2003 12:00 AM

Leaders of American Indian tribes plan to gather in Phoenix on Saturday to discuss government policies on Indian affairs.

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. said tribal leaders will discuss concerns over Bush administration policies and budget processes, along with ways to improve government-to-government relations.

"We need to reposition the wheel to put this ship back on course - where Indian country wants it to go," he said.

Shirley said he thinks the federal budget shortchanges tribes on law enforcement, health care and social services. He said he wants the Native American Tribal Leaders Summit, which will take place in the Gila River Indian Community, to create ways to remedy that.

"They tell us (the Navajo Nation) is the size of West Virginia," he said. "Well, West Virginia has 4,000 police officers on its streets. The Navajo Nation has less than 300."

Shirley said he invited all the leaders of the almost 570 American Indian tribes to the summit, which is subtitled "One Voice for Change."

"If we're going to make an impact on Washington, we need to have one voice," he said. "We are all sovereign nations, although sometimes I feel we are not treated as sovereign. They chip away at our sovereignty."

The idea for the summit arose from concerns raised at a recent Indian Health Services Budget Consultation for fiscal year 2005 in Washington, D.C.

Small increases planned by the government for the budget of Indian programs aren't enough, Shirley said.

"They're sending billions and billions across the ocean and they give us 5 percent," he said. "Our needs are up there. When is the government going to give Native America the attention it deserves?" 

Tex Hall, president of the National Congress of American Indians, joined with Shirley in calling for the summit.

"We're still waiting for this administration to really get it," he said. "This is Year 3 of the Bush administration and he has yet to engage with tribes."

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