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News
Smoke Signals
Clinton commits to Indian education as tribes talk economics
By Oscar Johnson
President Clinton signed an ex
ecutive order mandating a
new task force to address edu
cation needs in Indian Country at an
Indian economic summit attended by
U.S. government, Grand Ronde and
other Native tribal officials.
"Today fewer than two-thirds of
our Native Americans over the age
of 25 hold high school degrees.
Fewer than 10 percent go on to col
lege," the President said. "If the
trend continues, then the future for
Native American children will be
come even bleaker."
During last month's Building Eco
nomic Self-Determination in Indian
Communities summit in Washington,
D.C. the President seized on the op
portunity to present and sign the
American Indian and Alaska Native
Education order in front of hun
dreds of Native representatives
from around the United States.
On behalf of the Grand Ronde
Tribe, Council members Kathryn
Harrison and Leon "Chip" Tom,
as well as Acting Executive Of
ficer, Greg Archuleta and Inter
governmental Affairs lobbyist,
Justin Martin met with the highest
heads of government at the meeting.
Archuleta said the summit focused
on tribal economic self-determination
exploring many alternatives to gam
ing as a source of tribal income in
addition to unveiling the new execu
tive order.
The new presidential order calls for
a five-year task force comprising rep
resentatives from 15 federal branches
including the Departments of Educa
tion, Health and Human Services,
Justice and the Interior to consult with
tribal governments on their educa
tional needs and priorities.
The goal of the order is to develop
a "comprehensive federal Indian edu
cation policy" that will boost reading
and math skills, high school comple
tion and attendance, science educa
tion, and the use of technology in In
dian Country.
The order also aims to create safe
drug-free schools and reduce the ef
fects of poverty that impede educa
tion for Native Americans.
The President did not specifically
address insufficient federal dollars
needed to fund tribal programs such
as education an element behind the
current Senate debate over a bill
which seeks to solve the problem by
redistributing funds from 10 percent
of the country's wealthiest tribes to
the poorest 20 percent.
Instead, the President offered un
derstanding and supportive words.
"Long ago, many of your ances
tors gave up land, water and mineral
rights in exchange for peace, secu
rity, health care, and education from
WWhile the United States government did not live up to
its side of the bargain in the past, we can and we must
honor it today and into the new millennium..."
President Clinton
the federal government. It is a sol
emn pact," Clinton told summit at
tendees after noting Indian Country's
almost 70 percent underemployment
and spiraling diabetes rates.
"While the United States govern
ment did not live up to its side of the
bargain in the past, we can and we
must honor it today and into the new
millennium," added the President.
Another key component to the
meeting was the chance various tribal
representatives had to network with
one another.
The opportunity tribes had to share
success stories in economic develop
ment introduced Grand Ronde rep
resentatives to new ideas including
generating income by entering into
business contracts with the Depart
ment of Defense or major corpora
tions such as General Motors, Ar
chuleta said.
"It was exciting to see the vari
ety of economic activity tribes
have been able to get into beyond
gaming," he said. "Many, like us,
see gaming as just a window of op
portunity to start saving and to
provide services for members."
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On August 6, 1998, President Clinton addressed the Conference on Build
ing Economic Self-Determination in Indian Communities. At the event, the
President signed an Executive Order on American Indian and Alaska Native
Education. He also announced several initiatives for improving health care
and economic opportunities for Native Americans. Pictured from left: KATH
RYN HARRISON, Chair, Grand Ronde Tribe; DR. DAVID BEAULIEU,
Director, Office of Indian Education, Dept. of Education; YVONNE
NOVACK, President, Nation Indian Education Association; SHERRY RED
OWL, Redbud Sioux Tribe; JOANN MORRIS, Director, Office of Indian
Education, Dept. of Interior; ERNIE STEVENS, JR., National Congress of
American Indians; LORRAINE EDMO, Executive Director, National In
dian Education Association; MELODEE MCCOY, Native American Rights
Fund; and MICHAEL ANDERSON, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian
Affairs, Dept. of Interior.