On Wednesday, November 13, 2013, President Barack Obama addressed Tribal Leaders, Tribally Designated Representatives, Federal Officials, Specially Invited Guests, and the Press in regards to the 5th White House Tribal Leader Nations Conference.
President Obama hosted invited representatives from 566 American Indian and Alaska Native tribes at the 2013 White House Tribal Nations Conference. This year marked the 5th Conference that is set to reinforce the commitment to a strong government-to-government relationship with Tribal Leadership. President Obama established the White House Council on Native American Affairs to promote and sustain prosperous and resilient Tribal nations.
President Obama thanked the Tribal Leaders for attending the 5th White House Tribal Nations Conference, and referenced this year’s attendance as larger than the previous four White House Tribal Nations Conferences. He also thanked the White House Council on Native American Indian Affairs which includes the Chair, Secretary Sally Jewell of the Department of the Interior, and several Cabinet officials. The Native Code Talkers and current and past military persons were recognized for their service to this country. Also recognized were Charlie Galbraith, Associate Director of White House Intergovernmental Affairs and Jodi Gillette, Senior Policy Advisor to the White House Domestic Policy Council.
Of course, the California Valley Miwok Tribe cannot name all whom were in attendance, but here are the names that were presenters and/or participants in this event: Secretary Sally Jewell, Department of the Interior, Secretary Eric Shinseki, Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Anthony Foxx, Department of Transportation, Secretary Ernest Moniz, Department of Energy, Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Justice, Administrator Gina McCarthy, Environmental Protection Agency, Secretary Thomas Perez, Department of Labor, Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture, Cecilia Munoz, Assistant of the President and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council (Co-Moderator), Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary Arne Duncan, Department of Education, Acting Secretary Rand Beers, Department of Homeland Security, Acting Administrator Jeanne Hulit, Small Business Administration, Chair Nancy Sutley, Council of Environmental Quality, and President Barack Obama.
The California Valley Miwok Tribe would like to give a special thank you to all the Tribal Leaders and Tribally Designated Representatives whom contributed their time, thoughts, and participation into making this a successful event that strengthens unity amongst tribes and builds a greater government-to-government partnership with the many US officials, departments, councils and agencies, reminding them of the unique trust responsibility that the United States has with sovereign American Indian and Alaska Native Nations.
