17 June 2009
Obama Appoints Policy Adviser for Native American Affairs
Washington — President Obama has appointed Kimberley Teehee as his chief adviser on Native American issues. The president says he has appointed Teehee, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation, to fill the newly created position of senior policy adviser for Native American affairs.
According to a June 15 press release from the White House, Teehee will serve on the president’s Domestic Policy Council as an adviser on issues affecting the 562 tribes that are recognized by the U.S. federal government.
Obama said Teehee will help the administration strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Native American nations. “She is rightly recognized as an outstanding advocate for Indian Country, and she will provide a direct interface at the highest level of my administration, assuring a voice for Native Americans during policymaking decisions,” he said.
Teehee comes to the White House with more than 10 years of experience as the senior adviser to Representative Dale Kildee, who is the co-chairman of the House of Representatives Native American Caucus.
In taped remarks to the mid-year conference of the National Congress of American Indians, Obama said he has proposed more than $3 billion in funding for Indian Country as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. If approved by the U.S. Congress, the money would help empower the tribal nations to improve health care, law enforcement and education in their territories.
“I recognize that this budget proposal does not make up for past deficiencies, but it does reflect my determination to work with you to reevaluate our spending priorities and include Native Americans in the national policy debate,” Obama said.
The president also said the White House will host a Tribal Nations Conference in fall 2009. “As we move forward, I want you to know that my staff and I are eager to engage with Indian Country on your priorities — to listen to you and learn from you.”
According to Indian Country Today, Teehee is expected to begin her new position at the White House on July 1. She said the president is “committed to strengthening and building on the nation-to-nation relationship between the United States and tribal nations.” She also said the upcoming White House conference will give tribal leaders “an opportunity to assist the president in developing an agenda for Indian Country.”
