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The National Congress of American Indians 68th Annual Convention-Footprints into the Future
Statement of Chairman Daniel K. Akaka
Mon, October 31, 2011
Committee on Indian Affairs
Video Message
Aloha! I am pleased to address the National Congress of American Indians Annual Convention. I have worked with the leadership, with President Jefferson Keel and Executive Director Jackie Johnson-Pata, for a number of years.
I commend you on your theme this year, Footprints into the Future. Now, more than ever, Native peoples must stand, work, and achieve together.
We must be creative in how we maximize our resources, and we must be bold in our efforts to solve our community challenges.
As many of you know, I am the only Native member of the United States Senate, and I chair the Committee on Indian Affairs. This year, I have focused the Committee's work around two basic themes-identity and homelands.
We have conducted oversight on programs and issues that impact the identities of Native peoples and their homelands. I have sponsored bills to improve the ability of Native communities to be in control of their homelands and their children's education-the very future of a people's identity.
As Chairman, one of my top legislative priorities is the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, S. 675. Native Hawaiians are the only major group of peoples indigenous to the United States that don't have the benefit of a government-to-government relationship with the United States.
I don't have to tell you how important that relationship can be to empowering Native communities to malama, to take care of their own. The sovereignty of a people is their greatest asset in perpetuating their unique identity, and Native Hawaiians deserve the same treatment by this nation as every other peoples indigenous to these shores.
I want to say mahalo nui loa, to express my many thanks, to you all for the strong support the National Congress of American Indians has consistently expressed for my bill over the years.
My other top legislative priority is known as the Carcieri Fix bill. This bill amends the Indian Reorganization Act to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for all Indian tribes.
As you know, the Indian Reorganization Act was intended to help tribes rebuild their homelands, which are essential for the economic advancement and self-sufficiency of Indian communities.
I am using my role as the Chairman to hold hearings that highlight for my colleagues the various reasons we must pass a clean Carcieri Fix bill.
The Supreme Court's decision in the Carcieri case, if allowed to stand, has negative implications on job creation, economic development and the public safety and security of our tribal communities. I thank NCAI for the work you have been doing to advance this measure as well.
I am working to advance these two legislative priorities because both bring parity to federal Indian law, and both are pono, right and just.
I hope you have a productive convention, and I look forward to hearing about your priorities and outcomes in the weeks ahead. Malama pono and a hui hou.
Video Message
Aloha! I am pleased to address the National Congress of American Indians Annual Convention. I have worked with the leadership, with President Jefferson Keel and Executive Director Jackie Johnson-Pata, for a number of years.
I commend you on your theme this year, Footprints into the Future. Now, more than ever, Native peoples must stand, work, and achieve together.
We must be creative in how we maximize our resources, and we must be bold in our efforts to solve our community challenges.
As many of you know, I am the only Native member of the United States Senate, and I chair the Committee on Indian Affairs. This year, I have focused the Committee's work around two basic themes-identity and homelands.
We have conducted oversight on programs and issues that impact the identities of Native peoples and their homelands. I have sponsored bills to improve the ability of Native communities to be in control of their homelands and their children's education-the very future of a people's identity.
As Chairman, one of my top legislative priorities is the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, S. 675. Native Hawaiians are the only major group of peoples indigenous to the United States that don't have the benefit of a government-to-government relationship with the United States.
I don't have to tell you how important that relationship can be to empowering Native communities to malama, to take care of their own. The sovereignty of a people is their greatest asset in perpetuating their unique identity, and Native Hawaiians deserve the same treatment by this nation as every other peoples indigenous to these shores.
I want to say mahalo nui loa, to express my many thanks, to you all for the strong support the National Congress of American Indians has consistently expressed for my bill over the years.
My other top legislative priority is known as the Carcieri Fix bill. This bill amends the Indian Reorganization Act to clarify the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for all Indian tribes.
As you know, the Indian Reorganization Act was intended to help tribes rebuild their homelands, which are essential for the economic advancement and self-sufficiency of Indian communities.
I am using my role as the Chairman to hold hearings that highlight for my colleagues the various reasons we must pass a clean Carcieri Fix bill.
The Supreme Court's decision in the Carcieri case, if allowed to stand, has negative implications on job creation, economic development and the public safety and security of our tribal communities. I thank NCAI for the work you have been doing to advance this measure as well.
I am working to advance these two legislative priorities because both bring parity to federal Indian law, and both are pono, right and just.
I hope you have a productive convention, and I look forward to hearing about your priorities and outcomes in the weeks ahead. Malama pono and a hui hou.
