KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Tribal Nations Conference wraps up in Washington, D.C.

Tribal Nations Conference wraps up in Washington, D.C.

by Channel 2 News staff
Saturday, November 7, 2009

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- President Barack Obama held the first White House Tribal Nations Conference this week in Washington, D.C. The president heard from tribal leaders about some of the issues they face.

About one-third of Alaska Native tribes were represented. For Native villages the focus was mainly about domestic violence, alcoholism and education.

The discussion was moderated by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Obama took questions from the floor.

One Native leader called the conference a "tribal consultation."

"I would say it was very productive," said Jo Royal of the Telida Native Village Council. "President Obama is a president that is totally lateralized, really cares about the sovereign nations and really wants to address the problems in Indian country."

Royal says she believes the president's Cabinet understood the issues after taking tours of reservations, tribal educational and medical facilities.

During the conference, Obama was invited to Alaska. He jokingly accepted, as long as it was during the summer -- but will actually be visiting Elmendorf Air Force Base Thursday en route to Asia.