1.2 percent Indian representation on Obama's transition team

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

Six Native Americans have been officially named to President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team.

The majority of the group is working on Interior Department-related matters, with three current and former lawyers with the Native American Rights Fund, including John Echohawk, Keith Harper and Robert Anderson, advising the former senator from Illinois on proposed changes within the department that encompasses the BIA.

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More hopes from Indian country have been raised as a result of Obama’s choices of leadership within his transition team.

Johnson Pata noted in the conference call that John Podesta, former chief of staff to President Clinton, and Pete Rouse, former chief of staff to former Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., are serving as co-chairs of the transition team. She said that NCAI has positive relationships with both gentlemen, as well as other top officials with the transitions team.

“We are hoping that our linkages to these folks will really help us. We’re looking for every way to link to them in multiple ways so we can hit on our recommendations.”

NCAI has made several policy suggestions to the new administration, including noting the importance of working quickly to address Indian country issues and appointments.

“[T]ribal government issues have suffered from inattention during the transition and early years of many prior Administrations,” according to the NCAI transition document.

“If appointments and major policy decisions are delayed for extended periods, the long term issues in Indian country are left unaddressed and handed on to the next administration. Any significant reform efforts must be planned during the transition and start at the beginning of an Administration if they are to succeed.”

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/politics/35562244.html