Seneca Nation of Indians president to meet with Obama today
CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY Seneca President Barry E. Snyder Sr. will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in a first-of-its-kind national Indian nations conference to be staged by President Barack Obama. The all-day conference will take place today.
"During his 2008 presidential campaign Obama promised to go beyond a government-to-government relationship with Native Americans and create a nation-to-nation relationship. This conference indicates he is interested in giving nations a true voice," President Snyder said. "I look forward to taking part in this critical dialogue."
In October 2008, Obama pledged, if elected, he would appoint an American Indian policy advisor to his senior White House staff and would host an annual tribal leadership conference. The White House and the U.S. Department of the Interior have extended conference invitations to leaders of the nation's 564 federally-recognized tribes.
In announcing the conference last month, Obama said in a statement that he looks forward to "hearing directly from the leaders in Indian Country about what my administration can do to not only meet their needs, but help improve their lives and the lives of their peoples."
"This is a unique and special opportunity to communicate directly with the president and his administration regarding issues facing the Seneca Nation," President Snyder said.
In recent weeks, the Seneca Nation has made a strong stance against renewed efforts by some New York State elected officials to collect taxes on tribal tobacco sales. The Senecas have reiterated their position that long-standing federal treaties prohibit states and other governments from taxing Indian nations. The Senecas are also looking for federal assistance to overturn the Kempthorne policy which prohibits off-reservation gaming.
The presidential conference coincides with the observance of U.S. Native Heritage Month. In addition to attending the conference, President Snyder will also attend today's grand opening of the Embassy of Tribal Nations, at 1516 P Street, in Washington, D.C. President Obama is the third sitting president Snyder has met, having previously attended meetings with presidents Bush (41) and Clinton.
