Obama: Annual Tribal Nations Conference is permanent institution

Obama at 2016 White House Tribal Conference
President Barack Obama greets audience members after he delivers remarks during the 2016 White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2016. (Photo by Pete Souza/The White House)

President Barack Obama addressed his final White House Tribal Nations Conference today. The most famous Yup’ik singer on Facebook, Byron Nicholai of Toksook Bay, welcomed Obama to the stage.

Obama said it was a privilege over his eight years in the White House to spend time with Native people. He said he visited more tribal communities than any other president. He cited a few Alaska examples.

“My staff still talks about all the wonderful people in Kotzebue, Alaska. … They tried to teach them Iñupiaq, and tried to stuff them full of meat at Cariboufest,” he said, tripping over the unfamiliar words.

The crowd didn’t seem to mind.

The Tribal Nations Conference, now in its eighth year, was something Obama started and it set the tone for his White House. The conference brings hundreds of Native leaders to Washington and gives them a chance to meet top officials in federal government. Another way Obama elevated Native issues was by creating the White House Council of Native American Affairs. He describes it as a permanent institution with cabinet-level focus. No matter who wins the White House next, Obama said the young people he’s met give him confidence there’s more progress ahead.

He mentioned the students at a middle school in Dillingham who taught him a traditional Yup’ik dance.

“Show us!” someone shouted.

“Well, I can only do it when they’re around, because I’m basically just watching them,” Obama said. “They were very patient with me.”

The Obama White House also launched an annual conference for Native youth, which begins Tuesday.

Alaska Public Media

Alaska Public Media is one of our partner stations in Anchorage. KTOO collaborates with partners across the state to cover important news and to share stories with our audiences.

Sign up for The Signal

Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week

Site notifications
Update notification options
Subscribe to notifications