Tribes say an Indian affairs adviser at the White House will ensure they have a voice at the highest levels of the federal government.

"For too long, tribes and their voices have been filtered out and have not reached the highest levels of government," George Hardeen, a spokesman for Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. told The Salt Lake Tribune.

"It's one thing to have an assistant secretary in the Interior Department, but to have someone in the White House who can spend time and energy working on Indian issues is a great thing," said Bruce Parry, the chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation.

President Barack Obama plans to announce his pick for the post in a couple of weeks, an official told the paper. First Lady Michelle Obama discussed the adviser during a visit to the Interior Department yesterday.

Get the Story:
White House to elevate Indian affairs, appoint special advisor (The Salt Lake Tribune 2/10)
Obama to appoint senior advisor on Native Americans (The Los Angeles Times 2/10)
Michelle Obama at the Interior Dept. (The New York Times 2/9)
Native American tribal issues to be a priority for Pres. Obama (CNN 2/9)
First Lady: POTUS will create Native American Affairs Adviser (ABC News 2/9)
Michelle announces new adviser (The Politico 2/9)
Michelle Obama visits, praises Interior employees (AP 2/9)

Related Stories:
First lady touts Indian agenda at Interior (2/10)
Native woman lands job in Obama's White House (2/9)