The State Department has released the official announcement regarding the U.S. support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The U.S. voted against the declaration during the Bush administration. But President Barack Obama decided to review the issue after he took office.

Following a series on tribal consultations, Obama said the administration support the document. "The aspirations it affirms -- including the respect for the institutions and rich cultures of Native peoples -- are one we must always seek to fulfill," he told tribal leaders at the White House Tribal Nations Conference on Thursday.

The official announcement cites actions taken by the Obama administration that it said will improve the status of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Media Note:
Announcement of U.S. Support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (State Department 12/16)

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