Sen. Akaka touts self-determination at Native Hawaiian meet

Friday, August 26, 2011  

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, spoke at the 10th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention in Hawaii on Thursday.

Akaka said indigenous people have a right to self-determination. Along those lines, he said his top priorities are a fix to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar and a bill to recognize a Native Hawaiian government.

"The United States' policy of supporting self-determination and self-governance for indigenous peoples has benefitted Native peoples across the country," Akaka said in his speech, according to a transcript released by his office.

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Transcript: Speech at Annual Native Hawaiian Convention (Sen. Akaka 8/25)