"Two weeks ago, I and other leaders of America’s Native governments had the opportunity to participate in the White House Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C. President Obama expressed the importance of taking ownership of the future and looking out for our next generations of tribal members.

There are many pressing challenges for federally recognized tribes in California and across Indian Country.

The White House Tribal Nations Conference — the fourth for the Obama administration — was an opportunity to remember the past struggles and celebrate our progress. But also, it served as a reminder of the work ahead to improve the lives of our families and to guard against intrusions into our sovereign rights as tribal nations.

The president, for example, stressed his commitment to solving the problems that certain tribes are having putting “their land into federal trust” because of a recent court decision."

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Voncent Armenta: White House hosts tribal governments (The Solvang Valley News 12/19)