Chief Gary Batton with the Choctaw Nation seal and a vehicle that will be a part of President Barack Obama's motorcade. Photo from Facebook

President Barack Obama is headed to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma today and tribal members are buzzing with excitement, Chief Gary Batton said.

Batton called the visit historic. It's Obama's second trip to Indian Country since he entered the Oval Office in January 2009.

"Looking forward to the President to step foot on Choctaw soil here in Durant today to honor our Nation to Nation relationship," Batton said on Facebook this morning.

As part of the visit, Obama and Batton will sit down about 15 young Native Americans. They will hear some of the challenges they face and learn about their successes, The Oklahoman reported.

“Youth, there’s nothing filtered and I love that about kids,” Batton told the paper. “They ask all the good questions, all the pertinent questions, and I think that’s going to be an awesome time.”

Obama also met with youth from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe when he visited the North Dakota portion of the reservation in June 2014. That trip inspired him to launch Generation Indigenous to focus on Native youth issues and to schedule the White House Tribal Youth Gathering, which took place in Washington, D.C., last week.

Obama will also focus on economic development. He will announce the ConnectHome program to bring high-speed Internet to public housing units on the Choctaw Nation and in 27 other communities across the U.S.

The tribe has already benefited from being named a Promise Zone in January 2014. Some $58 million in federal aid have flowed into southeastern Oklahoma as part of an initiative to fight poverty.

"Modern infrastructure is the key to this economic revival, so the Choctaw Nation is building water and sewer systems for public health, promoting workforce training for skilled trades and professionals, and fostering economic diversification efforts that build upon Choctaw’s agricultural resources, heritage and cultural tourism," the White House said in a statement.

Obama is due to speak to tribal members at the Durant High School at 5:45pm Central time. The event is not open to the public but it will be webcast at www.whitehouse.gov/live.

Get the Story:
Choctaw Nation is abuzz with visit from Obama (The Oklahoman 7/15)
Obama's visit highlights $58 million in aid for Choctaw Nation (The Ada News 7/15)
Obama to announce pilot program to expand broadband to low-income households (The Washington Post 7/15)
Obama to focus on economy in visit to Choctaw Nation (AP 7/15)
President Obama To Visit Durant On Wednesday (News on 6 7/15)
Obama Program to Connect Public Housing Residents to Web (The New York Times 7/15)
Google to Offer Internet Service for Free in White House Program (Bloomberg News 7/15)

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