The White House's policy towards American Indians is better than in past administrations, but still not consistently good enough





Above: President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to Joe Medicine Crow - High Bird during a ceremony in Washington, DC on August 12, 2009





Earlier this month, I wrote a piece here at The Atlantic about the ways in which the three branches of federal government this year have handled matters of great importance to American Indians. I criticized the Senate-- and Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn in particular-- for failing to act on the judicial nomination of worthy native American candidate Arvo Mikkanen. I blasted the Supreme Court for its failure to protect Native American interests in a trust case. And I chided the Obama Administration for focusing upon eagle feathers when there are so many other pressing issues of interest to the tribes.

I must have struck a nerve because within a day or so of posting the piece I had heard directly from three different tribunes within the Administration, each of whom wrote to suggest to me that I had been too harsh in my criticism of executive branch policy toward Native Americans. I heard from a "Director of Specialty Media" at the White House, who forwarded to me this link titled: "Achieving a Brighter Future for Tribal Nations." I heard from the Justice Department, which forwarded to me this link titled: "Tribal Justice And Safety." And I heard from the Interior Department, which forwarded to me this link to a glowing Associated Press story about new administration rules designed to make it easier for American Indians and Native Alaskans to "expedite home building and energy development."