That happened when Obama invited the leaders to Washington, D.C., in November 2009 at what Echo Hawk called the largest such gathering ever.

“He looked at the tribal leaders and said ‘as president of the United States of America, I promise you that you will not be forgotten,’ ” Echo Hawk said.

Obama kept his promise, he said, signing the Tribal Law and Order Act to make reservations safer, reauthorizing the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and increasing money in the federal budget to aid the nation’s tribes.

“This administration has stood up strongly for Native people,” Echo Hawk said.

Echo Hawk, a member of the Pawnee Nation, was nominated for his position by Obama in 2009.

On the topic of the water settlement bill and water compact, he said he felt it was important to take time from his schedule to advocate for ratification. Tribal water negotiations have continued for more than three decades, he said.

“They worked hard to make things solid so future generations will have economic prosperity and that this will be a productive homeland,” Echo Hawk said. “Water as lifeblood for economic development must be there for your use.”