EchoHawk pledges to ease Indian woes

After the Senate formally confirmed Brigham Young University law professor Larry EchoHawk to head the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, he vowed Wednesday to do all in his power to combat the poverty, poor schools and crime that are too common in Indian country.

"It's the opportunity to impact the lives of nearly 2 million American Indians and Alaska natives," he told the Deseret News. "Many of these people live in poverty. There are communities of American Indians that have nearly 80 percent unemployment. I'm going to do whatever I can to improve their quality of life."

The Senate confirmed EchoHawk late Tuesday on a voice vote. EchoHawk said that shortly afterward, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called him to report the news — and to begin planning when EchoHawk may move to Washington and be sworn-in. No date has been set for that yet.

Salazar on Wednesday extolled EchoHawk, 60, a Pawnee who is the former Idaho attorney general.

"He is a dedicated public servant with excellent leadership abilities and legal expertise and legislative experience to help us carry out President Obama's commitment to build strong Indian economies and safer Indian communities."Salazar said.

"Together, we will work cooperatively with the federally recognized tribes to empower American Indian and Alaska Native people, restore the integrity of the government-to-government relationship and fulfill the United States' trust responsibilities."

EchoHawk told the Deseret News, "I identified education, economic development and law enforcement as the three areas that I would focus on" as the new assistant secretary of Interior for Indian Affairs.

"This will require me to reach out and communicate with tribal leaders across the country. There are 562 tribes, and I should make sure that I understand what their concerns and priorities are before I set an aggressive agenda," he said.

"So I want to listen to what they have to say and consult with them before I begin to work. One of the first things I will do is convene a meeting with tribal leaders to open those lines of communication," EchoHawk said.

He added that it will be difficult to leave BYU.

"I have a perfect life. Not only am I a law professor, but I also have the assignment to oversee men and women's athletics at BYU (as a legal adviser, where he once played on the football team). And it's not easy for me to leave behind a job that I love."

But when he said he thinks of the poverty and other challenges in Indian country, "This is something that I just could not say no to."