The president goes native

Perhaps it takes an ethnic president to put some gusto into the nation's concern for ethnic groups.

If so, President Barack Obama is already at work. He hopes to ease the disappointment and sense of betrayal in the nation's American Indian tribes.

And he knows, more than most, just how tricky ethnic relationships can be.

In an unprecedented move last week, the president set aside an entire day to meet with representatives from the country's 564 tribes. For good measure, he brought along several high-ranking officials. More than 400 tribal representatives agreed to attend. Larry EchoHawk, the former BYU law professor who currently serves as the president's assistant Interior secretary for Indian affairs, said the best way to restore trust would be for the country to honor treaties and respect promises.

We agree.

The term "plight of the American Indian" has become a cliche. But for 300 years it has indeed been a "plight." Books, movies and scholarly papers have detailed the callous mistreatment of Native Americans from the day Europeans first set foot on the American continent. Today, America's native peoples are mostly scattered or left on reservations. Still, their problems, concerns, dreams and desires are not that much different from other Americans.

Just as a meeting of the United Nations often triggers discussions about education, health care, racism, economic well-being and crime, so, too, a meeting of tribal nations brings to light similar concerns. Differences between tribes may be legendary and long-standing, but so, too, is the pervasive philosophy among native tribes that we are all part of something larger than we realize. We are, at heart, brothers and sisters.

In the past, money has served as a substitute for involvement with the tribes. And, indeed, so far the administration has sent $3 billion in stimulus money to "Indian country." But more than money, respect and justice are the true currency in any relationship between Washington, D.C., and American Indians.

The administration appears willing to spend that currency in order to improve the lot of America's native peoples.

We congratulate, and encourage, all involved from both sides.