The chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) blasted President Joe Biden last week, just days after the White House hosted a two-day virtual Tribal Nations Summit billed by Biden as an opportunity for him and senior leaders from his administration to meet with tribal leaders and engage in nation-to-nation dialogue on critical issues in Indian Country.
Tribal leaders from 574 federallyrecognized tribes were invited to participate and discuss how the federal government can invest in and continue to strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship and ensure progress in Indian Country. Among the foremost items discussed were COVID-19 and healthcare in general, education, economic and workforce development, infrastructure, housing and treaty rights.
Chairman Harold Frazier issued a statement last Thursday, Nov. 18, saying he was not impressed with the Tribal Nations Summit and was left frustrated, categorizing the event as a “show” put on by the Biden Administration that leaves him and a majority of Indian Country without a voice or action. He also invited the president to visit the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and see firsthand some of the healthcare issues tribal members face every day.
“I waited two days for the opportunity to inform someone about what is actually happening here on the Cheyenne River reservation to no avail,” Frazier said. He pointed out the Indian Health Service - the agency tasked with providing direct medical and public health services to more than two million members of federally-recognized Native American tribes - was not even represented at the summit.
“This president and his administration are leaving my people in hallways and parking lots while they fill computer meeting screens with panels of people that are not even a part of our healthcare system where we live. We cannot expect anything to get accomplished when the Indian Health Service is not even at the COVID discussion in the White House,” he continued.
“I expected more from this presidency and when you look at the voting map, you will clearly see that all of us here did as well. You have had your Tribal Nations show, now give us some Tribal Nations action. It will not get done on your computer screen and it is high time you came here to see for yourself.”
Infrastructure bill should benefit CRST
Tribes across the country will be receiving an influx of money after President Biden signed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill last week that could have huge ramifications for both the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Sioux tribes.
Under the measure, about $11 billion is earmarked to benefit Indian Country, according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. About one-third of that, $3.5 billion, will go to the Indian Health Service, which says it will consult with tribes on how best to use the funds. IHS officials said the amount is enough to fulfill more than 1,560 projects on its list of water and sanitation deficiencies.
While the tribes welcome the infusion of money, they say sustained investments are needed to make up for decades of neglect and underfunding.
“This could be huge for the Cheyenne River Reservation,” said CRST spokesman Remi Bald Eagle, director of intergovernmental affairs. “Mainly because we have a lot of infrastructure that’s been neglected for a very long time. I’d say we’re cautiously optimistic ... what we haven’t seen on a local level yet is how that money works for the tribe.”
It remains unclear whether any funding allocated to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation will be handled by the tribe itself or the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - which the tribe has been in a long-running dispute with over roads and road repairs.
“Are projects going to be things the tribe itself has in mind or something done through the BIA and driven by them? And who determines how much is allocated and for what projects?” Bald Eagle asked. “At this point, the tribe is ready to participate in any discussion and planning there is for projects we think are best for our reservation and for our people.”