Tribal leader calls Obama 'first American Indian president'

[babylonsister]

Uh oh.


Tribal leader calls Obama 'first American Indian president'
By Justin Sink - 12/05/12 04:51 PM ET


President Obama received an unexpected honorific before his speech with Native American tribal leaders Wednesday afternoon, with Swinomish Nation Chairman Brian Cladoosby proclaiming him "the first American Indian president."

"Think about it for a second," Cladoosby said. "The president loves basketball. He has an Indian name, he knows what it's like to be poor and he hasn't forgotten where he came from. And his theme song is 'Hail to the Chief.' I think he definitely qualifies as the first American Indian president. "

The president was addressing more than 500 tribal leaders gathered in Washington for the Tribal Nations Conference. In addition to the president, eight Cabinet members, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, addressed the crowd.

Obama received an enthusiastic welcome and spoke to the leaders about his administration's efforts to aid Native American communities, including "expanding economic opportunities" and an anti-domestic violence effort. He also called on Congress to support Native American small businesses.

"We’re going to keep working together to make sure that the promise of America is fully realized for every Native American," Obama said.

The president also offered an extended tribute to Sonny Black Eagle, a leader in the Crow Nation who passed away last week.

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/271273-swinomish-nation-chairman-introduces-obama-as-first-american-indian-president

[catbyte]

1. Obama is the first President to keep his promises to us. Four More Years!

Chii meegwetch, Mr. President.

[Tutonic]

3. and thank you.

[cheezmaka]

2. That's why he's called...

CHIEF...

[craigmatic]

4. Everybody wants to claim Obama- the Irish, the Native Americans, etc.

I'm surprised the Asian American community hasn't tried to claim him considering he grew up in Indonesia and Hawaii and his sister is half Indonesian and married to a Chinese guy.

[Hekate]

6. Asians and Asian Americans have also "claimed" Obama

Just after his 2008 election I read a most interesting article from The Bangkok Post called "The Mindful Candidate: Seeing Barack Obama's historic campaign in a Buddhist light" by Nash Siamwalla. http://www.bangkokpost.com//211108_Realtime/21Nov2008_real001.php

Sadly, my link to the long November 2008 article no longer works, but here is the opening paragraph:

It is my belief that Barack Obama's successful presidential campaign, which was based on the concept of "change we can believe in," and its underlying message are synonymous with Buddhist self-transformation. In Buddhism, people who are transformed become selfless and dedicated to serving others. This is what many people felt when they watched the broadcast of Obama giving his somber, determined victory speech in Chicago on election night. >snip<

As for Asian Americans, google brings up quite a few articles. I remember an early article about how he was the "first Asian American president," by Jeff Yang at SFGate. Fortunately this link works: http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/ASIAN-POP-Could-Obama-be-the-first-Asian-2481103.php

Hekate

edited to correct second link

[Cha]

5. Bless their hearts! Thanks babylonsistah!

‘Barack Black Eagle: He Who Helps People Throughout the Land’ (Link)


White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Interior Department in Washington, December 5

http://theobamadiary.com/