Release No. 0324 .98 Remarks OF AGRICULTURE SECRETARY DAN GLICKMAN WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL CONFERENCE: BUILDING ECONOMIC SELF-DETERMINATION IN INDIAN COMMUNITIES WASHINGTON, D.C. -- AUGUST 5, 1998 "Thank you, Bob [Miller]. Bob was part of my delegation to Oklahoma to visit drought-stricken farmers. He joined me at the White House for a meeting with President Clinton on civil rights and agriculture. He introduced me when I had the honor of addressing the Intertribal Agriculture Council. Now, here we are again. "I feel a bit sheepish when I'm asked to talked about agriculture to a mostly American Indian audience. I grew up in the city of Wichita, Kansas. I took my first tractor ride the first time I ran for office ... almost ruined my friend's wheat field, too. Indians, on the other hand, were the original North American farmers -- working the land some 7,000 years before European settlers arrived. Over half the world's crops today have their roots in centuries-old fields in the Americas. "So I'm glad to be here not to talk so much about agriculture today, but our rural communities tomorrow. A wise man once said the only difference between the short-term and the long-term is that in the long-term, we're all dead.' The Iroquois teach a wiser lesson. They teach that we are the keepers of seven generations; that we should make decisions not only for ourselves, but also for the children of our great grandchildren's great grandchildren. That is a lesson for all people -- one that should shape not only how we care for the earth, but how we treat one another as well. "I'm proud to work for a President who held the first gathering of all the tribal leaders at the White House ... who formed the first permanent White House Working Group on American Indians and Alaska Natives ... and who signed the first ever executive orders on sacred sites and on tribal colleges. We are here today to talk about the very foundation of self-determination. If our goal is a strong government-to-government relationship that is evident not just on paper, but in tribal communities across this land, then all of us -- tribal leaders, government leaders, business leaders -- have to make a strong, shared commitment not just to economic development, but economic empowerment. And, I want to thank you all for making that commitment today. "There is no stronger sign of this Administration's commitment than your guest list. I have been Secretary of Agriculture for a little over three years. I can count on one hand the number of conferences I've attended where folks heard from the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior and Labor, the Attorney General, and the President of the United States. "That says something: This is an Administration that from the top on down is committed to strengthening the ties that bind our nations, and making this a land of opportunity for all our people. Of course, everyone in this room knows that is easier said than done, particularly in Indian country where unemployment often exceeds 50%; where nearly half of young children live in poverty; where per capita income is roughly half the U.S. average. "These are statistics you will hear over and over again during this conference. But if we are to change these statistics, then we need to get at their roots. Some are intertwined with the rural way of life: Lack of access to capital, and remote, dispersed populations are challenges facing many rural communities. Other roadblocks are unique, such as a lack of understanding and communication across Indian and non-Indian lines. "We certainly have experienced this at USDA. We are in the midst of our own civil rights movement. We're changing the way we do business. We're a more diverse department -- one that's better able to serve all the people we are here to serve. And, if you want to work at USDA today, you have to live a simple rule: Treat every customer and co-worker fairly and equitably, with dignity and respect. It's the golden rule: Treat others as you'd like to be treated yourself. "We've enacted close to 100 recommendations for change -- from a new foreclosure policy to ensure people don't lose their land to discrimination to a small farms report that addresses the intersecting pressures of race, economics and rural life which threaten our family farm heritage. "We came up with these changes after talking to people across the country. One of the most powerful moments in our listening sessions occurred at Window Rock, Arizona, where an American Indian woman -- after hearing for the first time about all of USDA's programs -- stood up and said that in tribal communities, most of our programs seem to be a well-kept secret.' Well, I am here today, and we have people working every day to ensure our secret gets out. "I'd like to introduce Mary McNeil. Mary, could you stand up? Many of you know Mary already. She's a Winnebago. She is also USDA's tireless director of Native American Programs. Also, speaking after me is Jill Long-Thompson, our Undersecretary for Rural Development, and a member of the White House Working Group on American Indians and Alaska Natives. OUTREACH ANNOUNCEMENT "USDA also has a strong partnership with the Intertribal Agriculture Council which plays an invaluable role in our outreach efforts. Today, I'd like to announce $1 million in new and renewed commitments to outreach in tribal communities. USDA will spend $500,000 to continue our outreach work with the Intertribal Agriculture Council and several tribal colleges. "We've also committed an additional $500,000 to expand the reach of our efforts to include Minnesota through White Earth Community College, the Dakotas through Fort Berthold Community College, and Montana through Fort Peck Community College. Fort Peck also will use the funds to create an Internet learning network, so all tribal colleges can offer agriculture degrees. "Now, that I've shared with you who's helping us with outreach. I'd like to reach out to all of you. I hope that all of you get the chance to pick up a copy of USDA's Guide to USDA Programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives. It's available across from the registration table, as well as at the Rural Development booth. This book runs through virtually every USDA program, and how tribal communities can get access to our resources. As government budgets come down, it's important that people know all the programs out there. "Most folks know that USDA has something to do with farming. We have credit, conservation and extension programs -- all the traditional stuff one associates with production agriculture. I hope soon to have an additional program for Indian livestock producers. We are in the final stages of getting approval for an American Indian Livestock Feed program which will provide $12.5 million in cash assistance to tribes whose livestock operations were hard-hit by disasters. Originally, that number was $8 million. I asked that it be increased. So it's a large program. We've had to jump through a number of hoops. But I promised this help to the tribes, and I intend to keep my promise, and get this help out to producers as quickly as we can. "Beyond agriculture, a lot of folks also know that USDA is America's anti-hunger department. Food stamps, the food distribution program on Indian reservations, school lunches and breakfasts, the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program -- are all run out of USDA. "But it may surprise you to know that every year USDA helps thousands of families buy, build or rent their own home. We spend millions of dollars every year bringing safe, running water to rural homes and communities. We are the lender of last resort not just for farmers, but all rural businesses that have a hard time getting credit. USDA is the department of rural America, and we spend billions of dollars a year getting the job done right. USDA & INDIAN COUNTRY "Since 1993, USDA has given more than $55 million to start or expand tribal businesses. And, we've dramatically stepped up our funding in this area over the past 2 1/2 years. "We also understand that economic development is about more than just business development. Every community needs the basic infrastructure that makes a town whole, that provides the foundation for a strong economy. For example, USDA has helped several tribes start their own phone company. Five years ago on the Tohono O'dom reservation in Arizona, only 13% of homes and businesses had a phone. Today, it's more than 90%. Think about it: How many economic doors are closed if you can't receive a phone call? "Water is another example. So far this year, USDA's given $13.8 million to help tribes bring safe, reliable, running water to their people. We also give millions of dollars to tribes in remote areas, so they can harness communications technology to improve access to education, so younger generations are ready and able to compete in the Information Age.' "Since 1993, USDA has given $56 million to American Indian and Alaska Native communities to finance child care facilities, fire and emergency services, high schools, colleges, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and museums. In the four years before this Administration, only $1.9 million was given to Indian country for these facilities. We've beaten that record 30 times over. "All told, from facilities, to water, to housing, to health care, to education, USDA under the Clinton Administration has increased by 10-fold the rural development dollars flowing into tribal communities. But as the President likes to say: Ours is a record to build on, not sit on. RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM "One area we need to watch is the Rural Community Advancement Program. Every year, President Clinton asks that a percentage of these funds go specifically to tribal economic development efforts. This year, that adds up to about $21 million which goes to the kinds of efforts I just described: water and facilities, as well as traditional economic development. It is money that can do a world of good. And, it's money that I'd encourage you to keep your eye on. Congress currently is finalizing the agriculture appropriations bill. The Senate approved the funding, the House did not. I'll leave you to decide which is best. RURAL BUSINESS GRANTS "But I would like to announce 3 rural business enterprise grants that I can award today. The first, for $24,500, is for the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, so they can explore ways to process and market value-added products from white corn. We know that when communities grow and process and directly sell the food they grow, far more of that food dollar stays in the community. The second grant, for $99,800, will help livestock producers in Arizona's Navajo Nation build a state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot corral. And, the final grant, for $180,000, goes to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians to build a manufacturing facility for window shades, and train folks there to fill 30 new job slots, and hopefully more in the future. "The President will make another announcement tomorrow. For now, I'll just say that USDA is very excited and proud of our role in that effort ... How's that for a cliffhanger? CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE "I should add that we also work closely with the tribal colleges on economic development. USDA currently has 4 National Center of Excellence partnerships with tribal colleges near low-income rural areas. Each university got $50,000 from USDA. One is developing a computer science degree and starting a business training program; another offers economic development workshops; another now has an internship program to promote agriculture and other business opportunities; one even bought small cattle and sheep herds for a youth program to encourage ranching. "We know today that good government, and a strong government-to-government relationship are about tapping into the local groups and institutions that care most about the fate of a community. You can see this theme of community empowerment and self determination throughout USDA's programs. I believe it offers a roadmap for what strong relations can mean for all our people. UMATILLA INTERPRETIVE CENTER "I'll give you one last example. It comes courtesy of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian reservation who for almost a decade pursued the development of an interpretive center detailing the Oregon Trail experience from the American Indian perspective. "Thanks to almost $14 million in USDA loans and grants, the tribes realized their dream. Last week, the center opened -- complete with offices, indoor/outdoor museum, gift shop and cafe. The exhibit features recordings of tribal members relaying oral history, artwork from the Crow's Shadow art institute, and TV exhibits of modern-day activities. "You'll hear more about this effort on the next panel. I would just add that this center is more than just a cultural triumph. It employs 35 people, and expects 100,000 visitors this year ... people who will visit that cafe and gift shop and spend $2 million a year there. They're estimating $5 million a year in increased economic activity in the region as a whole. "The theme of the center is worth sharing. It is: we were, we are, we will be.' That could be the theme of this conference. I am proud of the new chapter in the history of our nations that this Administration and tribal leaders are writing together. It is a chapter that I hope -- seven generations from today -- all of our descendants can be proud of -- a chapter that produces a shared legacy of healthy economies, a healthy earth, and healthy relations between all the people of this great land. Thank you." # NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet. Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov