Tribal Council Doing Business At Obama Inauguration

Tools

Story Published: Jan 19, 2009 at 6:37 PM PDT

By Steve Wellman

Watch the story
Among all the crowds and hoopla in Washington, D.C., Yakama Nation leaders will get up close and personal with lawmakers, hoping to open the cash pipeline.

"It's always great to have a name and a face for all the documentation that's being presented,"
says council president Ralph Sampson, Jr. Sampson and others in a tribal delegation will knock on many doors. "Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell and Doc Hastings, as well as the Department of Justice," Sampson explains.

Tribal reps might enjoy the pageantry of the inauguration but Yakama nation business will be just as important.

Steve Wellman stands in front of the Yakama Nation casino in Toppenish. "This casino makes a good amount of money for the Tribal Nation but leaders say they're not getting their fair share of the federal money that should be coming to them. They're hoping to change all that this week in Washington."

Issues range from healthcare to construction projects awaiting federal bucks.

Sampson says "We want to expand Fort Road from the junction of hwy 97 out to Robbins road. We've been trying to seek funding for a number of years."

Fixing high unemployment is also on the wish list.

Fidelia Andy, member of the Tribal Council says "We need to get funding in those areas so we can have more jobs for our tribal members.

One more thing. The inauguration gives the council a chance to network with other tribes...something they've already gotten a head start on.

"We've had members of our council meeting the past couple of months with leaders of the northwest tribes here,” says Council secretary Portia Shields

The Tribal Council will be Washington, D.C. during one of the biggest parties in history. But they’re planning on coming away with business taken care of.

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.

Stay Connected