Obama pledges new era for federal-Indian relations

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: May 19, 2008 at 7:38 PM MST

Story Updated: May 19, 2008 at 7:38 PM MST

CROW AGENCY - Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama pledged to usher in a new era of honest federal dealings with Indian tribes, as he campaigned on the Crow Indian Reservation Monday.

Obama told several thousand American Indian supporters that he would honor long-ignored treaty obligations and revamp health care and education on reservations across the United States. He says such services have long suffered due to inadequate funding and the much criticized oversight of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Earlier, in a private ceremony, the candidate was adopted into the Black Eagle family of the tribe under a name that means "One Who Helps People Throughout the Land." Obama called it an enormous honor, but said he was still struggling to learn how to pronounce his Indian name.

Tribal representatives from across Montana said it was the first time such a high-profile candidate had appeared on one of the state's reservations.

Wednesday, May 21 at 3:18 PM Glen wrote ...

In this age of correctness, why do black people call themselves african-americans? this would suggest that they were born in africa and then became U S citizens. it seems to me that they are seperating themselves from the rest of us.I am an american of dutch heritage, are these people not americans of african heritage?

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