California Nations Indian Gaming Association Applauds President Obama for Establishing White House Council on Native American Affairs

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) wishes to express our appreciation to President Obama for the Executive Order establishing the White House Council on Native American Affairs.  President Obama declared it the policy of the United States to recognize the inherent sovereignty of our Indian nations and tribes, to promote Indian sovereignty and tribal self-government, and to respect treaty rights.

President Obama also recognized the historical mistreatment of Indian nations and tribes and how that has hurt our communities.  President Obama has made it the official policy of the United States to promote the prosperity of Indian nations and tribes.

We look forward to working with the Secretary of the Interior and the new White House Council on Native American Affairs, which will include the Departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Ag, Commerce, Labor, HHS, HUD, Energy, Education, U.S. Trade Rep, OMB, EPA, SBA, CEQ, and White House Intergovernmental, among others.

Chairman Daniel J. Tucker, said, "We worked together with Great Plains, Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, Council of Large Tribes, United South and Eastern Tribes to call for a National Council of Native Nations.  President Obama responded to that call with the new White House Council on Native American Affairs.  We applaud the excellent leadership that the President has provided for Native Americans!"

The California Nations Indian Gaming Association is a non-profit association comprised of federally recognized tribal governments dedicated to the protection of tribal sovereignty and the right of tribes to have gaming on Indian lands.

SOURCE California Nations Indian Gaming Association