"I was just thinking--I was recently--I gave the commencement speech at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute."
"Sometimes the unemployment rate is as high as 50 or 60 percent, and it just seems that those are opportunities that we could increase in those areas."
"The reports of abuse, fraud, and mismanagement were deeply troubling to me as a parent, as an advocate for equity in education, and as a policy maker."
"I am also deeply disappointed to see that BIA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary John Tahsuda and BIE Director Tony Dearman are not here today to testify, despite an invitation from Chairman Grijalv..."
"I am disheartened that Mr. Tahsuda and Director Dearman, both of whom were invited to testify today, chose not to come."
"I find that to be entirely unfair and unjust, but I believe that it does a great disservice to the students and staff at the school."
"BIE must be held accountable for their inaction in response to the concerns raised about Chemawa."
"Because really when I think about the opportunities in our Native American communities, sometimes the unemployment rate is as high as 50 or 60 percent, and it just seems that those are opportunities t..."
"During the 5 months I have been in office I have met with over 300 Indian tribes and tribal organizations, and 90 percent of the time the issue they raise the most is the lack of tribal consultation p..."
"What happened during the reorganization was a clear breach of the Interior's policy to consult with tribes."
"It seems that we are both in agreement that if the Interior makes a unilateral decision on a policy that impacts tribes in this country, then there has not been adequate tribal consultation."
"I can confidently tell you that no tribal leader that I have talked to understands what the agency is doing."