James Lankford

You have spent a great deal of your time serving, so thanks for doing that.

Oklahoma tribes have been incredibly successful on the whole and there are many things that can be shared with other tribes.

What have you seen, as far as the success rate in the 8(a) programs, as far as, at the end of that 9 years; by your 10, 11, 12, that business still exists?

What can the Federal government do away with to help tribes in their economic development?

It's a very difficult process to launch a business in America.

If we really as a country wanted to make a commitment to Native American entrepreneurs, we could do that through doing that same type of program.

I am pleased that this Committee is elevating the issue of economic success in Indian Country.

Thank you for being here and the way that you invest in your tribe.

I think what's important--part of that mission said that the Federal government probably ought to have is how do you start eliminating those programs that make sense to eliminate--to wean that dependency on Federal structure.

From an economic development point of view, what can tribes do to become more economically diverse?

If it's not possible to do that--if a business or a home or whatever it may be, is still locked into that system, you can't build a growing sense of wealth.

There's still a lot of work to be done to ensure Native American children grow up with the same opportunities as every American child.

Our tribes are a model for tribes around the country on economic development, education, health care, and countless other areas.

Good evening, everyone. I'd like to call to order this field hearing of this Senate Indian of Affairs Committee.

This is a very important conversation.

So it takes an act of Congress, literally, to move water from one area to another area within a State.

Best time to be able to negotiate this, in a time of drought or a time of plenty?

If the tribes don't work together, if they are not trying to work out their differences... then you have a really fractured situation.

To speak from Montana's experience, to get to State legislative approval, the negotiations generally have gone on and off oftentimes for a decade.

I would advise the State of Oklahoma and its political leadership to look to Montana as a means of trying to create a framework for moving forward on resolving these matters.

The State of Montana did something very important. They statutorily recognized the Winters doctrine and the primacy of Indian water rights.

Gentlemen, thank you for being here. I appreciate the conversation on this. These are obviously extremely complicated issues.

The federal government has a responsibility to uphold its commitments to Native Americans.

I think we need--or if there is going to be demonstration, for instance, the demonstration project authority we have now is awkward, bulky, and it was set up in 1978.

OK. Any other ideas on that specifically?