Release No.  0324 .98

Remarks                           OF 
               AGRICULTURE SECRETARY DAN GLICKMAN
        WHITE HOUSE DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL CONFERENCE: 
   BUILDING ECONOMIC SELF-DETERMINATION IN INDIAN COMMUNITIES
               WASHINGTON, D.C. -- AUGUST 5, 1998

     "Thank you, Bob [Miller]. Bob was part of my delegation to Oklahoma to
visit drought-stricken farmers. He joined me at the White House for a meeting
with President Clinton on civil rights and agriculture. He introduced me when
I had the honor of addressing the Intertribal Agriculture Council. Now, here
we are again. 

     "I feel a bit sheepish when I'm asked to talked about agriculture to a
mostly American Indian audience. I grew up in the city of Wichita, Kansas. I
took my first tractor ride the first time I ran for office ... almost ruined
my friend's wheat field, too. Indians, on the other hand, were the original
North American farmers -- working the land some 7,000 years before European
settlers arrived. Over half the world's crops today have their roots in
centuries-old fields in the Americas.

     "So I'm glad to be here not to talk so much about agriculture today, but
our rural communities tomorrow. A wise man once said  the only difference
between the short-term and the long-term is that in the long-term, we're all
dead.' The Iroquois teach a wiser lesson. They teach that we are the keepers
of seven generations; that we should make decisions not only for ourselves,
but also for the children of our great grandchildren's great grandchildren.
That is a lesson for all people -- one that should shape not only how we care
for the earth, but how we treat one another as well.

     "I'm proud to work for a President who held the first gathering of all
the tribal leaders at the White House ... who formed the first permanent White
House Working Group on American Indians and Alaska Natives ... and who signed
the first ever executive orders on sacred sites and on tribal colleges. We are
here today to talk about the very foundation of self-determination. If our
goal is a strong government-to-government relationship that is evident not
just on paper, but in tribal communities across this land, then all of us --
tribal leaders, government leaders, business leaders -- have to make a strong,
shared commitment not just to economic development, but economic empowerment.
And, I want to thank you all for making that commitment today. 

     "There is no stronger sign of this Administration's commitment than your
guest list. I have been Secretary of Agriculture for a little over three
years. I can count on one hand the number of conferences I've attended where
folks heard from the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Interior and Labor,
the Attorney General, and the President of the United States.

     "That says something: This is an Administration that from the top on
down is committed to strengthening the ties that bind our nations, and making
this a land of opportunity for all our people. Of course, everyone in this
room knows that is easier said than done, particularly in Indian country where
unemployment often exceeds 50%; where nearly half of young children live in
poverty; where per capita income is roughly half the U.S. average. 

     "These are statistics you will hear over and over again during this
conference. But if we are to change these statistics, then we need to get at
their roots. Some are intertwined with the rural way of life: Lack of access
to capital, and remote, dispersed populations are challenges facing many rural
communities. Other roadblocks are unique, such as a lack of understanding and
communication across Indian and non-Indian lines.

     "We certainly have experienced this at USDA. We are in the midst of our
own civil rights movement. We're changing the way we do business. We're a more
diverse department -- one that's better able to serve all the people we are
here to serve. And, if you want to work at USDA today, you have to live a
simple rule: Treat every customer and co-worker fairly and equitably, with
dignity and respect. It's the golden rule: Treat others as you'd like to be
treated yourself. 

     "We've enacted close to 100 recommendations for change -- from a new
foreclosure policy to ensure people don't lose their land to discrimination to
a small farms report that addresses the intersecting pressures of race,
economics and rural life which threaten our family farm heritage.

     "We came up with these changes after talking to people across the
country. One of the most powerful moments in our listening sessions occurred
at Window Rock, Arizona, where an American Indian woman -- after hearing for
the first time about all of USDA's programs -- stood up and said that in
tribal communities, most of our programs  seem to be a well-kept secret.'
Well, I am here today, and we have people working every day to ensure our
secret gets out. 

     "I'd like to introduce Mary McNeil. Mary, could you stand up? Many of
you know Mary already. She's a Winnebago. She is also USDA's tireless director
of Native American Programs. Also, speaking after me is Jill Long-Thompson,
our Undersecretary for Rural Development, and a member of the White House
Working Group on American Indians and Alaska Natives.

OUTREACH ANNOUNCEMENT
     "USDA also has a strong partnership with the Intertribal Agriculture
Council which plays an invaluable role in our outreach efforts. Today, I'd
like to announce $1 million in new and renewed commitments to outreach in
tribal communities. USDA will spend $500,000 to continue our outreach work
with the Intertribal Agriculture Council and several tribal colleges. 

     "We've also committed an additional $500,000 to expand the reach of our
efforts to include Minnesota through White Earth Community College, the
Dakotas through Fort Berthold Community College, and Montana through Fort Peck
Community College. Fort Peck also will use the funds to create an Internet
learning network, so all tribal colleges can offer agriculture degrees. 

     "Now, that I've shared with you who's helping us with outreach. I'd like
to reach out to all of you. I hope that all of you get the chance to pick up a
copy of USDA's  Guide to USDA Programs for American Indians and Alaska
Natives. It's available across from the registration table, as well as at the
Rural Development booth. This book runs through virtually every USDA program,
and how tribal communities can get access to our resources. As government
budgets come down, it's important that people know all the programs out there.
                                
     "Most folks know that USDA has something to do with farming. We have
credit, conservation and extension programs -- all the traditional stuff one
associates with production agriculture. I hope soon to have an additional
program for Indian livestock producers. We are in the final stages of getting
approval for an American Indian Livestock Feed program which will provide
$12.5 million in cash assistance to tribes whose livestock operations were
hard-hit by disasters. Originally, that number was $8 million. I asked that it
be increased. So it's a large program. We've had to jump through a number of
hoops. But I promised this help to the tribes, and I intend to keep my
promise, and get this help out to producers as quickly as we can. 
 
     
     
     "Beyond agriculture, a lot of folks also know that USDA is America's
anti-hunger department. Food stamps, the food distribution program on Indian
reservations, school lunches and breakfasts, the Women, Infants and Children
nutrition program -- are all run out of USDA.

     "But it may surprise you to know that every year USDA helps thousands of
families buy, build or rent their own home. We spend millions of dollars every
year bringing safe, running water to rural homes and communities. We are the
lender of last resort not just for farmers, but all rural businesses that have
a hard time getting credit. USDA is the department of rural America, and we
spend billions of dollars a year getting the job done right. 

USDA & INDIAN COUNTRY
     "Since 1993, USDA has given more than $55 million to start or expand
tribal businesses. And, we've dramatically stepped up our funding in this area
over the past 2 1/2 years. 

     "We also understand that economic development is about more than just
business development. Every community needs the basic infrastructure that
makes a town whole, that provides the foundation for a strong economy. For
example, USDA has helped several tribes start their own phone company. Five
years ago on the Tohono O'dom reservation in Arizona, only 13% of homes and
businesses had a phone. Today, it's more than 90%. Think about it: How many
economic doors are closed if you can't receive a phone call?  

     "Water is another example. So far this year, USDA's given $13.8 million
to help tribes bring safe, reliable, running water to their people. We also
give millions of dollars to tribes in remote areas, so they can harness
communications technology to improve access to education, so younger
generations are ready and able to compete in  the Information Age.'

     "Since 1993, USDA has given $56 million to American Indian and Alaska
Native communities to finance child care facilities, fire and emergency
services, high schools, colleges, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and
museums. In the four years before this Administration, only $1.9 million was
given to Indian country for these facilities. We've beaten that record 30
times over.

     "All told, from facilities, to water, to housing, to health care, to
education, USDA under the Clinton Administration has increased by 10-fold the
rural development dollars flowing into tribal communities. But as the
President likes to say: Ours is a record to build on, not sit on.


RURAL COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM
     "One area we need to watch is the Rural Community Advancement Program.
Every year, President Clinton asks that a percentage of these funds go
specifically to tribal economic development efforts. This year, that adds up
to about  $21 million which goes to the kinds of efforts I just described:
water and facilities, as well as traditional economic development. It is money
that can do a world of good. And, it's money that I'd encourage you to keep
your eye on. Congress currently is finalizing the agriculture appropriations
bill. The Senate approved the funding, the House did not. I'll leave you to
decide which is best. 

RURAL BUSINESS GRANTS
     "But I would like to announce 3 rural business enterprise grants that I
can award today. The first, for $24,500, is for the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin,
so they can explore ways to process and market value-added products from white
corn. We know that when communities grow and process and directly sell the
food they grow, far more of that food dollar stays in the community. The
second grant, for $99,800, will help livestock producers in Arizona's Navajo
Nation build a state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot corral. And, the final
grant, for $180,000, goes to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians to build a
manufacturing facility for window shades, and train folks there to fill 30 new
job slots, and hopefully more in the future.

     "The President will make another announcement tomorrow. For now, I'll
just say that USDA is very excited and proud of our role in that effort ...
How's that for a cliffhanger?

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
     "I should add that we also work closely with the tribal colleges on
economic development. USDA currently has 4 National Center of Excellence
partnerships with tribal colleges near low-income rural areas. Each university
got $50,000 from USDA. One is developing a computer science degree and
starting a business training program; another offers economic development
workshops; another now has an internship program to promote agriculture and
other business opportunities; one even bought small cattle and sheep herds for
a youth program to encourage ranching. 

     "We know today that good government, and a strong government-to-government relationship are about tapping into the local groups and
institutions that care most about the fate of a community. You can see this
theme of community empowerment and self determination throughout USDA's
programs. I believe it offers a roadmap for what strong relations can mean for
all our people.

UMATILLA INTERPRETIVE CENTER
     "I'll give you one last example. It comes courtesy of the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian reservation who for almost a decade pursued the
development of an interpretive center detailing the Oregon Trail experience
from the American Indian perspective. 

     "Thanks to almost $14 million in USDA loans and grants, the tribes
realized their dream. 
Last week, the center opened -- complete with offices, indoor/outdoor museum,
gift shop and cafe. The exhibit features recordings of tribal members relaying
oral history, artwork from the Crow's Shadow art institute, and TV exhibits of
modern-day activities. 

     "You'll hear more about this effort on the next panel. I would just add
that this center is more than just a cultural triumph. It employs 35 people,
and expects 100,000 visitors this year ... people who will visit that cafe and
gift shop and spend $2 million a year there. They're estimating $5 million a
year in increased economic activity in the region as a whole.

     "The theme of the center is worth sharing. It is:  we were, we are, we
will be.' That could be the theme of this conference. I am proud of the new
chapter in the history of our nations that this Administration and tribal
leaders are writing together. It is a chapter that I hope -- seven generations
from today -- all of our descendants can be proud of -- a chapter that
produces a shared legacy of healthy economies, a healthy earth, and healthy
relations between all the people of this great land. 

Thank you."
                                

                                #

NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet. 
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov