West River Eagle

Chairman Frazier criticizes White House Tribal Nations Summit



The White House hosted the first Tribal Nations Summit since 2016 in a two-day conference in mid-November. Leaders from the 574 federally recognized Tribes discussed Tribal education, healthcare, education, climate change, economic and workforce development, infrastructure, housing, and treaty rights.

Harold Frazier, the chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST), criticized President Joe Biden after the Summit in a statement issued Thursday, November 18 and said that the Summit was only a “show” put on by the current administration.

“I waited two days for the opportunity to inform someone about what is actually happening here on the Cheyenne River reservation to no avail. The show put on by the current administration has left myself and a majority of Indian country without a voice, and more blatantly, without action,” Frazier said. 

While calling out the White House for excluding the Indian Health Service (IHS) from COVID-19 discussions during the Summit, Frazier pointed out the dire healthcare needs on his reservation. “Like it or not the IHS is our healthcare provider and is all we have to care for us and stand in front of the pandemic,” he continued. “Currently, my people are sitting in Indian Health Service hospital waiting rooms for more than 36 hours desperately in need of attention and cannot even be admitted to a bed.” IHS provides direct medical and public health services to more than two million members of federally-recognized indigenous tribes. Yet, the agency was not represented at the Summit.

Frazier invited Biden to see firsthand the healthcare issues CRST members face on a daily basis. “I expected more from this presidency and when you look at the voting map, you will clearly see that all of us here did as well. You have had your Tribal Nations show, now give us some Tribal Nations action. It will not get done on your computer screen and it is high time you came here to see for yourself,” stated Frazier.

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