FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           OTJ

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1998                                (202) 616 2765

                                                 TDD (202) 514 1888

 
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO HOLD CONFERENCE ON

ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY IN INDIAN COUNTRY

 
	WASHINGTON, D.C.    In an effort to empower Indian
communities to achieve economic self sufficiency, the Clinton
Administration will host an inter agency conference that will
address strategies for building strong tribal economies and
business opportunities in Indian Country.

	Historically, the United States pledged in its treaties with
Indian tribes to preserve Indian reservations as "permanent
homes" for Indian peoples, but the large, western Indian
reservations are often comprised of unproductive lands in remote
areas.  

	Although a few Indian tribes have made recent gains through
Indian gaming, most reservation economies continue to lag far
behind the Nation as a whole.  For example, 31% of American
Indians and Alaska Natives live below the poverty line. 
Unemployment rates in Indian Country far exceed the national
average, with unemployment reaching above 50% on some of the
larger Indian reservations according to Bureau of Indian Affairs
Labor Statistics.

	Administration officials seek to build better understanding
and to support working relationships between tribal governments
and private industry.  

	"We must all work together to create economic opportunity
throughout Indian Country," said Attorney General Janet Reno. 
"It is inexcusable that so many American Indians and Alaska
Natives continue to be among the poorest people in the nation,
and have so little opportunity to make progress due to the
remoteness of their reservation lands."

	The conference, entitled "Building Economic Self Determination in Indian Communities" will be sponsored by the
White House and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce,
Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban
Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, Transportation, the
Treasury, and Small Business Administration and will educate
tribal and business leaders about economic opportunities in
Indian Country.

	Federal programs that promote economic development include:
the Small Business Administration's HUB Zones program;
Agriculture rural development program; Interior Indian Finance
Act; and, Commerce Economic Development Administration programs.

  	The conference will be held in Washington on August 5 6,
1998.  Tribal leaders and interested businesses who would like to
attend should call Angela Hammond, Conference Coordinator with
the Justice Department's Office of Tribal Justice at 202/514 9078.  Members of the media who wish to attend should call
Christine DiBartolo with the Office of Public Affairs at 202/616 2765.

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