Congressional Baby Caucus and Native American Caucus meet to discuss early childhood development and cultural traditions

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Denny Rehberg (MT), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), and Dale Kildee (MI-5) held a joint briefing from the Congressional Baby Caucus and Native American Caucus today, focused on better understanding strategies to improve the lives of Native American children and how public policy supports them and their families.

The Congressional Baby Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Rehberg and DeLauro, champions awareness and investment in what is best for children from the earliest stages of infancy. The Caucus focuses on a broad range of issues including nutrition, child care, basic needs for babies, health care and the effects of trauma. This meeting is the third session of the Caucus held this Congress.

The Native American Caucus, co-chaired by Representative Kildee, focuses on the variety of issues facing Native Americans today, specifically education, health, and tribal values. The briefing held today discussed the legacy of historical cultural trauma, tribal values and beliefs have endured and can provide a wealth of cultural strengths—extended family networks, parenting and child-rearing beliefs, tribal traditions—that can support the early development of infants and toddlers.

Speakers at the briefing included Carol J. Mills of the Ojibway Nation, Early Head Start Senior Training Project Specialist, and ZERO TO THREE, Annie Belcourt, Ph.D., a Blackfeet, Chippewa, Mandan & Hidatsa Enrolled Tribal Member, and Assistant Professor at the University of Montana, Tina Saunooke, M.S., Grantee of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Former Head Start Director, and Geri Henchy of the Food Research and Action Center.
 
“Too often, policies written in Washington, D.C. don’t adequately address the unique challenges that people in Indian Country are facing,” said Congressman Rehberg.  “As Montana’s Congressman, I have a responsibility to educate my colleagues about issues young Native children face every day.  Once we understand the root causes and cultural context, we can work with Tribal leaders to develop initiatives that provide these children with access to the health care, nutrition and education they need to grow and develop.  Raising healthy children is the key to strengthening our Native families and communities.  I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Baby Caucus and the House Native American Caucus to implement some of the ideas that were shared with us today.”

“I was so impressed with our panelists today. They talked about the many challenges Native American children face, but also about resilience factors such as extended family, parenting and cultural practices and immersion programs that focus on traditional culture and language,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “There is no better way to spend our education and health care dollars than to fund programs for early childhood development, and we must keep working to ensure that they are responsive to and appreciative of the unique cultural reality of Native American life.”

Additional Contacts: Kaelan Richards, (DeLauro), 202-225-3661  /  Erin Donar, (Kildee), 202-225-3611