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November 5, 2009

<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0> Quapaw tribal leader draws Obama's eye to Tar Creek <font color="#ff0000">w/ Obama remarks full text & video</font>

By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

John Berrey on Thursday brought the Tar Creek Superfund Site to the attention of President Barack Obama.

Berrey, chairman of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, addressed the president during a question-and-answer session after the president’s remarks at the opening of the Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C. Leaders of the country’s 564 American Indian tribes were invited to the conference.

“I have one request,” Berrey told Obama, according to the transcript on whitehouse.gov. “The Quapaw Tribe has the honor of having the largest Superfund site in the United States — (the) Tar Creek Superfund Site. We have 72 million tons of mining waste on our lands. And I would ask you to come visit and see the devastation caused by this mismanagement of tribal resources.”

Berrey asked that tribes be given the same voices as state governments in the cleanup of contaminated lands. The area in Ottawa County, Okla., is polluted by waste from decades of lead and zinc mining.

Berrey spoke from the audience to the president, who was on stage.

Obama response

“This is really important,” Obama said in response. “Obviously the whole issue of environmental integrity on tribal lands is something that too often has slipped through the cracks, or decisions have been made in the absence of consultation with the tribes.”

The president didn’t directly address the issues with the Tar Creek Superfund Site. He said improving environmental quality and addressing climate change are important priorities for his administration.

“So, I will make sure that somebody follows up directly with your tribe on this Superfund site,” Obama told Berrey.

Berrey said by phone after the event that he thought it was important to bring Tar Creek to the president’s attention.

“I just wanted to open his eyes,” Berrey said. “I think it’s the most critical issue facing Ottawa County. I just felt it was the right time.”

Berrey said he doesn’t think there has ever been a president more committed to the environment than Obama. He also said he doesn’t think there has ever been a president more committed to American Indians.

‘Wind of change’

“I think it’s big,” Berrey said of Obama’s commitment. “I was in tears today. The tribal governments that were represented, we really think President Obama is committed. There’s a real wind of change, and the government is more receptive to tribal input.”

He said he couldn’t predict if the president would accept his invitation to visit Ottawa County. Many other tribal leaders who addressed the president Thursday also invited him to visit them.

“Today was a fantastic day for tribal people,” Berrey said of the conference.

Obama in his remarks said he would make sure that the first Americans and all Americans get the opportunities they deserve.

“I know you’ve heard this song from Washington before,” Obama said. “I know you’ve often heard grand promises that sound good but rarely materialize. And each time, you’re told this time will be different. But over the last few years, I’ve had a chance to speak with Native American leaders across the country about the challenges you face, and those conversations have been deeply important to me.”





EPA involvement

John Berrey, chairman of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson talked with him about issues involving the Tar Creek Superfund Site during Thursday’s meeting.

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