MISSOULA - Janine Pease, a citizen of the Crow Nation, was anxious to hear presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's speech Saturday at the Montana Democratic Party state dinner in Butte.

"I have always been impressed with her," Pease, a Montana Board of Regents member, said. She said Clinton's Native policy platform closely matches her own concerns for Native Americans, particularly Clinton's recognition of the tribal and federal government-to-government relationship and her support of early childhood and adult education programs.

Pease also embraces Clinton's record on women's and children's issues. "As a grandmother, I think having a president with that kind of sensitivity has a great deal to do with our Native American children."

Clinton's agenda covers 11 key areas, including appointing Native people to key positions in federal departments and agencies and increasing the Indian Health Service budget to supporting tribal government rights in adopting and regulating environmental policies.

Many of her agenda items were developed from 1993 to 2001.

"It's a carryover from her husband's policy," Arlan Melendez, chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Nevada said. "We knew what her relationship was with tribes - basically honoring the government-to-government relationship and our stance on sovereignty."

Melendez helped Clinton refine her proposed Native policy statement.

"The premise of the whole platform was in making sure we had access to her should she become president," he said, noting tribal leaders have sought reassurance from Clinton to honor a November 2000 executive order signed by President Clinton that called for a consultation process with tribes to develop federal Indian policy.

"That still sticks in the minds of tribal leaders," Melendez said.

During Bill Clinton's presidency, Hillary Clinton as first lady took center stage in organizing economic development meetings with tribes, Melendez said. "We were impressed with her active role."

Melendez said one of the first presidential consultation priorities with tribes should be a discussion about the Interior Department's modernization attempts within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "We're skeptical," he said. "I think many tribes have a problem with the Office of the Special Trustee. It's dramatically affected tribes. It's detrimental."

Tribal leaders from all seven reservations in Montana planned to attend Saturday's Montana Democratic Party dinner. More than 4,000 people were expected to attend the event, which featured campaign speeches from Sens. Clinton and Barack Obama. Tribal leaders were seated with high-profile members of the party.

"I think both campaigns are making concerted efforts to reach to Native Americans," Kevin O'Brien, spokesman for the Montana Democratic Party said.

State Sen. Carol Juneau, a Mandan-Hidatsa who lives on the Blackfeet Reservation, planned toattend the dinner and a Sunday brunch fundraiser in Missoula for Clinton. "She's been my choice since the beginning," the lifelong educator said. "She has a strong Native American platform."

Juneau believes Clinton will improve existing substandard health-care conditions for Native people. She said health care is "perhaps the strongest issue among tribes throughout the nation. Her efforts and fight for health care across America includes Native Americans."

Melendez said Clinton, who co-sponsored the Indian Health Care Improvement Act amendment of 2007, understands the federal trust responsibility to tribal health care and knows how the Indian Health Service operates.

Melendez said Clinton has visited many reservations throughout the country. In February, The New York senator earned the political endorsement of Joe Shirley, president of the Navajo Nation, the largest tribe in the country.

"We understand her track record," Melendez said. "Anyone else, we would be skeptical. Obama will be pulled in so many directions by the African-American community. We wonder if he'll even have time to address Native American issues or even meet with us. We don't feel he knows Indian Country from hands-on experience."

Contact Jodi Rave 800-366-7186 or jodi.rave@lee.net.