Obama reaches out to Native Americans

President Obama, addressing a rare gathering of leaders of all 564 federally recognized Native American tribes, pledged this morning to give them full access to America's opportunities and get their relationship with the federal government "right."

Opening the White House Tribal Nations Conference, where each recognized tribe was invited to send one representative, Obama said his election a year ago promised "meaningful change for those too long excluded from American dream" -- and that Native Americans were perhaps the most marginalized of all.

While the tribal leaders are right to be skeptical given the bloody history, Obama said he will make sure they have the ear of top administration officials who will work with them on issues such as unemployment.

After all, he noted, he is an adopted Native American. In May 2008 while campaigning for president, Obama became the first candidate to visit the Montana reservation of the Crow Nation and was adopted under the Crow name "One Who Helps People Throughout the Land." In the ceremony, he was escorted by his adoptive parents, Hartford and Mary Black Eagle.

"Only in America could the adopted son of Crow Indians could become president of the United States," Obama said today.

His full remarks, plus exchanges with tribal leaders, are below: