Obama appoints American Indian adviser after promising tribes more representation

Obama appoints American Indian adviser

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will have an American Indian adviser in the White House to counsel him on tribal issues, a new post he promised while campaigning on Indian reservations last year.

Obama on Monday appointed Kimberly Teehee as a senior policy adviser for Native American affairs, saying she will provide “a direct interface at the highest level” of his administration and will ensure a voice for American Indians as policy decisions are made. Teehee is a member of the Cherokee Nation and has worked for Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Mich., for the last decade.

Teehee will be a member of Obama’s domestic policy council, which advises him and serves as a liaison with Congress.