| “This is an opportunity to tell our story by meeting with people who create policy and fund investments that our communities need to build the foundation for future generations so families cannot only remain in our communities but thrive in our communities,” Chairman Van Zile said. “Rural communities are being gutted by lack of economic opportunity, lack of broadband access, lack of housing, lack of access to healthcare due to inability to recruit healthcare professionals to address a variety of medical and mental health challenges—not the least of which is addiction, resulting, in part or in full, from all of the items I just mentioned in a majority of rural communities.”
“It is equally important,” Chairman Van Zile added, “to ensure Administration Officials also understand that rural communities require innovative approaches along with investment, so we don’t give up environmental and other factors that make rural communities appealing places to live, work and play.”
“The pandemic shined a bright light on many challenges in rural communities,” Chairman Van Zile continued. “One glaring example of rural community vulnerability during the pandemic was how lack of broadband access impacted our children, who are our future. They could not continue their studies remotely during the pandemic. Our rural kids were not able to participate in education because broadband access does not exist in many rural communities. To address these and other challenges, our Tribe is working with federal, state, county, city, and town leaders, as well as private sector partners, higher education and foundations, to address these issues and grow our communities. This program is another step in the right direction to revitalizing rural communities.” |
