RAPID CITY, S.D.-Vying for the core support of the largest Native American tribe Sen. Barack Obama met on Saturday with Navajo Nation Vice President Ben Shelly at a town hall meeting with the candidate.

“I was very pleased to meet with Senator Obama,” said Vice President Shelly. “I was notthere to make an endorsement,” said the vice president, “but instead to show Senator Obamawhat Navajo is doing and to instead ask for his support.”

Vice President Shelly joined Oglala Sioux President John Yellow Bird Steele during the
meeting with the presidential candidate, where the vice president talked about some of today’s challenges and how important youth are to the future of the Navajo Nation. During their conversation, he said the Navajo people need jobs and economic prosperity to bring younger technical school and college graduates back to Navajo.

“We have the largest land base and the largest population. We also have the manpower and an intellectual community made up of recent graduates to fuel a self-sufficient Nation,” said Vice President Shelly.

Vice President Shelly also gave an overview of issues important to the Navajo Nation, such as investing in energy, bettering healthcare for Navajos and Navajo veterans, and buildingon economic business initiatives.

“I expressed to Senator Obama we’re building our economy but we have challenges with basic infrastructure,” said Vice President Shelly. “We know the federal government can assist. During my visit, I gave him a point-of-reference list on our issues,” said Vice President Shelly. “Our emphasis on renewable energy got his attention. He said he views renewable energy as an opportunity to create economic development in rural tribal communities.”

Navajo Nation