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Orem • Representatives of roughly two dozen American Indian tribes will gather this week at the annual Governor's Native American Summit at Utah Valley University.

The two-day event, which concludes on Tuesday, features tribal, government and community leaders from Utah and surrounding states.

Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox kicked off the summit on Monday with a speech on the summit's theme of "Weaving Our Future Together – Love, Family and Community."

Cox remarked on the challenges facing many native populations, including a lack of economic opportunity and access to education and healthcare.

He said that like a woven blanket, effective communities combine the efforts of individuals to create something strong, durable and beautiful.

"Communities woven together with this collective purpose can do so much more than we can do on our own," he said.

David BrownEagle, a member of the Spokane Tribe Business Council, spoke on individual responsibility, saying American Indians must be the "I" in family, community and tribe.

"All of us together is our power," he said.

Shirlee Silversmith, director of the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, said the summit is intended to foster collaboration between tribal and state leaders.

"We may not always see eye-to-eye on issues," she said. "But we can at least continue to work together to make the best of a situation."

When the annual summit began 11 years ago, Silversmith said, attendance was small, consisting largely of tribal leaders and their staff.

After being appointed director six years ago, Silversmith saw the summit as a venue for networking and to educate non-native members of the public on the challenges facing American Indian populations in Utah and the Intermountain West, she said.

Those challenges require "out-of-the-box thinking," Silversmith said, and the Division of Indian Affairs and other summit organizers hope to provide a venue to share and develop innovative ideas.

"If you look at where the reservations are located," she said, "they are located in very rural, remote areas of the state where oftentimes they don't have access to the amenities that promote economic development."

UVU President Matthew Holland said he first visited the Navajo Nation when he was 8 years old, and that the experience left an impression he has never forgotten.

He said finding common ground and respect are crucial to overcoming obstacles that deprive some individuals of opportunity.

"Too often we've let religion come between us or politics come between us," Holland said. "The best Americans at our best moments always knew that it starts with love."

Silversmith said she is pleased with the growth of the summit, which now sees larger attendance and a full slate of programming with speakers, panel discussions and sessions on topics like education and activism.

"Going from less than 100 [people] to 500-plus people that attend this summit is huge growth," she said.

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