Letter to the Hon. Donald J. Trump, President - Protect the White House Tribal Nations Conference and Council on Native American Affairs

Letter

The White House Tribal Nations Conference (Tribal Nations Conference) and the White House Council on Native American Affairs (White House Council) bring together Cabinet-level officials to foster cross-agency collaboration on issues important to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. We ask you to demonstrate your commitment to open and responsive engagement with Indian country by carrying on these important institutions during your presidency.

The Federal Government has a unique nation-to-nation relationship with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes grounded in the United States Constitution, treaties, federal statutes, and Supreme Court decisions. Tribal consultation is the bedrock on which that nation-to-nation relationship is built and, for eight years, the Tribal Nations Conference has served as a signature example of the Executive Branch's efforts to improve consultation. These annual summits have given tribal leaders a seat at the table during discussions with Cabinet-level and senior members of the Executive Branch on how the United States can best fulfill its trust and treaty obligations.

Similarly, the White House Council has succeeded in promoting an "all-of-government" approach to fulfilling the federal government's trust responsibilities. Established by Executive Order in 2013, the White House Council has since increased federal engagement with tribal stakeholders by bringing inter-agency principals together to address pressing issues in Indian country. Such engagement has resulted in tribal initiatives being implemented in a more effective manner across all federal agencies.

The White House Council and the Tribal Nations Conference are critical components of how the federal government consults with tribal leaders on a government-to-government basis. We look forward to your commitment on this matter. Please contact Jennifer Romero on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs staff at (202)224-2251 or via e-mail at jennifer_romero@indian.senate.gov with any questions.