Our Mission

Prosperity and resilience for all tribal nations is the vision of the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA). The WHCNAA endeavors toward this vision through collaborative inter-agency work across the Executive Branch, regular and meaningful Tribal-Federal engagement, and by fostering an all-of-government approach in meeting treaty and trust obligations to Tribes.

Tribal Leader Engagement Session on Executive Order 14112

The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) invites Tribal Leaders to a virtual engagement session with Biden-Harris Administration leadership to discuss Executive Order 14112 on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination

Date: Monday, January 22, 2024
Time: 3:30pm - 5:00pm ET
Location: Virtual
Register Closed

During this engagement session, Biden-Harris Administration leadership and staff from the White House and Federal Departments will discuss the substance and implementation process the Administration is planning for EO 14112. Tribal leaders are invited to ask questions, provide 
comments, and share their perspectives on how EO 14112 can best meet the needs of their Tribal Nations. 

The agenda for the session is included in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL) below. Tribal leaders are welcome to send any questions regarding the session to whcnaa@bia.gov

DTLL | EO Fact Sheet | Presentation Slides


The 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit


The White House is pleased to announce the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit on December 6th and 7th, at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. The Summit reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthening Nation-to-Nation relationships. Leaders from across the Administration will announce new actions and updates that will build on the progress that has already been made, create new opportunities for Tribal consultation and input, and produce lasting changes that will impact the lives of Tribal citizens for generations to come.

Tribal leaders will have the opportunity to have meaningful conversations with senior Administration officials on implementation of key priorities, new policies, and other critical issues facing Tribal Nations.

If you have any questions, please contact TNS@who.eop.gov

Livestream | Agenda | Fact Sheet | Progress Report | DTLL

 

2023 WHCNAA Announcements and Deliverables for Tribal Nations Summit

Native Veterans Homelessness Initiative 

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, and Indian Health Service Director, Roselyn Tso, gathered on November 30, 2023 to affirm their partnership and commitment to American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans. The Principals expressed their dedication to reduce homelessness and provide access to housing for those who are at risk. As a result of this shared commitment, an updated Reimbursement Agreement was recently announced that facilitates repayment for health care and related services provided by the IHS to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.

Access to Capital

Clearinghouse

The White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) is taking critical steps to improve access to capital across Indian Country through the launch of an online clearinghouse that serves as a searchable repository for an up-to-date list of all federal funding opportunities available to Tribal Nations and Native businesses. The website has over 500 federal funding programs. The WHCNAA will continue adding to and enhancing the clearinghouse, and we welcome your feedback and recommendations at atc_feedback@bia.gov

Enter the Clearinghouse

Request for Information (RFI)

The White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) Committee on Economic Development, Energy, and Infrastructure is issuing a draft voluntary Request for Information (RFI) for Tribal consultation to develop a baseline understanding of Tribal funding needs to improve federal budget formulation and requests, program and policy development, and resource deployment. This RFI, once final,  will help establish baseline funding needs for Tribal governments, which has never been done by the federal government.

RFI

 

Sacred Sites

Best Practices Guide

The Sacred Sites MOU, signed in 2021, commits the signatory agencies to identifying best practices for the management and protection of sacred sites on federal lands and waters.  To fulfill those commitments, a Working Group was formed to develop a Best Practices Guide for Federal Agencies Regarding Tribal and Native Hawaiian Sacred Sites (Guide).  This Guide will assist federal agencies in improving their policies related to sacred sites.

Best Practices Guide

 

Tribal Treaty Rights

Training Curriculum for Federal agencies

In response to Tribal consultation, the WHCNAA and Tribal treaty rights MOU Workgroup is in the process of creating a training curriculum for federal agencies on Tribal consultation when considering Tribal treaty rights and reserved rights. The training will roll out in early- mid 2024. The following is a preview of the training: 

 


Events have moved to the new "Events" section below.  Click on the "View All Events" button below to a view all events, past, current, and future.

Who We Serve

The White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) was established to improve the coordination of federal programs and the use of available federal resources for the benefit of tribal communities.  

The Council will ensure that tribal consultation—grounded in the special nation-to-nation relationship between the U.S. government and tribes—continues to guide federal decision-making in addressing the needs of Native peoples.

Key Dates

New Initiatives

Tribal Treaty Rights

Tribal Homelands

Sacred Sites

Native Language

Executive Order

Events

WHCNAA Committees

The WHCNAA Chair convenes the principals at least three times a year per Executive Order 13647 (June 2013). Recognizing Tribes have equity in all of President Biden’s four priorities – tackling COVID-19, addressing climate change, advancing racial equity, and supporting strong economic recovery – the Council formed the following six Committee topics to carry out the Council’s initiatives:

The Committees intend to produce deliverables and tools, make policy recommendations, and find ways to leverage resources and expertise among agencies to improve services to Indian Country. The Committees meet regularly and provide reports at each of the WHCNAA Principals meetings.

About the White House Council on Native American Affairs

President Obama established the WHCNAA in 2013 via Executive Order 13647 to improve the coordination of federal programs and use of available federal resources for the benefit of Tribes and Tribal communities.

Co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, WHCNAA membership consists of heads of federal Departments, Agencies, and Offices. An Executive Director and inter-agency staff carry forward WHCNAA priorities grounded in the trust responsibility and treaty rights and informed by consistent and substantive engagement with Tribal Nations. The collaboration between the WHCNAA and Tribal leaders sets the foundation for effective federal investments in Tribal communities and for effective policies that impact Tribes.

The WHCNAA also supports and organizes the annual White House Tribal Leaders Summit to provide an opportunity for the leaders from all federally recognized Tribes to interact directly with the President and representatives from the highest levels of the Administration.