Our Mission
Prosperity and resilience for all Tribal nations is the vision of the White House Council on Native American Affairs. 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.
White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Listening Session
OMB has announced updates to the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 200, which focuses on Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal financial assistance awards, taking effect on October 1, 2024.
The revision of this OMB guidance was conducted to reduce administrative burden for non-Federal entities receiving Federal awards while reducing the risk of waste, fraud and abuse by streamling and enhancing federal grant management, promoting greater efficiency and accountability in the administration of federal funds.
The purpose of the Tribal listening session was for OMB to provide an overview of the changes to the Uniform Guidance, with particular emphasis on changes that relate to Tribal governments as federal award recipients.
Who We Serve
The White House Council on Native American Affairs 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.
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.
