Readout of the Second Meeting of the White House Council on Native American Affairs

Today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice convened the second meeting of the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA).  They were joined by eleven Cabinet Secretaries and senior administration officials in a discussion focused on bolstering the government-to-government relationship and advancing self-determination and self-government of Tribal Nations.  During the meeting, the Domestic Policy Council, White House American Rescue Plan Implementation Team, and Department of Interior committed to lead an interagency process to support Tribal Nations’ use of the historic infusion of federal funding dedicated to tribal needs. The WHCNAA Health Committee also announced it will host a Nation-to-Nation dialogue on COVID-19 and improving health systems in Indian Country this fall. This will be an opportunity for Tribal engagement with Administration leadership on federal emergency management programs and resources and to share the latest data. The Health Committee will develop a workplan informed by this dialogue to strengthen inter-agency federal emergency response efforts.

The Council will continue to coordinate with Tribal Nations as it advances work on key issues such as climate change, Tribal homelands and treaties; economic development, energy and infrastructure; health; education; public safety and justice; and international Indigenous issues. 

Members of the Council on Native American Affairs include:

• Department of the Interior 
• Domestic Policy Council 
• Department of Agriculture 
• Department of Commerce 
• Department of Defense 
• Department of Education 
• Department of Energy 
• Environmental Protection Agency 
• Department of Health and Human Services 
• Department of Homeland Security 
• Department of Justice 
• Department of Labor 
• Office of Management and Budget 
• Office of Personnel Management 
• Office of Management and Budget 
• Small Business Administration 
• Social Security Administration 
• Department of State 
• Department of Transportation 
• Department of Treasury 
• Department of Veterans Affairs 
• US Ambassador to the United Nations 
• US Trade Representative 
• Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 
• Denali Commission 
• Gender Policy Council 
• Office of Science and Technology Policy 
• National Climate Advisor 
• Office of Intergovernmental Affairs 
• Council on Environmental Quality 
• White House Cabinet Affairs 
• White House COVID Response Team

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