Opening prayer by Ned Norris Jr., Chairman of Tohono O’odham Nation, in the form of a runners' song, representing the pilgrimages taken by the O’odham people to the water. @tohono
“It’s a great feeling to know we are welcome in the nation’s capital": Governor Martin Kowemy Jr. of the Pueblo of Laguna introduces Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. @SecDebHaaland#NativeWomenLead#TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS
"Since day one, President Biden made the commitment to bring our voices to the table": Secretary Deb Haaland opens the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. @SecDebHaaland#NativeWomenLead#TribalNationsSummit
Up Next: Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders: Education and Native Languages
With Secretary Miguel Cardona, Department of Education; and Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior.
Moderator: Deputy Solicitor Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes, Department of the Interior
"Whether you speak Cherokee or not, it’s somewhere in your heart": Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr of Cherokee Nation says fewer than 2,000 people - mostly elders - speak Cherokee fluently. @CherokeeNation is working to preserve language and protect speakers. @ChuckHoskin_Jr@Anadisgoi
"In that language -- it's all who we are as people": Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe says @millelacsband has utilized federal 477 program to fund Ojibwe language efforts. Tribe partnered with Rosetta Stone to teach Ojibwe. #TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS
"Language is culture. You cannot separate language and culture": Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona says there have been "systematic" efforts by the United States to eradicate Native language and culture. @SecCardona@usedgov#WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit#NativeLanguages
"She got beaten...for speaking our Native language. That made her afraid to teach us": Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland says her mother was punished for speaking the Keres language while attending public school. @SecDebHaaland#WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit#NativeLanguages
"By the end of the decade we have to generate more fluent speakers": Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr of Cherokee Nation cites need to create more opportunities to learn, speak & utilize Cherokee language in daily life @CherokeeNation. @ChuckHoskin_Jr@Anadisgoi#WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit
"Language has a more powerful impact on them": Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe says young tribal citizens respond to Ojibwe language, making it important to teach in schools, including those in border towns. @millelacsband#WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit
"The Wampanoag people are tired of the myth that keeps being perpetrated": Chair Cheryl Andrews-Maltais of Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe calls on Department of Education to ensure public schools consult with tribes on accurate and appropriate curriculum. @SecCardona@usedgov#WHTNS
Next up at 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit
Tribal Leader Fireside Chat: Mental Health with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
"Mental health and physical health are deeply intertwined...Native communities have a lot of wisdom to offer the entire country": Surgeon General Vivek Murthy at 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. #WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit@Surgeon_General
@Surgeon_General Tribal Leader Fireside Chat: Mental Health at 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit
From left: Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Chairwoman Erica Pinto of Jamul Indian Village and Isabel Coronado, youth from Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders: Access to Capital & Economic Development
Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administration @SBAgov@SBAIsabel
Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Department of Treasury @USTreasury
Moderator:
Treasurer Lynn Malerba (Mohegan), Department of Treasury (far left)
Tribal Leaders:
President Scott Herman of Rosebud Sioux Tribe (second from left)
Chairman Rodney Butler of Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (third from left)
"We need a centralized platform for tribes to access federal financing opportunities": President Scott Herman of Rosebud Sioux Tribe calls on Treasury Department to reduce barriers to economic development in Indian Country. @RSTOfficial@USTreasury#WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit
"We need to get more land in trust": Chair Rodney Butler of Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation welcomes Interior Department efforts to update and streamline fee-to-trust process at Bureau of Indian Affairs. Says trust land is key to economic development. #TribalNationsSummit
"Our goal is to make sure you get access to this money”: Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo of Department of Treasury cites historic investments in Indian Country, with $30 billion coming from American Rescue Plan Act and other Biden-era laws. #TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS@USTreasury
"We saw there was great disparity in access": Administrator Isabel Guzman of Small Business Administration says @SBAgov is working to ensure Native and tribal entrepreneurs can expand economic development on tribal lands. @SBAIsabel#WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit
“They can never get that capital. The tribes don't have the resources”: President Scott Herman of Rosebud Sioux Tribe says Native entrepreneurs want to start businesses in Indian Country but they face barriers at all levels of government. @RSTOfficial#WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit
"It’s monumental that we have that. We cannot lose that...Permanent funding for that is critically important": Chairman Rodney Butler of Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation calls for permanent funding for Office of Tribal and Native Affairs @USTreasury. #TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS
"We need to have this opportunity so the people can speak -- not have a one-way conversation. You should be listening to us": Chair Robert VanZile Jr of Sokaogon Chippewa Community says more dialogue is needed at 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. #WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit
Attendees of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit are being asked to stay put in preparation for remarks by President Joe Biden. @POTUS is due to speak at 11:30am Eastern. This is the second #TribalNationsSummit of his administration and the first held in person. #WHTNS
"Native Americans have not always had friends in the White House": Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland is back, preparing to introduce President Joe Biden at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. #NativeWomenLead@POTUS@SecDebHaaland#TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS
President Joe Biden is speaking at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. This is the second #TribalNationsSummit of his administration. It's being held in person at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. #WHTNS@POTUS
“On my watch, we’re ushering in a new era”: President Joe Biden reaffirms commitment to nation-to-nation relationship and highlights tribal citizens in leadership positions across U.S. government at 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. #WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit
“We gotta get it done. We need your help in getting it done”: President Joe Biden asks tribal leaders to help enact MANDATORY funding for Indian Health Service, honoring trust and treaty obligations of U.S. government. Congress must act for @IHSgov. TribalNationsSummit #WHTNS
“Consultation has to be a two-way, nation to nation exchange”: President Joe Biden has directed all federal agencies to create and require annual training sessions for consulting with tribal governments. #WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit#TribalConsultation#TribalSovereignty
"I am committed": President Joe Biden closes out remarks at 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit with promise to make more visits to Indian Country during remainder of his administration.
Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders-Tribal Homeland Initiatives
Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior @SecDebHaaland
Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture @SecVilsack
Administrator Michael Regan, Environmental Protection
Agency @EPAMichaelRegan
Tribal Leaders:
President Richard Peterson, Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes @tlingithaida
Chairman Manuel Heart, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
Moderator:
Senior Advisor to the President Julie Chávez Rodriguez, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
"It’s an incredible step forward for us": President Richard Peterson of Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes thanks Bureau of Indian Affairs for approving first land-into-trust application in #Alaska in five years. @tlingithaida#TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS
"It’s an incredible step forward for us": President Richard Peterson of Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes thanks Bureau of Indian Affairs for approving first land-into-trust application in #Alaska in five years. @tlingithaida#TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS
"We have to keep continuing to hold the federal government's feet to the fire": Chair Manuel Heart of Ute Mountain Ute Tribe calls on Interior Department to do more to restore tribal homelands. Says tribe recently paid $300K just for a legal land description. #TribalNationsSummit
“We’ve had all these systems in place for 10,000 years”: President Richard Peterson of Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes says @USDA & @Interior must recognize tribal co-management and co-stewardship of ancestral homelands.#TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS@tlingithaida
"Come to my home. See what it's like. See what my people are going through": Chair Manuel Heart of Ute Mountain Ute Tribe calls on President Joe Biden and all Cabinet secretaries to visit Indian Country to learn about unique needs facing each tribal nation. #TribalNationsSummit
Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman of the Department of Housing and Urban Development is addressing the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. Most of speech couldn't be heard on livestream due to low volume. @HUD_ONAP@HUDgov#TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS@AdrianneTodman
NEXT @ #TribalNationsSummit
Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders: Climate and Clean Energy
Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, White House Climate Policy Office
Director Brian Deese, White House National Economic Council
Tribal Leaders:
President Fawn Sharp, National Congress of American Indians @PresFawnSharp@NCAI1944
Chairwoman Janet Alkire, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe @StandingRockST
Moderator:
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Department of the Interior @USIndianAffairs
"Climate change is definitely real...The place where our ancestors signed the treaty is underwater": Vice President Fawn Sharp of Quinault Nation says tribe will use $25 million in federal funding to start moving villages to higher ground. @quinaultnation@PresFawnSharp#WHTNS
"Every single one of you are water protectors": Chair Janet Alkire of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe thanks Indian Country for support during #NoDAPL movement to honor treaties by conducting environmental review of Dakota Access Pipeline. #TribalNationsSummit@StandingRockST
"Tribal citizens stand the most to gain" from electric vehicles--but only if #EV is affordable and only if charging stations are accessible in Indian Country, says Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. @SecretaryPete#WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit@USDOT
“Roads on our reservations are one of the biggest issues that we deal with”: Chair Janet Alkire of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe says fixing aging roads and bridges are top priorities for Indian Country when it comes to transportation. #TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS@StandingRockST
“We get what a lot of folks are up against here”: Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg says @USDOT will host first-ever tribal transit symposium in recognition of challenges in Indian Country when it comes to basic transportation. #TribalNationsSummit@SecretaryPete#WHTNS
The 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit is on a break for now as staffers are busy preparing for the arrival of Vice President Kamala Harris. @VP is due to speak around 3pm Eastern. #WHTNS#TribalNationsSummit
Chairman Mark Macarro of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians is introducing Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. #TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS@VP#California
Chairman Mark Macarro of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians is introducing Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. #TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS@VP#California
“Deep disparities persist across Indian Country”: Vice President Kamala Harris says centuries of genocidal and assimilationist policies within the United States have hindered tribes and their citizens. #TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS
“Native women are more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy complications”: At 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, Vice President Kamala Harris cites maternal health as one of her priorities in the Biden administration. #TribalNationsSummit#WHTNS@VP
“We must rely on your traditions, your expertise, your knowledge, your history, your leadership”: Applause for Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit as she says U.S. must recognize tribal co-stewardship of ancestral lands. #TribalNationsSummit
"For centuries, Native children were torn away from their families and their communities": More applause at 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit as Vice President Kamala Harris calls challenges to Indian Child Welfare Act an "attack on the very existence of tribal nations."
The 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit is now going into an engagement session with the White House Council on Native American Affairs.
The session is being held in Bison Bistro at Department of the Interior. It is not being livestreamed.
Closing remarks at 5:50pm Eastern.
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First up is Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), a new member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. #DebForInterior
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), a new member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is asking Deb Haaland about water management along the Colorado River. #DebForInterior
The #DebForInterior hearing is moving pretty quickly. After just 30 minutes, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is already on the questions and answers portion.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia), chairman of committee, is first in line for questions.
Despite witnessing violence at Democracy's front door, the three Republican tribal citizens in Congress still voted against certifying the will of the people.
"This is not the American way," said Tom Cole, Chickasaw, Oklahoma's 4th, before voting against the will of Americans who chose Joe Biden for president.
"What is happening at the Capitol right now is unacceptable," said Markwayne Mullin, Cherokee, Oklahoma's 2nd, as he too subverted the will of Americans who sent Joe Biden to the White House.
This Just In: Six tribal governments -- including two in #Alaska -- are suing the Trump administration in order to prevent Alaska Native corporations from cashing in on the $8 billion #Coronavirus relief fund. #COVID19
#CARESAct complaint filed in federal court in District of Columba. It's 27 pages.
NOTE: 3 Plaintiffs from Alaska
* Chehalis Tribes (Washington)
* Tulalip Tribes (Washington)
* Houlton Band (Maine)
* Akiak (Alaska)
* Asa’carsarmiut (Alaska)
* Aleut St. Paul Island (Alaska)
The 6 tribes are suing Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin @stevenmnuchin1. They allege of his role in $8 billion #Coronavirus relief fund:
"The Secretary is required to disburse all $8,000,000,000 by April 26, 2020, and Plaintiffs’ injury is imminent."