Respect, Infrastructure and Protection Discussed at White House Tribal Nations Summit

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The two-day White House Tribal Nations Summit was held at the end of November and included leaders from 300 sovereign nations.

One of those leaders was the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Chairman Willie Frank III, who was impressed with the Biden administration and how they treated tribal leaders who attended the event. 

“I think what was impressive was President Biden didn’t treat this like a leadership conference but said this was a nation to nation summit, respecting our sovereignty,” Frank said. “That is saying something there. You also had these 300 tribal leaders in the Department of Interior building, and all the federal agency leaders within the Biden administration were speaking out in the audience with these leaders.”

Topics and goals that were discussed in the conference included environmental protections, infrastructure in tribal communities and the protection of tribal treaties and treaty rights. The Biden administration said it wanted to create lasting change in Indian Country by protecting their sovereign rights.

“At the summit, they talked about getting rid of barriers for government access,” Frank said. “We hadn’t heard that before. Previous administrations had put out roadblocks that would stop us from protecting our treaty rights for preserves and parks.”

At the summit, the White House also said it wanted to establish uniform standards for federal agencies to consult with tribes and go beyond the current “checking a box” exercise. It also wants to revitalize native languages and their rights to hunting and fishing which exist in current treaties.

In the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s case, their language was saved by a couple of precious tribal council members who carried on the tradition by passing their knowledge to others.

Frank pointed to Secretary Deb Haaland, of the U.S. Department of the Interior, who became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary as a sign of the Biden administration’s commitment to working with tribal nations. He also said the Biden administration has appointed Native Americans to boards, commissioners and federal judge seats.



“Now at the federal level our stories are being told and people are willing to tell them,” Frank said. “That has been the thing that has stood out to me about the Biden administration.”

Frank added that federal funding sources are being committed, which can help add road, water and energy infrastructure in tribal communities. He said millions have already been given, even in Washington state. Biden said $135 million will go to tribal communities that need to be relocated due to threats from climate change. The White House will also request $9.1 billion for Indian Health Services, which Congress will have to act on.

The American Rescue Plan was discussed as more than $32 billion in funding was allocated for tribal communities and native people. The Inflation Reduction Act also provided more than $720 million to help fund tribes so they can plan for and adapt to climate change, mitigate drought, support fisheries and shift to clean energy production.

According to Nisqually Indian Tribe Information Office Debbie Preston, Nisqually already has several grants for electric car charging stations, the expansion of its own electric car fleet, and  for the addition of solar power. The tribe’s Elders Building, slated to begin construction in the first quarter of next year, will feature solar, as does the Medicine Creek Enterprise Corporation’s Offices and the Nisqually Market. 

The summit featured sessions in both the morning and afternoon in the federal building for the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Members of the Biden administration ate with tribal leaders and made important connections for a collaborative future.

The tribal nations summit was not held during the Trump administration. COVID-19 prevented it from being held in 2021 and a virtual conference was held instead.

“But as we all know, it’s much better to do these sorts of things face-to-face,” Frank said. “I definitely think it was a positive trip and I think we have never had another administration like this that has really stepped up to the plate.”

Frank also said it was great to see so many young faces in tribal leadership positions and that the next generation looks like it is ready to step up.