White House Tribal Nations Summit Address

Welcome back, Tribal leaders and guests.

Thank you for your tireless leadership.

We’re so grateful for your partnership as we’ve worked together to strengthen the Nation-to-Nation relationship—a central priority of this Administration, founded on the principle of respect.

As co-chair of the White House Council on Native American Affairs, alongside Secretary Haaland, I’ve had the privilege to witness firsthand the transformative power of this Administration’s partnership with Tribal Nations.

When President Biden took office, he made a promise: to honor the solemn trust and treaty responsibilities the United States has with Tribal Nations.

He declared this Administration’s unwavering commitment to Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and self-governance—not just in words, but through transformative actions that will have lasting, generational impacts.

This commitment is especially vital because, for generations, the federal government failed to keep its promises.

I’m proud to serve in an Administration that, since day one, has delivered and implemented those long-unmet promises.  

That’s why last year, President Biden signed Executive Order 14112, fundamentally reshaping federal funding for Tribes.

Through this transformative Executive order, we’ve codified our commitment to Tribal sovereignty into action, ensuring that ALL federal resources provided to Indian country respect Tribal sovereignty, agency, and priorities.

This Executive Order is more than a policy—it’s a declaration that Tribal governments are best positioned to serve their people.

By removing bureaucratic barriers and enhancing funding flexibility, it empowers Tribes to lead with autonomy and vision.

Over this past year, Federal agencies have taken hundreds of reforms in response to the Executive Order to make their programs better and easier for Tribes.

But respect also means acknowledging the truth.

President Biden has taken historic steps to acknowledge federal injustices against Native Peoples, to begin the long journey of reconciliation.

His formal apology for the Federal Indian Boarding School era was a watershed moment.

As the President said, “The truth must be told—and the truth must be heard.”

This oppressive system sought to eradicate Native languages and cultures, inflicting deep generational harm.

For over 150 years, generations of Native children were subjected to mental and physical abuse, robbed of their languages, and separated from their families.

At its peak, over 300 Native languages flourished across this land.

Today, only 190 remain, with most on the brink of extinction.

Yet, against this centuries-long onslaught, Native communities have resisted, preserved, and reclaimed their languages and cultures.

This resilience is nothing short of heroic.

Today, Tribes are racing to ensure that these languages thrive once again.

As a government that contributed to erasing Native culture, we have a sacred obligation to support these revitalization efforts.

Just this year, I had the honor of visiting the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico, where they are leading the way in Native language revitalization through their Kha’p’o [Kaw-pō] Community School Tewa [Tay-wah] language program.

In Santa Clara Pueblo, I saw the power of reinvigorating cultural ties as fluent speakers taught young, non-fluent learners, in an environment where young people can hear, learn, and live the Tewa [Tay-wah] language.

At Gun Lake, I met leaders using technology to collaborate with sister Tribes to revitalize the Potawatomi [Pot-o-wat-o-mee] language.

One inspiring young man there told me that reclaiming his ancestors’ language was the most important work of his life.

To reclaim a language, to bring it back to life, and to pass it on to future generations, is one of the most profoundly important missions that we as the federal government, must support.

This Administration, this President, is proud to stand alongside and support Tribal partners in this mission.

And we’re so proud to work together with you to usher in a Native language renaissance.

To ensure that every Native child can grow up in a community where their language, culture, and environment are thriving and celebrated.

And these language revitalization efforts are just one example of the incredible achievements Native Communities have been able to make with the help of Biden-Harris funding.

I’ve seen the solar farms and electric vehicle projects made possible by these investments.

I’ve heard from leaders about the transformative power of co-stewardship agreements, which are putting Tribal decision-making at the center of federal land and water management.

And I’ve witnessed how Tribes are leveraging partnerships with the private and philanthropic sectors to expand opportunities for future generations.

These are examples of real, positive change, delivered in direct collaboration with our Tribal Partners.

These accomplishments reflect not only federal action—they’re a testament to Tribal leadership.

Every success is rooted in the advocacy, vision, and determination of Native leaders who’ve worked tirelessly to bring their communities’ priorities to the forefront.

As President Biden will soon share, this Administration has been honored to stand alongside you in this work.

The progress we’ve made together over these four years has reshaped the relationship between the federal government and Tribal Nations, strengthening the very fabric of our country.

Yet, as we celebrate, we also recognize the work that remains.

This summit is both a reflection on achievements and a call to action to sustain this momentum and ensure the legacy of this partnership endures for generations to come.

Let us continue to build a future where every Tribal Nation has the resources, autonomy, and respect it deserves.

A future where the promises of treaties are fully realized.

And a future where Tribal sovereignty is celebrated as a cornerstone of our democracy.

Thank you, again, for your leadership, partnership, and trust.

It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to stand alongside you in this journey of progress and resilience.

Thank you.