The White House & Tribal Nations: A 2022 Summary

The Biden-Harris Administration completed another year in which it continued its work to strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship between Tribal Nations and the Federal Government. The various events, initiatives and policy actions were compiled in the White House Tribal Nations Summit Progress Report, released at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. 

The following list includes some of the Administration's notable actions from the last year. 

Nation-to-Nation Relationship

1. New or Updated Tribal Consultations Policies and Guidance for nine Federal Government Agencies 

2. Established the first-ever Office of Tribal and Native Affairs at Treasury

3. Published the Indigenous Peoples Day Proclamation

4. Published the Native American Heritage Month Proclamation

5. Conducted the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit 

Investments in Indian Country

1. Implemented the 2021 American Rescue Plan funding for Tribal Communities 

2. Allocated more than $720 million to Tribes and Native communities to combat climate change through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act 

3. Requested more that $31 billion for investments in Indian Country in the 2023 Budget 

Protecting the Sacred

1. Proposed revisions to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Regulations 

Tribal Homelands

1. Completed removal of Derogatory Names from Federal Lands

Voting 

1. Published the Native Voting Rights Report 

Broadband & Technology

1. Conducted the 2022 National Tribal Broadband Summit 

2. Established the DOI Office of Indigenous Communications & Technology

3. Introduced the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program, established through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

Water Infrastructure

1. Invested over $400 million in Rural Water Projects for Tribal Communities through the IIJA

Missing or Murdered Indigenous Peoples 

1. Implemented the Executive Order on Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Peoples 

2. Expanded Tribal Special Criminal Jurisdiction in the 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

The Indian Child Welfare Act

1. Updated the Indian Child Welfare Act Manual 

Federal Indian Boarding Schools

1. Publication of Volume 1 of the Federal Indian Boarding School Report

For a complete list of the Tribally focused actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration during 2022, see the full White House Tribal Nations Summit Progress Report.