Preview of White House Tribal Nations Summit 2022
U.S. Interior Dept. preps first in-person federal-tribal summit in 6 years.

Indigenous Wire will offer a fuller preview and insider expectations tomorrow morning, based on conversations with and details from senior Biden administration officials. For now, here’s a brief primer from Interior, released this afternoon:
WASHINGTON — This week, the Department of the Interior will host the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit. The Summit provides an opportunity for Administration and Tribal leaders to discuss ways the federal government can invest in and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships as well as ensure that progress in Indian Country endures for years to come.
President Biden, Vice President Harris, and members of the cabinet will provide remarks and discuss new announcements and efforts to implement key policy initiatives supporting Tribal communities.
Secretary Deb Haaland will give remarks and participate in a series of panels, including:
Wednesday, November 30
8:40 AM ET: Program begins
9:00 AM ET: Opening remarks from Secretary Haaland
9:10 AM ET: Discussion on Education and Native languages
1:10 PM ET: Discussion on Tribal Homelands
Thursday, December 1
9:00 AM ET: Program begins
11:00 AM ET: Discussion on Public Safety and Justice
4:45 PM ET: Closing remarks from Secretary Haaland
Additional Interior Department leadership will be featured throughout the Summit. A livestream of each day’s events can be viewed at the Interior Department’s YouTube page.
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Tribes need billions of dollars for infrastructure projects and it’s not even on the agenda and neither is trust responsibility funding. The tribes should take over the meeting and invite only the officials they need to talk to.
More complete schedule is now out:
DAY ONE
Wednesday, November 30th, 2022
8:40 AM
Posting of Colors
Opening Prayer
Opening Remarks: Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior
Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders: Education and Native Languages
- Secretary Miguel Cardona, Department of Education
- Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior
- Moderator: Deputy Solicitor Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes, Department of the Interior
Tribal Leader Fireside Chat: Mental Health
- Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders: Access to Capital & Economic Development
- Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administration
- Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Department of Treasury
- Moderator: Treasurer Lynn Malerba, Department of Treasury
12:00 Noon
Lunch
1:10 PM
Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders: Tribal Homeland Initiatives
- Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior
- Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture
- Administrator Michael Regan, Environmental Protection Agency Moderator: Senior Advisor to the President Julie Chávez Rodriguez, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
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
- Moderator: Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Department of the Interior
Video Remarks from the International Space Station: NASA Astronaut Nicole Mann
3:30 PM
White House Council on Native American Affairs Engagement Session
5:50 PM
Closing Remarks
DAY TWO
Thursday, December 1st, 2022
9:00 AM
Opening Prayer
Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders: Investing in Indian Country
- White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling - White House Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Coordinator Mitch Landrieu
- White House Inflation Reduction Act Coordinator John Podesta - Moderator: Ambassador Susan Rice, Domestic Policy Advisor
Remarks: Director Shalanda Young, White House Office of Management and Budget
Tribal Leader Fireside Chat: Health Equity
- Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Health and Human Services
- Indian Health Service Director Roselyn Tso, Department of Health and Human Services
Remarks: Attorney General Merrick Garland, Department of Justice
Armchair Conversation with Tribal Leaders: Public Safety and Justice
- Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
- Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Department of Justice - Moderator: Solicitor Bob Anderson, Department of the Interior
12:00 Noon
Lunch
1:10 PM
Tribal Leader Fireside Chat: Veterans
- Secretary Denis McDonough, Department of Veterans Affairs
Video Remarks: Secretary Gina Raimondo, Department of Commerce
Tribal Leader Fireside Chat: Indigenous Knowledge
- Chair Brenda Mallory, White House Council on Environmental Quality
- Director Arati Prabhakar, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
2:30 PM
White House Council on Native American Engagement Sessions
5:00 PM Closing Remarks