White House to host 1st summit of tribal nations since 2016

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden volition denote steps Monday to amended nationalist information and justness for Native Americans during the archetypal tribal nations acme since 2016, the White House said.

Leaders from much than 570 tribes successful the United States are expected to articulation the two-day event, with astir 3 twelve addressing the gathering. The acme is being held virtually owed to the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected Native Americans and Alaska Natives astatine disproportionate rates.

Biden and archetypal woman Jill Biden are acceptable to talk connected Monday, with Vice President Kamala Harris to travel connected Tuesday. Several members of Biden's Cabinet volition besides participate.

White House property caput Jen Psaki said the acme coincides with National Native American Heritage Month and is being hosted by the White House for the archetypal time. The acme was not held during the erstwhile Trump administration. Past conferences were held astatine the Interior Department.

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Biden volition usage the acme to denote steps to amended nationalist information and justness for Native Americans and to support backstage lands, pact rights and ineffable places, Psaki said.

American Indians and Alaska Natives are more than doubly arsenic apt to beryllium victims of a convulsive crime, and astatine slightest 2 times much apt to beryllium raped oregon sexually assaulted compared to different races, according to the Association connected American Indian Affairs.

Since taking bureau successful January, Biden has taken steps respective steps that the White House says show his committedness to tribal nations.

Among them are naming Deb Haaland, a erstwhile congresswoman from New Mexico, arsenic t he archetypal Native American to pb the Interior Department, the almighty national bureau that has wielded power implicit U.S. tribes for generations. Haaland is simply a subordinate of the Laguna Pueblo.

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Biden's coronavirus alleviation program included $31 cardinal for tribal communities, and the medication besides has worked intimately with tribal leaders to assistance marque COVID-19 vaccination rates among Native Americans among the highest successful the country, the White House said.

Biden besides precocious became the archetypal president to contented a proclamation designating Oct. 11 arsenic Indigenous People's Day, giving a boost to longstanding efforts to refocus the national vacation celebrating Christopher Columbus toward an appreciation of Native peoples.

Earlier this year, Jill Biden spent two days successful April visiting the Navajo Nation's superior successful Window Rock, Arizona.

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