PHOTO: Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren witnessed President Joe Biden sign an executive order to reform federal funding and support for tribes.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren today witnessed President Joe Biden sign an executive order here that will reform federal funding and support for tribes.
He was joined by Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley.
The White House described the order as the Biden Administration’s renewed commitment to tribes.
“My administration is committed to protecting and supporting tribal sovereignty and self-determination and to honoring our trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations,” President Biden’s order states.
“We recognize the right of tribal nations to self-determination, and that federal support for tribal self-determination has been the most effective policy for the economic growth of tribal nations and the economic well-being of tribal citizens.”
During a one-on-one meeting between President Nygren and President Biden, the Navajo president promoted access to basic services such as water, electricity, and broadband.
In talks with federal officials, President Nygren advocated for support of educational programs, economic development initiatives, public safety investment and reform, and health services.
“It was an honor to attend the White House Tribal Nations Summit and meet with President Biden,” President Nygren said.
“This executive order is a momentous step that recognizes our inherent sovereignty and the autonomy of the Navajo Nation. The reforms will go a long way to free up resources and eliminate unnecessary hurdles that have historically limited our progress,” he said.
President Nygren said the executive order affirms Navajo rights to self-governance and sets the stage for growth and prosperity for Diné.
Past federal policies often undermined inherent rights of Native people to self-governance. That led to enduring damage to tribal communities, economies, and governments.
A shift occurred in the 1970s that saw the federal government reverse course to advocate for tribal self-determination. Despite these advancements, tribal nations still face significant barriers.
Many of the federal funding and support programs tribes rely on are encumbered by red tape, overly burdensome reporting requirements, unnecessary limitations, or resource-draining requirements that undermine tribes’ ability to make autonomous decisions about their community needs.
President Biden’s executive order will reform these issues. It is expected to usher in a new era of federal policies to support tribal self-determination.
The order affirms the fundamental right of tribes to determine their destiny, prosper and flourish on their terms. It underscores the importance of treating tribal governments as equals and vital parts of the American governmental system.
“Federal policies of past eras, including termination, relocation and assimilation, collectively represented attacks on tribal sovereignty and did lasting damage to tribal communities, tribal economies, and the institutions of tribal governance,” President Biden’s order states.
“By contrast, the self-determination policies of the last 50 years – whereby the federal government has worked with tribal nations to promote and support tribal self-governance and the growth of tribal institutions – have revitalized tribal economies, rebuilt tribal governments and begun to heal the relationship between tribal nations and the United States.”
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