Dear Tribal Leader Letter

The White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) invites you to consult on the implementation of the Memorandum Of Understanding Regarding Interagency Coordination And Collaboration For The Protection Of Tribal Treaty And Reserved Rights (TTR MOU). The TTR MOU builds on the 2016 Treaty Rights MOU issued by the Obama Administration in the fall of 2016. The TTR MOU strengthens the 2016 MOU in a number of significant ways, including further committing the signatory federal departments and agencies to early consideration of Tribal treaty rights, reserved rights and similar Tribal rights in federal decision making and regulatory processes.

The TTR MOU was drafted and signed by 17 federal agencies in accordance with the policy framework announced in President Biden’s January 26, 2021, Executive Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships and was announced at the White House Tribal Nations Summit on November 15, 2021. The TTR MOU commits federal agencies to coordinate and collaborate to protect on and off reservation treaty rights, reserved rights and similar Tribal rights.

Federal agencies have begun implementing several of the action items in the MOU. The TTR MOU Work Group required by MOU Action Item 7 was formed and began meeting in September 2021. The Legal Subgroup was formed and began meeting in December 2021. At the suggestion of the Legal Subgroup, the TTR MOU Work Group has begun holding bimonthly trainings for federal staff with noted federal Indian law academics, beginning with Dean Stacy Leeds in May 2022.
The WHCNAA welcomes all Tribal comments and recommendations on implementation of the TTR MOU. Of particular interest are Tribal leader perspectives on how the TTR MOU signatory agencies may improve best practices and training for federal staff on identifying and honoring treaty rights, reserved rights, and other similar rights.

You are invited to register for one or more of the following consultations:
Friday, September 16, 2022
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscOmrrDotEpTQLyf9UCuGvxrdS-3fwOs

Monday, September 19, 2022
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (ET)
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItf–spj4pH8CU0YQZnTiYy4dt-p1sjMI

You may also provide written comments to consultation@bia.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, October 10, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact Thomas Garcia, Special Assistant for the White House Council on Native American Affairs, at thomas.garcia@bia.gov or via phone at (202) 568-0877.