Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C.

Harris was introduced by Sophia Madrigal, a citizen of the Cahuilla Band of Indians and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

The summit took place at the main building of the Department of the Interior in D.C. on December 9, 2024.

Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C.

Harris was introduced by Sophia Madrigal, a citizen of the Cahuilla Band of Indians and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

The summit took place at the main building of the Department of the Interior in D.C. on December 9, 2024.

White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden delivers remarks at the White House Tribal Nations Summit.

Tanden spoke during the afternoon session of the one-day summit, which took place at the main building of the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., on December 9, 2024.

Tribal leaders and federal officials participate in a panel titled "Investing In Indian Country" at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit.

Participants include:

Liz Carr, Tribal Adviser to the Director, White House Office of Management and Budget

Stephanie Bryan, Chair, Poarch Band of Creek Indians

Stephen Roe Lewis, Governor, Gila River Indian Community

Andrea Palm, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

David Turk, Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy

John Podesta, Senior Adviser, White House

Due to an issue with the power in the building, starting at about 40 minutes into the panel, some of the speakers were difficult to hear. The issue was addressed after a few minutes.

The summit took place at the main building of the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C., on December 9, 2024.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland opens the White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C.

Haaland is a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna. She is the first Native person to lead the Department of the Interior, the federal agency with the most trust and treaty responsibilities in Indian Country.

Haaland is also the first Native person to serve in a presidential cabinet. She was nominated to her post by President Joe Biden. Her full remarks can be found on Indianz.Com at:

https://indianz.com/News/2024/12/09/secretary-haaland-opens-white-house-tribal-nations-summit/

The White House Tribal Nations Summit took place at the main Interior building in D.C. on December 9, 2024.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland introduced Biden at the event. Along with Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, she presented a blanket to the president.

The blanket was created by Eighth Generation, a tribally-owned business in Washington state. Haaland had it embroidered with a a message: "Joe Biden, Champion for Indian Country, 2021-2024."

The summit took place at the main building of the Department of the Interior on December 9, 2024.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) calls for the release of imprisoned American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier in a speech on December 4, 2024.

Peltier is serving two life sentences for the deaths of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Now at age 80, he has been behind bars for more than half of his life.

"He is in declining health, experiencing vision loss and other illnesses," Schatz said on the floor of the U.S. Senate. "And in spite of all that, earlier this year, federal officials denied his request for compassionate release."

Schatz, who serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, urged President Joe Biden to set Peltier free.

The U.S. Senate considers Indian Country legislation on November 21, 2024, during which Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) blocked passage of a bill to protect the Wounded Knee massacre site in South Dakota.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, brought up three Indian Country bills for consideration en bloc. They are: S.385, S.1322 and S.2868.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) attempted to have S.2088, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, considered for passage as well. That's when Tillis objected.

Tillis said he would not allow for passage of the Wounded Knee sacred site bill because he has not been able to secure federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe, a state-recognized group in North Carolina.

The U.S. Senate considers Indian Country legislation on November 21, 2024, during which Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) blocked passage of a bill to protect the Wounded Knee massacre site in South Dakota.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, brought up three Indian Country bills for consideration en bloc. They are: S.385, S.1322 and S.2868.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) attempted to have S.2088, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, considered for passage as well. That's when Tillis objected.

Tillis said he would not allow for passage of the Wounded Knee sacred site bill because he has not been able to secure federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe, a state-recognized group in North Carolina.

The U.S. Senate considers Indian Country legislation on November 21, 2024, during which Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) blocked passage of a bill to protect the Wounded Knee massacre site in South Dakota.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), the chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, brought up three Indian Country bills for consideration en bloc. They are: S.385, S.1322 and S.2868.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) attempted to have S.2088, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, considered for passage as well. That's when Tillis objected.

Tillis said he would not allow for passage of the Wounded Knee sacred site bill because he has not been able to secure federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe, a state-recognized group in North Carolina.