Since 1968, every presidential administration has espoused the principles of self-determination and self-government for Indian tribes.

Just last November President Barack Obama hosted the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the U.S. Department of Interior. The conference was one of two promises upheld by Obama to American Indians and marked the first conference for American Indians since President Bill Clinton hosted a summit in 1994.

In a statement announcing the event, Obama said he looked, “forward to hearing directly from the leaders in Indian Country about what my administration can do to not only meet their needs, but help improve their lives and the lives of their peoples. … This conference will serve as part of the ongoing and important consultation process that I value, and further strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship."

The following are excerpts from speeches and memos from various presidents, each of whom believed that American Indians could best succeed under a policy of self-determination and self-government.

Barack Obama, Tribal Nations Conference, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C., Nov. 5, 2009

“Today's summit is not lip service. We're not going to go through the motions and pay tribute to one another, and then furl up the flags and go our separate ways. Today's sessions are part of a lasting conversation that's crucial to our shared future.

“A major step toward living up to that responsibility is the presidential memorandum that I'll be signing at this desk in just a few moments. In the final years of his administration, President Clinton issued an executive order establishing regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration between your nations and the federal government. But over the past nine years, only a few agencies have made an effort to implement that executive order -- and it's time for that to change.

“The memorandum I'll sign directs every Cabinet agency to give me a detailed plan within 90 days of how -- the full implementation of that executive order and how we're going to improve tribal consultation. After all, there are challenges we can only solve by working together, and we face a serious set of issues right now.”

In a memo directed to heads of executive departments and agencies at the federal level, Obama encouraged, ““regular and meaningful consultation” with Indian leaders when developing policies with “tribal implications.”

“History has shown that failure to include the voices of tribal officials in formulating policy affecting their communities has all too often led to undesirable and, at times, devastating and tragic results. … By contrast, meaningful dialogue between Federal officials and tribal officials has greatly improved Federal policy toward Indian tribes. Consultation is a critical ingredient of a sound and productive Federal-tribal relationship,” he said in the 2009 memo.

George W. Bush, Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies, “Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribal Governments,” September 2004:

“The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with Indian tribes and a special relationship with Alaska Native entities as provided in the Constitution of the United States, treaties, and Federal statutes. Presidents for decades have recognized this relationship. President Nixon announced a national policy of self-determination for Indian tribes in 1970. More recently, Executive Order 13175, entitled Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, was issued in 2000. I reiterated my Administration's adherence to a government-to-government relationship and support for tribal sovereignty and self-determination earlier this year in Executive Order 13336, entitled American Indian and Alaska Native Education.

“My Administration is committed to continuing to work with federally recognized tribal governments on a government-to-government basis and strongly supports and respects tribal sovereignty and self-determination for tribal governments in the United States. I take pride in acknowledging and reaffirming the existence and durability of our unique government-to-government relationship and these abiding
principles.”

William Clinton, Executive Order No. 13084, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, May 14, 1998:

“The United States has a unique legal relationship with Indian tribal governments as set forth in the Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, Executive orders, and court decisions. Since the formation of the Union, the United States has recognized Indian tribes as domestic dependent nations under its protection. In treaties, our Nation has guaranteed the right of Indian tribes to self-government. As domestic dependent nations, Indian tribes exercise inherent sovereign powers over their members and territory. The United States continues to work with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis to address issues concerning Indian tribal self-government, trust resources, and Indian tribal treaty and other rights. …

“In formulating policies significantly or uniquely affecting Indian tribal governments, agencies shall be guided… by principles of respect for Indian tribal self-government and sovereignty…”


William Clinton, “Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments: Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies,” April 29, 1994:

“I am outlining principles that executive departments and agencies, including every component bureau and office, are to follow in their interactions with Native American tribal governments. The purpose of these principles is to clarify our responsibility to ensure that the Federal Government operates within a government-to-government relationship with federally recognized Native American tribes. I am strongly committed to building a more effective day-to-day working relationship reflecting respect for the rights of self-government due the sovereign tribal governments.”


Ronald Reagan, Indian Policy Statement, January 24, 1983:

“Throughout our history, despite periods of conflict and shifting national policies in Indian affairs, the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian tribes has endured. …

“Our policy is to reaffirm dealing with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis and to pursue the policy of self-government for Indian tribes without threatening termination. …

“This administration pledges to assist tribes in strengthening their governments by removing Federal impediments to tribal self-government and tribal resource development. This administration affirms the right of tribes to determine the best way to meet the needs of their members and to establish and run programs which best meet those needs. …

“A lingering threat of termination has no place in this administration’s policy of self-government for Indian tribes, and I ask Congress to again express its support of self-government.”


Richard M. Nixon, special message to Congress, July 1970:

“It is long past time that the Indian policies of the Federal government began to recognize and build upon the capacities and insights of the Indian people. … The time has come to break decisively with the past and to create the conditions for a new era in which the Indian future is determined by Indian acts and Indian decisions. …

“Federal termination errs in one direction, Federal paternalism errs in the other. Only by clearly rejecting both of these extremes can we achieve a policy which truly serves the best interests of the Indian people. Self-determination among the Indian people can and must be encouraged without the threat of eventual termination. In my view, in fact, that is the only way that self-determination can effectively be fostered. …

“We must assure the Indian that he can assume control of his own life without being separated involuntarily from the tribal group. And we must make it clear that Indians can become independent of Federal control without being cut off from Federal concern and Federal support. …

“It is a new and balanced relationship between the United States government and the first Americans that is at the heart of our approach to Indian problems.”


Lyndon B. Johnson, “Special Message to Congress on the Problems of the American Indian: The Forgotten American,” March 6, 1968:

“I propose a new goal for our Indian programs: A goal that ends the old debate about ‘termination’ of Indian programs and stresses self-determination… The greatest hope for Indian progress lies in the emergence of Indian leadership and initiative in solving Indian problems. Indians must have a voice in making the plans and decisions in programs which are important to their daily life. …

“The program I propose seeks to promote Indian development by improving health and education, encouraging long-term economic growth, and strengthening community institutions. …

“And we must assure the Indian people that it is our desire and intention that the special relationship between the Indian and his government grow and flourish. For, the first among us must not be the last.”