White House announces plan to revitalize Native languages

The White House said on Wednesday that the Biden administration will increase purchases of tribal energy and other goods and services and revitalize Native languages, as well as give Native American tribes more control over federal lands.

U.S. President Joe Biden and other Cabinet officials will announce the measures at the two-day Tribal Nations Summit this year, with additional steps focused on providing better access to capital for tribal nations, the White House said.

The White House said that Biden's three signatures of legislation - laws dealing with infrastructure, climate and COVID 19 relief - have provided nearly $46 billion in funding for tribal communities and Native American people.

The actions include new uniform standards for how federal agencies should consult Native American tribes and the addition of the Commerce Department to agreements promoting the co-stewardship of federal lands, waters, fisheries and other resources of significance and value to tribes.

Federal agencies will be trained to recognize indigenous knowledge in federal research, policy, and decision-making, by elevating tribal observations, oral and written knowledge, practices, and beliefs that promote environmental sustainability.

The Small Business Administration plans to boost access to financing opportunities while the Energy Department plans to increase federal agencies use of tribal energy through purchasing authority established under a 2005 law that was unused for more than 17 years.

The administration will be working to deploy EV infrastructure in tribal lands, prioritize the replacement of diesel school buses with low or zero emission school buses, and help tribes buy or lease EV fleet vehicles.

As part of the drive, the Interior Department will set a goal to give 75 percent of contract dollars from Indian Affairs agencies and 10 percent of the department's remaining contract dollars to Native-owned businesses. The government will also release a draft 10 year plan to revitalize Native American languages and underscores the urgency for immediate action, while acknowledging the role that the U.S. government played in erasing Native languages.