UPDATE: Secretary Jewell to Deliver Remarks, Lead Panel Discussions at 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, December 3, 2014, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Deputy Secretary Mike Connor and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn will join President Obama, Vice President Biden, other cabinet Secretaries and leaders from the 566 federally recognized tribes at the 2014 Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference.

Secretary Jewell will deliver remarks during the opening ceremony of the 6th annual conference and will join panel discussions on Indian education reform and climate change, along with other stakeholder meetings and briefings. Deputy Secretary Mike Connor will participate in discussions on protecting natural and cultural resources and Assistant Secretary Washburn will join sessions on government-to-government relations, economic development and upholding federal trust and treaty responsibilities.

The annual White House Tribal Nations Conference provides tribal leaders the opportunity to interact directly with President Obama, Secretary Jewell and members of the White House Council on Native American Affairs. The Council, which is chaired by Secretary Jewell and includes the heads of more than 20 federal departments and agencies, has convened four times since its inception in June 2013 and works to improve interagency coordination, efficiency and expand efforts to leverage federal programs and resources available to tribal communities.

Since assuming her role at Interior, Secretary Jewell has visited more than 20 tribal communities and a half dozen Bureau of Indian Education schools. Jewell also joined President Obama and the First Lady on their historic visit to Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation earlier this year.