The Department of Justice Policy on Indian Sovereignty and Government-to-Government Relations with
Indian Tribes reaffirms the Justice Department's recognition of the sovereign status of federally
recognized Indian tribes as domestic dependent nations and reaffirms adherence to the principles
of government-to-government relations; the Policy also informs Department personnel, other
federal agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, and the public of the Department's
working relationships with federally recognized Indian tribes; and guides the Department
in its work in the field of Indian affairs ...
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 ...
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications, to strengthen the United States government-to-government relationships with Indian tribes, and to reduce the imposition of unfunded mandates upon Indian tribes; it is hereby ordered ...
