The federal government recognizes tribal nations as "domestic dependent nations" and has established a number of laws attempting to clarify the government to government relationship between the federal, state, and tribal governments. We'd like to share information with you from other government agencies that helps guide and answer questions about the government's work with tribal nations. 

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation-Office of Native American Affairs
ONAA serves as technical adviser to Indian tribes and federal agencies regarding consultation issues that arise in the federal historic preservation review process called the Section 106 process. ONAA has an extensive list of guidance regarding tribal consultation and staff available to assist Indian tribes in navigating the Section 106 process, in working with federal agencies, and in protecting places of cultural importance.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry: Office of Tribal Affairs
The OTA’s mission is to support NCEH/ATSDR in developing policies, procedures, funding, and research that address the environmental health needs of American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support
The Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support (OSTLTS) serves as the primary link between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and Tribal governments. OSTLTS’ tribal support activities are focused on fulfilling CDC's supportive role in ensuring that American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities receive public health services that keep them safe and healthy.

Corporation for National and Community Service – The Strategic Advisor for Native American Affairs
The Corporation is committed to working closely with Tribal Governments and others to increase support to Indian communities. The Corporation has a Strategic Advisor for Native American Affairs, who works across all program and support units to increase Native American participation in national service and to develop and enhance programming to address the unique needs of Native American communities.

Department of Agriculture – Office of Tribal Relations
The OTR, located within the Office of the Secretary, works to ensure that relevant programs and policies are efficient, easy to understand, accessible, and developed in consultation with the Native American Indians and Alaskan Native constituents they impact.

Department of Commerce – Office of the Secretary; Native American Affairs
The Senior Advisor on Native American Affairs, Office of the Secretary, US Department of Commerce is responsible for the coordination and promotion of all Department of Commerce economic development initiatives with Indian Country, coordination of the Tribal Consultation Policy development and implementation across Commerce and in conjunction with tribal leaders, serves as Tribal liaison on behalf of the Secretary and the various bureaus within Commerce, and as Intergovernmental Indian Country representative for Commerce working with the White House and other agencies on Indian Country initiatives and issues.

U.S. Census Bureau - Intergovernmental Affairs: Tribal Affairs
The 2010 American Indian and Alaska Native Race (AIAN) Brief provides an overview of the AIAN population and geographic dispersion as of 2010.  

Department of Defense – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
USACE provided premier engineering and management products and services to federal agencies, tribal nations, and others as assigned. Each USACE District has a tribal liaison that works one-on-one with tribal governments in areas of engineering, water resources, and other various environmental projects.

Department of Defense – Office of Small Business Programs: Indian Incentive Program
The Indian Incentive Program compensates prime contractors that use Indian organizations and Indian-owned economic enterprises on subcontracted work or on subcontracted commercial products manufactured in whole or in part by an Indian organization.

Department of Defense – Native American Affairs
The Department of Defense (DoD) Native American Affairs facilitates tribal nations' contact with DoD offices and installations on matters of concern to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. This includes outreach to build awareness of DoD activities of interest to Indian Country and intra-agency training services to promote meaningful government-to-government consultation.

Department of Education – Office of Indian Education
The mission of the OIE is to support the efforts of local educational agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, postsecondary institutions, and other entities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives so that these students can achieve to the same challenging state standards as all students.

Department of Energy – Office of Indian Energy Policy & Programs
The DOE Office of Indian Energy is charged by Congress to establish, coordinate and implement energy planning, education, management, and programs that assist Tribes with the following: energy development, capacity building, carbon sequestration, energy infrastructure development, energy cost stabilization, and electrification of Indian lands.

Department of Energy – Bonneville Power Administration: Tribal Affairs Office
TAO’s mission is to ensure BPA understanding and respect for tribal values and resources, Tribal Affairs will fulfill BPA’s tribal trust responsibility and our tribal policy commitments by initiating and supporting effective, two-way communication with tribal governments. BPA is an American Federal agency based in the Pacific Northwest.

Department of Health & Human Services – Indian Health Service
The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Department of Health & Human Services – Administration for Native Americans
The mission of ANA is to promote the goal of self-sufficiency and cultural preservation for Native Americans by providing social and economic development opportunities through financial assistance, training, and technical assistance to eligible Tribes and Native American communities, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders organizations.

Department of Homeland Security – Office of Intergovernmental Affairs: Tribal Desk
The Tribal Desk within the Office of IGA is the designated lead for tribal relations and consultation at the Department of Homeland Security. The Director of Tribal Affairs serves as the main point of contact between the Secretary and tribal leaders across the country, working with our intergovernmental partners to coordinate Department-level engagement with tribal elected officials, or their designees, related to key Department policy decisions.

Department of Housing & Urban Development – Office of Native American Programs
ONAP ensures that safe, decent and affordable housing is available to Native American families, creates economic opportunities for Tribes and Indian housing residents, assists Tribes in the formulation of plans and strategies for community development, and assures fiscal integrity in the operation of the programs.

Department of Justice – The Offices of the United States Attorneys
The United States Attorneys are the chief federal law enforcement officers in the 94 federal judicial districts across the country, 44 of which have Indian Country. While criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country is a complex patchwork of federal, state, and tribal law, whenever a criminal matter arising in Indian Country is brought in federal court, it is the United States Attorneys’ offices that charge and prosecute the matter.

Department of Justice – Tribal Justice and Safety 
The Department of Justice’s components and leaders are working together to provide the most efficient and timely information to tribal communities. As the DOJ continues to roll-out new policy initiatives and grant opportunities, this website will act as a one-stop shop for tribal communities, developed to provide a user-friendly, updated and comprehensive resource for American Indian and Alaska Native tribal communities to help further improve public safety.

Department of the Interior – Bureau of Indian Affairs
Though BIA programs, Tribes improve their tribal governmental infrastructure, community infrastructure, education, job training, and employment opportunities along with other components of long term sustainable development that work to improve the quality of life for their members.

Department of the Interior – Bureau of Indian Education
BIE’s mission is to provide quality education opportunities from early childhood through life in accordance with a tribe’s needs for cultural and economic well-being, in keeping with the wide diversity of Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages as distinct cultural and governmental entities.

Department of the Interior – Bureau of Reclamation; Native American Affairs Office
The NAAO in the Commissioner’s Office serves as the central coordination point for the Native American Affairs Program and is Reclamation’s policy lead on all Native American issues.

Department of the Interior – Fish & Wildlife Service; Office of the Native American Liaison
Working together with Native American liaisons and officials from among the Federally-recognized tribes nationwide, the ONAL identifies areas where both Federal and tribal conservation efforts can most effectively conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats.

Department of Justice – Office of Tribal Justice
OTJ is the primary point of contact for the Department of Justice with federally-recognized Native American tribes, and advises the Department on legal and policy matters pertaining to Native Americans.

Department of Labor – Employment & Training Administration; Indian & Native American Program
Indian and Native American (INA) Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Section 166 grantees and the Department of Labor share a vision of providing quality employment and training services to Native American communities that not only meet regulatory requirements, but also are administered in ways that are consistent with the traditional cultural values and beliefs of the people they are designed to serve.

Department of Transportation – Office of Legislative & Governmental Affairs; Tribal Transportation
Under the leadership of Secretary LaHood, USDOT is committed to improving existing tribal transportation resources. This webpage serves as a portal to assist tribes and tribal governments to find the information and contacts they need at the Department.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Office of Tribal Governmental Relations
The staff of OTGR will provide a central source of communication between the Department and tribal nations and will serve as the Department’s liaisons with tribal nations and the Associations that serve them.

Environmental Protection Agency – American Indian Environmental Office
Within EPA, the American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) coordinates the Agency-wide effort to strengthen public health and environmental protection in Indian country, with a special emphasis on helping tribes administer their own environmental programs.

Federal Communications Commission – Office of Native Affairs & Policy
ONAP promotes the deployment and adoption of communications services and technologies throughout Tribal Lands and Native Communities, and works to ensure robust government-to-government consultation with federally recognized Tribal governments and increased coordination with inter-Tribal government and Native organizations.

General Services Administration – Native American Tribes
GSA offers a range of services available to federally recognized Native American Tribes, from surplus property donations to vehicle purchases. In addition, recognized tribes can use this page to receive notice of GSA actions and policies that affect tribes, as well as provide comment.

Internal Revenue Service – Office of Indian Tribal Governments
The OITG provides a single point of contact for assistance and service. Our specialists can address issues and provide guidance unique to Indian Country relating to tribal governments as employers, distributions to tribal members, and the establishment of government programs, trusts and businesses.

National Park Service – American Indian Liaison Office
The AILO is a small office that was created in 1995, to improve relationships between American Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and the National Park Service through consultation, outreach, technical assistance, education, and advisory services.

Office of Personal Management – Tribal Programs
The information on this website constitutes the preliminary information available regarding the tribal components of Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) coverage. OPM is consulting with tribes, tribal organizations and urban Indian organizations regarding the specifics of these programs. We will continue to keep you updated via this website.

Small Business Administration – Office of Native American Affairs
The ONAA’s mission is to ensure that American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses, have full access to the necessary business development and expansion tools available through the Agency’s entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement programs.

White House Executive Office of the President – Office of National Drug Control Policy
ONDCP is helping Native Americans and Alaskan Natives stay healthy by: supporting education and training for healthcare providers on early intervention and proper prescribing of prescription drugs; encouraging expanded access to treatment through the provisions in the Affordable Care Act; supporting anti-methamphetamine initiatives and youth prevention activities; and through High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HITDA) and Drug Free Community Support Program grants.