The Department of Justice issued in the attached December 12, 2014, FEDERAL REGISTER notice a set of guidelines for working with federally recognized Indian tribes. The guidelines lay out overarching principles: commitment to government-to-government relationship; respect for tribes’ inherent sovereignty; support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and commitment to tribal self-determination and long-term strengthening of tribal nations. The guidelines are effective as of December 3, 2014, and were announced by Attorney General Holder during his address at the White House Tribal Nations Conference.
The notice then lists with more specificity actions and positions of the Department of Justice under the following areas:
• Consultation and Communication with Tribes
• Culture and Mutual Respect
• Law Enforcement and Litigation
• Nation-Building and Tribal Justice Systems
• Coordination and Outreach
• Sustainability
Please let us know if we may provide additional information regarding the Department of Justice guidelines on working with federally recognized tribes.
