Jourdan Bennett-Begaye
ICT

WASHINGTON — Throughout Indigenous history, which is also American history, the federal government contested what department would have “control of the Indian bureau.” Was it the War department or Interior department? It depended on the situation.

White men led these bureaus and, most of the time, had hostile relationships with Indigenous leaders and nations.

Fast forward hundreds of years, more than 300 Indigenous leaders sat in one room with the highest officials in the federal government at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, organized by Indigenous staff at the White House and other federal agencies.

Indigenous leaders sat on panels with federal officials, such as Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, who is the first Native American to serve as cabinet secretary.

Some Indigenous leaders asked officials for a more personal engagement and expressed frustration, and others listened and learned, but many applied the networking opportunity to their nation-building visions.

Here are some photos that the livestream didn’t catch. 

Credit: The 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders from the Pacific Northwest region at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders from the Pacific Northwest region pose with PaaWee Rivera, senior advisor to the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and director of tribal affairs for the Biden-Harris Administration, at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders at the White House Council on Native American Engagement Sessions at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders at the White House Council on Native American Engagement Sessions at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders at the White House Council on Native American Engagement Sessions at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders at the White House Council on Native American Engagement Sessions at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders watch NASA Astronaut Col. Nicole Mann, the first Native woman in space, in video remarks at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders watch NASA Astronaut Col. Nicole Mann, the first Native woman in space, in video remarks at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: The Indian Craft Shop in the Department of Interior that many attendees of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit visited and shopped at in Washington, D.C. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: The Indian Craft Shop in the Department of Interior that many attendees of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit visited and shopped at in Washington, D.C. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: The Indian Craft Shop in the Department of Interior that many attendees of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit visited and shopped at in Washington, D.C. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: PaaWee Rivera, senior advisor to the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and director of tribal affairs for the Biden-Harris Administration, takes a photo with Gila River Indian Community Chairman Stephen Roe Lewis at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, participating in the a panel about public safety and justice with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Justice Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, and Department of the Interior Department of the Interior Solicitor Bob Anderson at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, participating in a Yup'ik cultural performance at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: President Joe Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, shake hands before Biden's address to over 300 leaders during the 10th White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Pauly Denetclaw, ICT)
Credit: President Joe Biden addresses over 300 leaders during the 10th White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington D.C. on Nov. 30, 2022. (Pauly Denetclaw, ICT)
Credit: An attendee of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit records President Joe Biden's remarks from her cell phone in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Vice President Kamala Harris acknowledges Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, as the first Native American person and woman to serve as a cabinet secretary and lead the Department of Interior at the White House Tribal Nations Summit at the Interior in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: An attendee of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit takes a selfie with Vice President Kamala Harris in the background in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: An attendee of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit takes a selfie with Vice President Kamala Harris in the background in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: PaaWee Rivera, senior advisor to the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and director of tribal affairs for the Biden-Harris Administration, listens to an attendee at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. Rivera is Pojoaque Pueblo. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders chatting during a break in between sessions on Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders chatting during a break in between sessions on Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: President Joe Biden address more than 300 tribal leaders at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Xavier Barraza and tribal leaders at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney A. Butler and Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro take a selfie with Ginger Sykes Torres, Diné, at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: An attendee of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit records President Joe Biden's remarks from her cell phone in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: An attendee of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit records President Joe Biden's remarks on his cell phone in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders chatting during a break in between sessions on Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: U.S. Department of Treasury senior advisor Fatima Abbas and Jamestown S'Klallam Tribal Chairman W. Ron Allen at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Cherokee Nation's delegate-designee Kim Teehee records a video at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Santa Clara Pueblo Governor J. Michael Chavarria and Jemez Pueblo 1st Lt. Governor Dominic Gachupin pose for a photo at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Sokaogon Community Tribal Chairman Robert VanZile Jr. asking a question at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on December 1, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders listening to a session on Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: ShowTime Singers drum sitting by the stage at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders listening to a session on Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: An armchair conversation with tribal leaders discussing access to capital and economic development at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. Panel consist of moderator and Treasurer Lynn Malerba of the Department of Treasury, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Chairman Scott Herman, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney A. Butler, Administrator Isabel Guzman of the Small Business Administration, and Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Department of Treasury. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders standing for the color guard on Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders standing for the color guard on Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: A culture performance takes place during the lunch break at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders making their way to the auditorium for the afternoon session during the lunch break at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg talks with tribal leaders during lunch break at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg takes photos with tribal leaders during lunch break at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: An attendee of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit records President Joe Biden's remarks from her cell phone in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Attendees of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit record President Joe Biden's remarks on their cell phones in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: President Joe Biden speaks to tribal leaders at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: President Joe Biden speaks to tribal leaders at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, speaking at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: An attendee of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit records President Joe Biden's remarks from his cell phone in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, introduced and embraced President Joe Biden at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, introduced President Joe Biden at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis sporting a Phoenix Suns bomber jacket and medallion and talking with other tribal leaders at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Delegates and leaders from Alaska at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, Bay Mills Indian Community, talks with a summit attendee at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C, on November 20, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders at Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: The 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington D.C. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)
Credit: Native American Women Warriors color guard posted colors at Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: An armchair conversation with tribal leaders discussing access to capital and economic development at the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C., on November 30, 2022. Panel consist of moderator and Treasurer Lynn Malerba of the Department of Treasury, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Chairman Scott Herman, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Chairman Rodney A. Butler, Administrator Isabel Guzman of the Small Business Administration, and Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, Department of Treasury. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders waiting for Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit to begin in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders getting ready for Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit to begin in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Native American Women Warriors color guard posted colors at Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: Tribal leaders at Day One of the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in the Sidney Yates Auditorium at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. on November 30, 2022. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, ICT)
Credit: The 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington D.C. (Jourdan Bennett-Begaye/ICT)

ICT is a nonprofit news organization. Will you support our work? All of our content is free. There are no subscriptions or costs. And we have hired more Native journalists in the past year than any news organization ─ and with your help we will continue to grow and create career paths for our people. Support ICT for as little as $10. Sign up for ICT’s free newsletter. 

Jourdan Bennett-Begaye, Diné, is the managing editor of ICT and based in its Washington bureau. Follow her on X: @jourdanbb or email her at jourdan@ictnews.org.