Washington
CNN
 — 

President Joe Biden on Wednesday introduced his support for a brand new staff – and flag – competing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Delivering remarks at the White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, Biden mentioned his administration would again a request from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, beforehand often called the Iroquois Confederacy, to compete internationally under their own flag in lacrosse at the 2028 video games.

“Their ancestors invented the game, they perfected it for millennia, their circumstances are unique, and they should be granted an exception to field their own team at the Olympics,” the president mentioned. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy spans elements of the Northeastern United States and Canada.

The choice started to come collectively this July, when Haudenosaunee leaders met with White House officers from the National Security Council, Domestic Policy Council and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. The International Olympic Committee could have to approve the transfer. CNN has reached out to the IOC for remark.

Biden additionally outlined steps his administration had taken to strengthen tribal sovereignty earlier than signing a brand new government order aimed toward streamlining Tribal entry to federal funding.

In a speech delivered from the Department of Interior, Biden touted “record investments to tribal nations,” however nonetheless acknowledged there’s “more to do” to guarantee “a new and better chapter in American history for Indian nations.”

“Today, there’s still too many hoops to jump through, too many strings attached and too many inefficiencies in the process,” Biden mentioned.

According to a reality sheet shared with CNN forward of Wednesday’s summit, the government order – the third signed by Biden aimed toward strengthening bonds with Tribal nations – will direct all federal businesses to transfer funding packages to extra intently fall in line with to the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act, “which has allowed Tribal Nations to build and run their own hospitals, schools, and police forces to better meet the needs of their communities using the same federal dollars.”

The government order additionally establishes a brand new “one stop shop” for Tribes and Native companies to search federal funding known as the “Tribal Access to Capital Clearinghouse” whereas directing the White House Council on Native American Affairs, the Office and Management and Budget, and the White House Domestic Policy Council to reassess what it says are “unmet federal obligations” to Tribal Nations.

During his speech, Biden alluded to the historic atrocities dedicated by European settlers, and, later, Americans in opposition to indigenous individuals. The president acknowledged it’s “hard work to heal the wrongs of the past,” however he added that “the actions we’re taking today are key steps into that new era of tribal sovereignty and self-determination.”

“A new era grounded in dignity and respect that recognizes your fundamental rights to govern and grow on your own terms,” he added, “that’s what this summit is about.”

In addition to Wednesday’s order, the Biden administration is anticipated to announce a slew of recent actions aimed toward strengthening ties with tribal nations, together with a sequence of steps the administration will take to guarantee the preservation of Native American historical past and sources.

As a part of these efforts, the administration is anticipated to announce greater than 190 co-stewardship agreements throughout the federal authorities, “which allow Tribal Nations to collaborate with the Federal Government to manage the federal lands, waters, and resources that are most important to them,” in accordance to a reality sheet shared with CNN Tuesday.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland – the first Native American to function a United States cupboard secretary – may also announce a brand new “Theme Study” led by the National Parks Service, “to broaden how we interpret and understand the Indian Reorganization period,” from 1934 to 1950, the secretary informed reporters.

“If there’s one thing I hope tribal leaders walk away from this year’s summit with, it’s this – the progress we’ve made together is substantial, it’s history-making, and it’s thanks to President Biden working diligently with tribes across the country that we are finally building the future our people deserve,” Haaland mentioned Tuesday.

Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Haaland and 10 cupboard members are anticipated to announce further actions throughout the summit this week, together with steps aimed toward enhancing childcare help for tribal communities, increasing FEMA’s potential to help tribal communities in the wake of pure disasters and disseminating a information for finest practices in the administration, remedy and safety of Native American sacred websites.

This story has been up to date with further developments on Wednesday.