The Department of Labor will be updating its tribal consultation policy as part of the Obama administration's push to renew the nation-to-nation relationship.

Officials will participate in three upcoming sessions to ask tribes about the new policy. "The Labor Department is committed to developing a meaningful consultation policy that is both respectful of tribal sovereignty and reflective of the nation-to-nation relationship between tribes and the U.S. government,” said Secretary Hilda L. Solis.

To ease the travel burden on tribal leaders, the meetings take place in conjunction with ones scheduled by the Interior Department. Tribal leaders will be able to engage with officials from both departments during the sessions.

The first meeting takes place Monday, December 14, at the Westin Washington, DC, 1400 M St NW. Additional meetings will be held on January 5, 2010, in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and on January 12, 2010, in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Labor Department also will accept written comments and questions. Those can be directed to Nicole Willis, special assistant to Secretary Solis for Indian affairs, at 202-693-6453 or willis.nicole@dol.gov.

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