President Joe Biden delivers a video message to the National Congress of American Indians on February 23, 2021.

“I promise you I’m committed to writing a new and better chapter in the history of our nation-to-nation relationship,” Biden said at NCAI’s executive council winter session, which is being held virtually.

On January 26, Biden signed a memorandum on tribal consultation and strengthening nation-to-nation relationships. He ordered all federal agencies to improve their plans on working with Indian Country.

“Respect for tribal sovereignty will be the cornerstone of our engagement with you,” Biden told tribal leaders.

“Above all, we are going to uphold our trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal nations,” Biden added.

Biden highlighted his historic nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) to be Secretary of the Interior. If confirmed, she would be the first Native person to lead the Department of the Interior and the first Native person in a presidential cabinet.

“There’s much, much we have to do,” Biden said.