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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
American Indian and Alaska Native
1994 Policy Statement
The foundation for
this Policy Statement is the Federal Indian Policy Statement issued by
President Reagan in January, 1983 and reaffirmed by President Bush in
September, 1989. That statement affirms the special government-to-government
relationship that exists between American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal
governments and the Federal government.
The relationship,
which is as vital today as it was 200 years ago, is based on the U.S.
Constitution, treaties, Federal laws, court decisions and the on-going
political relationship between these entities.
The relationship
results in a Federal trust responsibility to Indian Tribes. The primary
responsibility for implementing this relationship lies within the Bureau of
Indian Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Department of
Housing and Urban Development acknowledges that the responsibility extends
to the provision of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing to the
members of Federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages residing on Indian
reservations and in other Indian areas.
The Department of
Housing and Urban Development’s policy to promote the general welfare
by meeting the national goal of providing decent, safe, sanitary and
affordable housing for lower income families is complemented by this
special Indian policy.
It is also the intent
of the Department to vest in local Indian housing authorities the maximum
amount of responsibility in administering their housing programs. To
accomplish this objective, the Department will consult with American Indian
and Alaska Native Tribal governments, Indian housing authorities and
national Indian organizations when developing legislation, regulations and
policies that affect those Tribes.
The Department also
encourages the development of a mutually beneficial partnership designed to
assist Native Americans by: expanding homeownership and affordable housing
opportunities; empowering the residents of Indian housing through the
creation of jobs and economic development opportunities; enforcing fair
housing opportunities; making Indian housing developments drug-free; and
helping to end the tragedy of homelessness.
Based upon the
foregoing, the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall:
- Recognize and acknowledge that a unique
government-to-government relationship exists between the United States and Federally recognized
American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal governments.
- Recognize and acknowledge that this is a
special and unique legal and political relationship, founded on
treaties, the U.S. Constitution, Federal laws and curt decisions, and
that the Department has a responsibility to assist in providing
decent, safe and sanitary housing to Federally recognized American
Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages;
- Recognize and acknowledge that tribal
self-sufficiency and self-determination require that Federally
recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal governments an
their political subdivisions, and in particular the Indian housing
authorities, in the development and management of such housing;
- Recognize and acknowledge that there are
distinct cultural practices, religious beliefs and jurisdictional
rights that must be considered when housing is developed for Native
Americans; and
- Recognized and
acknowledge the importance of effective and efficient coordination
with other Federal agencies in the development and management of such
housing.
Therefore, the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development shall take all appropriate
actions to implement these goals by incorporating them in its planning and
management activities, its legislative and regulatory initiatives and its
policy development.
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