Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697801201634.pdf (Liberia)
For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary September 23, 2004 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies Government-to-Government Relationship with Tribal Governments The Unite d Sta tes h as a u nique legal a nd po litical re lation ship with In dian t ribes and a spec ial rela tions hip with Alaska Native entities as provided in the Constitution of the United States, treaties, and Federal statutes.

Presidents for decades have recognized this relationship.
President Nixon announced a national policy of self-determination for Indian tribes in 1970.

More recently, Executive Order 13175, entitled Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, was issued in 2000.

I reiterated my Adm inistration's ad herenc e to a gov ernm ent-to-go vernm ent relations hip and s upport fo r tribal sover eignty and self-determination earlier this year in Executive Order 13336, entitled American Indian and Alaska Native E ducation .
My Administration is committed to continuing to work with federally recognized tribal governments on a govern men t-to-gove rnm ent bas is and stro ngly supp orts and respects tribal sovereignty and self-determination for tribal g over nm ents in the U nited State s. I tak e prid e in acknowledging and reaffirming the existence and durability of our unique government-to-government relationsh ip and the se abidin g principles .
This commitment begins at the White House, where my Director of Intergo vernm ental Affa irs serves as m y W hite Hous e liaison with a ll Indian nation s and w orks w ith federally recognized tribal governments on an interg over nm enta l basis .

Mor eove r, it is cr itical th at all departments and agencies adhere to these principles and work with tribal governments in a manner that cultivates mutu al respec t and fos ters grea ter unde rstanding to reinforce these pr inciples.
Accordingly, the head of each executive department and agency (agency) shall continue to ensure to the grea test e xten t prac ticab le and as pe rm itted b y Unite d Sta tes la w tha t the a gen cy's w orkin g rela tions hip with federally recognized tribal governments fully respects the rights of self-government and self-determination due tribal governments.
Department or agency inquiries regarding this memorandum , specifically those related to regulatory, legislative, or budgetary issues, should be directed to the Office of Mana gem ent and B udget.
This me mo rand um is inten ded only to im prov e the intern al m ana gem ent o f the e xec utive b ranc h and is not in tend ed to , and does not, c reate any rig ht, be nefit, or tru st res pon sibility, s ubs tantiv e or p roce dura l, enforceable at law or in equity, by a party against the United States, its agencies, entities, or instrum entalities, its offic ers or em ployees, or any other p erson.

GEORGE W. BUSH