The U.S. Census Bureau hereby proclaims its American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) policy.  This Policy outlines the principles to be followed in all Census Bureau interactions with federally recognized AIAN tribal governments.  It reaffirms the unique government-to-government relationship that exists between AIAN tribal governments and the Census Bureau.

This relationship is based on the United States Constitution, federal treaties, policy, law, court decisions, executive orders, and the ongoing political relationship among tribes and the federal government.  The relationship results in a federal trust responsibility to federally recognized tribal governments.

The foundation for this policy statement is the White House Memorandum of September 23, 2004, “Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments” and the AIAN policy of the U.S. Department of Commerce of March 30, 1995.  This policy is for internal management only and does not grant or vest any right to any party in respect to any federal action not otherwise granted or vested by existing law or regulations.

The American Indian and Alaska Native Policy of the U.S. Census Bureau, adopted on October 21, 2008 outlines nine principles that provide general guidelines for Census Bureau interactions with federally recognized tribal governments.

The policy was reaffirmed on October 12, 2009.

In compliance with Presidential Memorandum of November 5, 2009 and Executive Order 13175, the Census Bureau approved the Handbook for Consultation with Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes on October 1, 2011.