Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Joe Biden will make Monday an announcement to prohibit oil and gas exploration beyond the borders of a significant Native American park in Southwestern United States. This is part of a tribe summit he’s hosting.

Biden will also make announcements about steps to increase public safety, justice and respect for Native Americans. The event is held virtual because of the pandemic and will include representatives from over 570 tribes.

Informing reporters prior to the summit, top administration officials stated that Biden would declare that the Interior Department will in the coming weeks begin considering protections against new federal oil-and gas leasing, and develop a 10-mile (16 km) radius around Chaco Culture National Historical Park.

According to officials, the proposal would not affect individual Native American allotments and minerals located in the area.

New Mexico lawmakers have been pressing U.S. Deb Haaland (Interior Secretary) has been pressed by members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation to urge the United States to prohibit oil and natural gas development beyond the borders of the national park. It is listed on the UNESCO list as a world heritage site.

According to officials, Biden plans to also sign an executive order that will improve the public safety of Native Americans and their criminal justice system.

This order directs the Departments of Justice and Interior.

According to the White House’s fact sheet, Homeland Security and Health and Human Services will “create a strategy for improving public safety and justice in Native American communities and to deal with the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.”

Biden and Jill Biden will speak at the summit on Monday. Kamala Harris, Vice President of America, will give remarks Tuesday. This is the first tribal summit since 2016. There was none under the Trump presidency.