Thursday, Jun 27 2013 3:46PM

The White House announced the establish of a new council to tackle Native Americans' most pressing issues.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced that President Barack Obama recently signed a new Executive Order that will establish the first ever White House Council on Native American Affairs. 

The council will bring together several federal agencies to discuss five top-priority issues cited by Native American tribes across the country, including the establishment of sustainable economic community development, improved educational opportunities for tribal members and the effective management of Native American water, land and environmental resources.

Approximately 30 federal departments and agencies were named in the Executive Order, including the Departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education and Energy.

"This order establishes a national policy to ensure that the Federal Government engages in a true and lasting government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribes in a more coordinated and effective manner, including by better carrying out its trust responsibilities," said President Barack Obama. 

DOI Secretary Sally Jewell says the council is designed to eradicate poverty, provide more social services to tribes and improve job creation.

The National Congress of American Indians called the establishment of the council a "strong step forward" to strengthen the relationship between Native American tribes and the government, and noted that it will increase respect and trust between the two groups. 

For more information, check out this resource: The U.S. Department of the Interior