# What the Indigenous Diplomacy and Engagement Act Does

This bill creates a new government office dedicated to building relationships between the United States and Indigenous peoples around the world. Right now, there's no single place in the State Department focused on this work, so the bill establishes an Office for Indigenous Affairs headed by a high-ranking official called the Coordinator for Indigenous Affairs. This coordinator would report directly to the Secretary of State and have the same status as an Ambassador at Large, making Indigenous diplomacy a priority in American foreign policy.

The coordinator's main job would be to develop a comprehensive five-year strategy for how the U.S. engages with Indigenous communities globally. This strategy would identify 10 to 20 countries with significant Indigenous populations and create specific plans for how America can work with these communities on issues like protecting their lands, preserving their cultures and languages, and supporting their economic development. The coordinator would also pull together resources from different government agencies—like the State Department, the Interior Department, and the international development agency—to make sure everyone's working toward the same goals instead of duplicating efforts.

The bill also creates an advisory commission made up of academics, Indigenous leaders, human rights experts, and representatives from major Native American organizations. This commission would meet regularly to give advice on the best ways to support Indigenous peoples worldwide and how to weave these priorities into America's overall foreign policy. Additionally, the bill requires that U.S. diplomats stationed abroad receive training about the Indigenous communities near their posts so they can engage with and support these groups directly. Every few years, the State Department would have to report to Congress on how well these efforts are working and what results they're achieving.