On Friday, President Obama announced that he will host the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of the Interior on November 13.

The conference will provide leaders from the 566 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with the President and members of the White House Council on Native American Affairs.

This is the fifth White House Tribal Nations Conference that has been held during the Obama administration as the administration works to build and strengthen the government-to-government relationship with Indian Country and to improve the lives of Native Americans.

At the fourth White House Tribal Nations Conference, President Obama stated, “Every year I look forward to this event. It’s especially wonderful to see so many friends that I’ve gotten to know from various nations all across the country. You guys inspire me every single day, and whenever I’ve traveled to your home states there’s been such a warm welcome that I’ve received. So I’m truly grateful to all of you.”

Each of the 566 federally recognized tribes has been invited to send one representative to the conference.

Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is the chair of the White House Council on Native Affairs. That council was established in June of this year.

Jewell said in a statement after the first council meeting three days after it was established, that she believed that the meeting underscored “President Obama’s commitment to build effective partnerships with American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

Tribal leaders were not in attendance for the first meeting and many were non-plussed by the fact that no native leaders were invited to sit on the council.