Welcome to the Kansas Native American Affairs (KNAA) website. The Native American Affairs Office serves the Governor and the four federally recognized Tribes of Kansas. The primary purpose of the Executive Director is to serve the Governor by assisting, supporting and providing education to strengthen and enhance the government-to-government relationship with the four sovereign Nations of Kansas. The KNAA office works to strengthen state-Tribal relations by providing state agencies with education on laws and regulations that affect state issues to ensure Tribal voices are recognized in state policy making decisions that do not infringe on Tribal sovereignty. The KNAA office documents and assists with issues on Tribal lands only at the request of the Tribally elected officials.

The KNAA Office assists state agencies in implementing Tribal consultation and outreach activities to ensure equitable access to state services. Each state agency shall:

1. Identify the state department's Tribal liaison designated by the Governor to work with the Tribes as a point of contact for the agency.
2. Develop and implement Tribal consultation policies to guide the agency's work and interaction with the Tribes in Kansas.
3. To the extent practical and permitted by law, seek input from elected Tribal or appointed officials before undertaking any action or policy that will or may have a potential effect on a Tribal community or its members.
4. To the best of the agency's ability in consultation with the KNAA Director, integrate the input generated from the Tribal consultation into the agency's decision-making process to achieve mutually acceptable solutions.

The KNAA office continually coordinates intergovernmental communications to enhance and strengthen the relationship with the Governor's Office and both federal and state agencies. The Executive Director carries many roles in serving the Governor, including:

• Intergovernmental - leads the office to support and enhance government to government relationships between the state and the four Tribes.
• Advisor to the Governor - Provides counsel to the Governor and state Secretaries on laws and policies related to or impacting Tribal Nations.
• Facilitator - Assists Tribal governments and organizations to access programs and services throughout state agencies.
• Catalyst - Streamlines processes and develops opportunities for forums to address policies, program challenges and services that support the needs of Tribal Nations; and,
• Consultation, Coordination and Collaboration lead - Provides education and support for state agencies to assist with relationship building with the Tribal leaders in the state in areas of mutual interest.

The Native American Affairs website provides information and resources about Kansas Tribes and contemporary Native American issues. The KNAA website provides links to resources regarding tribal perspectives on Native American Law, Education, Tourism, Health, Gaming and Economic Development.

While the KNAA Office does not carry out genealogical research, assisting with Tribal enrollments or locating required information, a website link has been provided to the Bureau of Indian Affairs website for information about tracing American Indian/Alaska Native ancestry to a federally recognized tribe.