Monthly CDFI Certification Conference Calls
2024-03-21 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-18 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
The CDFI Fund conducts monthly CDFI Certification Conference Calls which are intended to serve as a forum for potential CDFI Certification Applicants, Certified CDFIs, and other CDFI Certification stakeholders to ask questions and discuss CDFI Certification and the CDFI Certification process.
Access InstructionsTo access conference calls participants need to call the toll-free number (800) 369-1639 and dial in the numeric Participant Passcode [REDACTED]. No prior registration is necessary. Please note the dial in process is automated. The conference call will have a moderator to direct the Q&As. Please note all call are Eastern Time (ET).
CDFI Certification Conference Call Schedule

Thursday, February 15, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, March 21, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, April 18, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, May 16, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, June 20, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, July 18, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, August 15, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, September 19, 2024 – 3:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Thursday, October 17, 2024 – 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
Thursday, November 21, 2024 – 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET
Thursday, December 19, 2024 – 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET

CDFI CONTACT INFORMATION

Have questions/concerns about CDFI Certification?
OCPE Helpdesk
Email: OCPECert@cdfi.treas.gov
Phone: (202) 653-0423
IT Helpdesk
Email: ithelpdesk@cdfi.treas.gov
Phone: (202) 653-0300

VA Listening Session on Veterans Cemetery Grants Program
2024-03-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
The VA is having a listening session to
discuss issues affecting compliance with certain terms and conditions of grants made by the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program (VCGP) as well as proposed regulatory changes affecting Tribes. Section 2408 of Title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.) and implementing regulations in Part 39 of Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) govern processes and criteria for grant applications, award decisions, and define grantee responsibilities to meet specified grant terms and conditions. These requirements affect all VCGP grantees, but the focus of this listening session will be to facilitate communication with Tribal Leaders on the following topics for discussion.
NCA wants successful outcomes for Tribal grantee cemeteries. Our goal for the listening session is to better understand the unique aspects of American Indian and Alaska Native communities that may impact their ability to comply with VCGP requirements. This input will inform NCA as it contemplates potential actions and changes that may affect Tribal grantees. Additionally, NCA is developing regulatory amendments that would require grantees to inter Veterans and other eligible individuals and to eliminate residency restrictions on interment and memorialization in VA grant-funded cemeteries. Tribal input is needed on the impact, if any, of these proposed changes. Below are issues NCA has identified for discussion having administered cemetery grants to fourteen Tribal Nations:

Maintaining the cemetery according to NCA Operational Standards and Measures.
Correcting deficiencies identified during a Compliance Review assessment of the cemetery.
Submitting Annual VA Form 40-0241 (VA Grant-Funded Veterans Cemetery Data) documenting current burial activity at the cemetery, use of gravesites, and additional operational information intended to answer questions about the status of the grant program.
Clarifying any potential impacts of regulatory changes currently under consideration by VA.

They welcome input from Tribal Leaders (or their designee) on questions presented below but are open to any other topics Tribal Leaders would like to raise.

What solutions would Tribal Leaders suggest to improve Tribal Veterans’ cemeteries compliance with grant terms and conditions, specifically meeting NCA Operational Standards and Measures? What are some of the challenges facing Tribal grantees?
Do Tribal Veteran cemeteries have Tribal membership requirements? Would Tribes be affected by a proposed regulation that would require grant funded cemeteries to inter individuals eligible for burial in a VA national cemetery without regard to State residency?
What means of communication work best for Tribal Veteran grantees and communities?
Are there other recommendations, concerns, or suggestions that VA should consider?

VA invites you to participate in a virtual listening session to discuss these issues, clarify ambiguities, and address any other topics of concern to enhance collaboration between NCA and Tribal Cemeteries.
The virtual listening session has been scheduled to address the above topics on Monday, March 25, 2024, 3:00-5:00 pm (Eastern Time). Participants can access the session hosted on Teams by using the following methods:

Join on your computer’s Teams app using this link: Click here to join the meeting.
Join on the Teams web-based platform using this link: Join on the web and enter Meeting ID: 247 382 430 590 and Passcode: [REDACTED]
Call in (audio only) by dialing +1 872-701-0185, then enter when prompted the Conference ID 390440417#.

Please submit written comments to tribalgovernmentconsultation@va.gov before March 25, 2024. For questions regarding these efforts, please contact James Earp, Director, Veterans Cemetery Grants Program by email at james.earp@va.gov or by phone at 202-461-0620 (not a toll-free number).

Social Security Administration Free Training on SSA Programs and Services
2024-03-26 09:00, 2024-03-27 12:30 | Virtual Event
March 26 at 10:00 am Eastern
March 27 at 1:30 pm Eastern
Register
The Social Security Administration is hosting another training series following the published Tribal Benefits Coordinator Guide with lessons that build upon the prior session starting with SSA Benefits 101 in March. You may find the Dear Tribal Leader Letter here, which includes more information and registration link.
Who should attend: All Social Workers, Tribal Benefit Coordinators, Navigators, and others that serve critical support roles to the American Indian Alaska Native people.

IRS Office Hours to assist with IRA/CHIPS Pre-filling Registration Tool
2024-03-27 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-04-03 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-04-10 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-04-17 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
The IRS is excited to offer additional office hours (through Microsoft Teams) to help entities with the pre-filing registration process on the new IRA/CHIPS Pre-filing Registration Tool. Pre-filing registration is a required step for applicable entities and eligible taxpayers to take advantage of elective payment or transfer of credits available in the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act. Representatives from the IRS will be available to answer your pre-filing registration questions.
Registration for office hours is now open. Registration is required and can be completed by clicking on the links below.

Date
Time
Registration Link

February 28, 2024
1-2:30 PM EST
Register Here

March 6, 2024
1-2:30 PM EST
Register Here

March 13, 2024
1-2:30 PM EDT
Register Here

March 20, 2024
1-2:30 PM EDT
Register Here

March 27, 2024
1-2:30 PM EDT
Register Here

April 3, 2024
1-2:30 PM EDT
Register Here

April 10, 2024
1-2:30 PM EDT
Register Here

April 17, 2024
1-2:30 PM EDT
Register Here

April 24, 2024
1-2:30 PM EDT
Register Here

USDA Forest Service Tribal Consultation on the National Old Growth Amendment
2024-03-27 13:30 | Virtual Event
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service invites you to consult on the National Old Growth Amendment (NOGA). The Forest Service Washington Office will host multiple opportunities for collaboration and consultation throughout the NOGA process to incorporate Tribal government and ANC perspectives. We hope you or a member of your staff will be able to participate in the first engagement, which will be a collaborative virtual Tribal Forum on March 27, 2024.
The NOGA invitation to consult and summary analysis are hyperlinked below and attached:

Invitation to Consult: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/4ooig74vs5tj7ztpfrz6ikff5jrlg58s
Summary Analysis: https://usfs-public.box.com/s/3qvycbpn0hhm7yunc8esa4y9us3a5mcu

Tribal Forum Details
March 27, 2024 at 2:30 pm Eastern
Register
This information is also available online through the National Consultation Calendar at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/tribal-relations/national-consultation. The Office of Tribal Relations is utilizing email to ensure timely communication of this opportunity to consult on national initiatives.
The Office of Tribal Relations is available to facilitate consultation with Deputy Chief Chris French, the delegated consulting official at the national level. You may also consult on national policy with a Regional Forester or Forest Supervisor in lieu of Deputy Chief Chris French. Line Officers will summarize issues and report the outcomes of consultation to the Deputy Chief and the Office of Tribal Relations. Consultation may be requested at any time during the implementation of the National Old Growth Amendment.
Please contact the Regional Tribal Relations Program Manager in your area or Reed Robinson, Director of the Office of Tribal Relations in Washington, D.C., at SM.FS.otrtribalcon@usda.gov to request consultation on the proposed policy or to ask any questions. For your convenience, your Regional Forester, Regional Tribal Relations Program Manager, and Research Station Tribal Relations Program Manager are copied on this email.

FEMA Webinar for FEMA GO Training for prospective FY 2024 THSGP applicants.
2024-04-01 13:00, 2024-04-04 13:00, 2024-04-05 13:00 | Virtual Event
Monday, April 1, 2:00 pm Eastern
Register
Thursday, April 4, 2:00 pm Eastern
Register
Friday, April 5, 2:00 pm Eastern
Register

GPD is continuing a series of webinars that began in 2021 with the goal of increasing transparency and ensuring stakeholders have the information they need to successfully submit their Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 THSGP applications. The upcoming webinars will focus on:

FEMA GO Training for prospective FY 2024 THSGP applicants.

Three separate sessions are being offered to accommodate participant schedules. There is no need to participate in more than one session since the agenda is the same for both.

FEMA Webinar | Achieving Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Leaders and Officials
2024-04-02 01:00 - 14:00, 2024-04-03 01:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
You are invited to attend two webinars for Tribal Nations on April 2 and 3, 2024, on FEMA’s “Achieving Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Officials and Leaders” (Equity Guide). The purpose of these webinars is to share how the Equity Guide can serve as a tool and resource to assist Tribal Nations during post-disaster recovery work.
The webinars will be hosted by FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery in partnership with the FEMA Tribal Affairs branch. Key concepts in in the Equity Guide include:

Lessening recovery disparities for people who are under-resourced, underserved, and marginalized.
Building resilience for the whole community, reduce impacts of recurring disasters, and mitigate climate risks.
Aligning recovery efforts with Executive Orders 13985 and 14008 and the Justice40 Initiative.
Engaging FEMA Goal 1: Instill equity as a foundation of emergency management.
Building upon Community Assistance Recovery Support Function Technical Assistance and resource guides.

The Equity Guide webinars will be held on Zoom on the following dates and registration is required:

Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Register to attend
Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Register to attend

The full Equity Guide is available on the FEMA website at: Achieving Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Officials and Leaders (fema.gov)
If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:

Congressional Affairs at (202) 646-4500 or at FEMA-Congressional-Affairs@fema.dhs.gov
Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov
Tribal Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Tribal@fema.dhs.gov
Private Sector Engagement at (202) 646-3444 or at nbeoc@max.gov

DOI Consultation to Receive Feedback on Potential NPS Activity
2024-04-02 11:00 - 13:00, 2024-04-04 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Tuesday, April 2 at 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Zoom link
Thursday, April 4 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Zoom link
In June 2021, Secretary Deb Haaland (Secretary) launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative (Initiative) at the U.S. Department of the Interior (Department) to highlight the troubled history of Federal Indian boarding school policies and their legacy for Indigenous Peoples. To address the intergenerational impact of Federal Indian boarding schools and to promote spiritual and emotional healing in our communities, we must acknowledge and shed light on the traumas of the past.
In May of 2022, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland released Volume I of the Investigative Report, as called for as part of the Initiative. Volume I of the report lays the groundwork for the Department’s continued advancement of the Initiative, in coordination with sister agencies.
Through generous investments from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Mellon Foundation, we have provided a grant to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) to gather first-person survivor narratives. These will help form a permanent oral history collection and ensure stories and experiences that Federal Indian boarding school survivors share can be learned from and heard by current and future generations.
To build on this work, the Secretary has also directed the National Park Service (NPS), often referred to as our nation’s storyteller, to explore opportunities for enhanced interpretation of this history and preservation of related resources. This examination could include potential opportunities through NPS programs and historic Federal Indian boarding school sites, burial sites, and artifacts.
The Department will consult with Indian Tribes to receive feedback on potential NPS activity regarding preservation and interpretation of the Federal Indian boarding school system.
In addition to receiving general input, the Department is seeking specific views to the following questions:

How should the history of the Federal Indian boarding school system be acknowledged and publicly shared at sites within existing national park units? Are there other sites critical to preserving the boarding school system history?
How can NPS’s historic preservation programs support the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative?
Should the Department invest support or resources to protect the physical sites of historical Federal Indian boarding schools that are currently located on Federal lands, including burial sites and artifacts, even as Federal agencies fulfill their responsibilities for repatriation or disinterment
Would you like to share any additional suggestions or comments related to the NPS preservation and interpretation of the Federal Indian boarding school system?

The Department welcomes your written comments on the proposed NPS activity related
to the historical Federal Indian boarding school system by email to consultation@bia.gov
by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, April 12, 2024.
If you have any questions regarding the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, please contact Mr. Joaquin R. Gallegos, Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, by email at joaquin.gallegos@indianaffairs.gov.

USDA ReConnect Round 5 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Ask Me Anything (AMA) Webinar for Tribal Applicants
2024-04-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
April 3 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Register
Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), this AMA webinar will provide Tribal stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions directly to RUS staff about the ReConnect Program and requirements outlined in the recently published ReConnect Round 5 NOFO.
There is no predefined presentation, so please bring your questions. All questions will be answered live and in real-time in the order they are received.

HHS Tribal Consultation on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
2024-04-03 14:30 | Virtual Event
April 3 at 3:30 pm Eastern
Register in advance
The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to partnering on a nation-to-nation basis with Tribes to ensure the wellbeing of Tribal children and preservation of Tribal families. We invite you to provide your input on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations to require state title IV-E agencies to collect and report additional data elements related to the procedural requirements related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA). The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2024 (89 FR 13652).
The NPRM proposes to require State title IV-E agencies to collect and report data elements on: (1) whether the state inquired with named entities as to whether the child is an Indian child as defined in ICWA and when the agency first discovered information indicating that the child is or may be an Indian child as defined in ICWA; (2) information on court determinations that ICWA applies for the child, and whether the testimony of one or more qualified expert witnesses was included for voluntary and involuntary terminations of parental rights, and removals; (3) whether the child’s parent or Indian custodian was sent notice in accordance with ICWA; (4) information on requests to transfer cases to tribal court; (5) information on meeting the placement preferences under ICWA; and (6) whether the court determined there was active efforts. This NPRM does not impose any burden or cost on Tribal title IV-E agencies because ICWA does not apply to Tribal title IV-E agencies, therefore, they do not have to report the data elements proposed in this NPRM. However, we are seeking input from Tribes.
ACF uses AFCARS data for a variety of requirements, including but not limited to providing national statistics on the child welfare population, budgeting, providing reports to Congress, and monitoring compliance with the titles IV-B and IV-E requirements.
The Tribal consultation is open to all tribal leaders or their designees and may address any aspect of the NPRM. In addition to participating in the tribal consultation webinar, ACF encourages Tribal leaders to submit comments in writing in response to the NPRM to Regulations.gov. The deadline for the receipt of written comments in response to the NPRM is April 23, 2024.
You may submit written comments to the NPRM in any of the following ways:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Use this link for the NPRM, click the “Comment now!” button and follow the instructions for submitting comments: https://www.regulations.gov/document/ACF-2024-0001-0001
The Children’s Bureau recommends use of this method.
Email: CBComments@acf.hhs.gov. Include docket number and/or RIN number in subject line of the message.

Additional information is provided in Information Memoranda ACYF-CB-IM-24-02.
If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Bethany Imbody at bethany.imbody@icf.com.

Treasury Tribal Consultation: Elective Pay and Certain Joint Ownership
2024-04-05 12:00 | Virtual Event
Tribal consultation on Elective Pay and Certain Joint Ownership Arrangements will be held virtually on April 5, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Treasury will accept comments until May 10th, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Alaska Time.
Read the Dear Tribal Leader Letter for the Tribal Consultation

HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation
2024-04-09 - 2024-04-10 | Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, United States
April 9-10 in Washington, DC
HHS invites Tribal leaders to consult on national health and human services funding priorities for the Department’s FY 2026 budget request. The annual consultation will take place in-person on April 9-10 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, DC. The event will consist of a Tribal Resource Session, one-on-one Tribal meetings with HHS Divisions, a discussion on Executive Order 14112 (Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination ), and a full-day consultation on funding recommendations.
As in previous years, HHS will host two planning sessions to work with Tribes to prepare for the consultation. These will take place on March 6 and March 20 from 3:00 to 3:30pm EST. Separate registrations for the April consultation and the planning sessions are required. Please see this Dear Tribal Leader Letter for more details.
Written comments will be accepted through April 12 at 5:00pm EST and may be delivered to consultation@hhs.gov with the subject line “HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation.”

White House Virtual Briefing
2024-04-10 12:30 | Virtual Event
You are invited to a virtual briefing to learn about new actions by the Biden-Harris Administration to protect access to clean, safe drinking water and create healthier communities. This briefing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10th at 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT. Speakers will include senior officials from the White House, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and more.
To confirm your participation, please RSVP here:
https://pitc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_IyrkiUFlRailRJJk9eXI4w#/registration (-> pxrnaodbb.cc.rs6.net)

FEMA Tribal Listening Sessions and Consultation on the Tribal Consultation Policy
2024-04-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy
FEMA invites Tribal Nations to participate in a series of tribal listening sessions and consultations to provide feedback on the current Tribal Consultation Policy. FEMA is committed to ensuring all participants have equal access regardless of disability status. If you require reasonable accommodation due to a disability to fully participate in the engagements listed below, please contact fema-tribal@fema.dhs.gov as soon as possible.

Tribal Listening Sessions and Tribal Consultations:
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2024
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: FEMA Headquarters Building, 500 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20472
Virtual: To register for the consultation, please visit this Zoom link

Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MT
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort, 4300 E Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, hosted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) Conference
Registration: You can register for the TAC-G Conference for free, here

Date: May 23, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm ET
Location: Zoom
Virtual: Zoom Registration link

Date: May 28, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET
Location: Zoom
Virtual: Zoom Registration link

The purpose of the tribal listening session and consultations is to gather Tribal Nations’ feedback on the Tribal Consultation Policy so that it better meets the needs of Tribal Nations across Indian Country.
Additional consultation dates and information, including a framing paper, will be available on the FEMA Tribal Consultations webpage at a later date.
Tribal Nations can send their comments and any questions to fema-tribal@fema.dhs.gov. Please include the subject line “Tribal Consultation Policy – Written Comments.” Feedback and comments are due by July 30, 2024.

2024 Department of Homeland Security External Tribal Quarterly Meetings
2024-04-16 13:00 | Virtual Event
You are invited to the 2024 DHS External Tribal Quarterly Meetings. These virtual quarterly meetings are hosted by DHS Tribal Affairs and provide an opportunity to have discussions on Homeland Security matters such as equity, resource availability, partnerships, law enforcement and security, cybersecurity, disaster response, and prevention of human trafficking and targeted violence.
They welcome Tribal leaders, elders, representatives, program directors and Tribal members to attend and participate. They also invite all DHS components who work with Tribal Nations. An agenda will be provided to all registrants.
The 2024 quarterly meeting schedule is as follows:
April 16, 2024, 2:00 PM EST
July 16, 2024, 2:00 PM EST
October 15, 2024, 2:00 PM EST
Below is the Zoom registration link for the April session.
When: April 16, 2024 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://hq-dhs.zoomgov.com/j/1616223893?pwd=[REDACTED] (-> lnks.gd)
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

VA Rural Veterans Virtual Outreach Symposium
2024-04-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
April 18 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern
Link to join
Phone: 1-833-558-0712 Toll-free Number, Access Code: [REDACTED] 290 4332
Webinar password: [REDACTED] (97733774 from phones and video systems)
This symposium will focus on the importance of reaching out to our Nation’s Veterans who reside in rural and remote areas. Attendees will be educated and empowered about the benefits and services that may be available to them. The symposium will provide information on current and future VA benefits, to include filing a VA disability claim online, the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act and improving the quality of life for Veterans and dependents through Vet Center services. In addition, there will be presentations on rural healthcare and expanding access to care through virtual technologies.

National NAGPRA Program Webinars
2024-04-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
The National NAGPRA Program will host a series of 10 webinars on the new regulations on the third Friday of every month from 1pm to 2:30pm Eastern time. Registration is required, but the meeting information is always the same. Register once and attend any session. Mark your calendars and bring your questions. https://doitalent.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_lh7ZTDUUR3KuMODpLhqwPw
January 19, 2024 – Overview of Revised Regulations, Watch Recording
February 16, 2024 – Deep dive into Repatriation of Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects, Watch Recording
March 15, 2024 – Deep dive into Repatriation of Cultural Items
April 19, 2024 – Notices under NAGPRA

FEMP and Office of Indian Energy Office Hours
2024-04-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Monday, April 22 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, May 9 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Registration is required
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and the Office of Indian Energy (IE) are co-hosting office hours to answer questions about Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and the Indian Energy Purchase Preference (IEPP). This is partially a follow-up from last month’s training Selling Renewable Energy to the Federal Government: 1 – Renewable Energy Certificates (link to original course registration—on demand coming soon).The primary audience is Tribes and Tribal Majority Owned Business organizations who are interested in selling RECs to the Federal Government, which is also the primary focus of a recently released solicitation from GSA.

DOI Consultation on the the development of the Scientific Integrity Policy.
2024-04-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) invites you to consult on the development of the DOI Scientific Integrity Policy. Pursuant to President Biden’s Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking | The White House, the National Science & Technology Council (NSTC) has created new policies and procedures pertaining to scientific integrity for the whole of the Federal Government. Those new polices in turn call for each federal agency to develop its own scientific integrity policy.
As DOI prepares its own policy, they seek to engage with you to hear your concerns and understand what you would like to see included in the policy. NSTC’s framework for all federal agencies is available at A Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice (whitehouse.gov). To facilitate the consultation, enclosed are some questions for your consideration.
They will hold three consultation sessions, which will be open to all federally recognized Tribal Nations, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. They invite you to register for one or more of the sessions listed below using the links provided.

Monday, April 22 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register for Session 1
Friday, April 26 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register for Session 2
Tuesday, April 30 at 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Eastern
Register for Session 3

You may submit written comments to DOISIPConsultation@usgs.gov. Written comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 31, 2024, to ensure timely consideration.
If you need further information, please contact Chris Hammond, Head of the Office of Tribal Relations at the U.S. Geological Survey, at chammond@usgs.gov or 703-648-6621.

USDA Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers: Education and Research
2024-04-22 13:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces the Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers: Annual Progress Report and Feedback for Next Steps, to be held April 22-26, 2024. These meetings with Tribal Nation officials will highlight historic Biden-Harris Administration investments made in response to Tribal Nation requests and discuss more ways to improve USDA service to Indian Country.
“In just three years, USDA has fundamentally changed the way we do business with Indian Country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We have more partnerships between Tribes and National Forests, more marketing support for Native producers, and we are including more Native foods in our nutrition assistance programs. These are just a sampling of the many ways that we are reshaping our programs to include Tribal and Indigenous perspectives, remove barriers, and encourage Tribal self-determination.”
Consultations are formal, Nation-to-Nation meetings between USDA (representing the federal government) and officials from among the 574 federally recognized Tribal Nations. There are many agricultural producers in Indian Country, and USDA plays a significant role in upholding Tribal treaty rights and the Nation-to-Nation trust relationship. USDA agencies and offices host consultations throughout the year to hear from Tribal Nations about how USDA policies and programs can better support Indian Country.
The April consultations will focus on key priority areas for the Biden-Harris Administration. Senior USDA consulting officials from each agency will listen to concerns from official representatives from among the 574 federally recognized Tribal Nations. Before each consultation, Tribal organizations will facilitate caucuses to support Tribal leaders in discussing these issues. After the formal consultation with elected Tribal leaders concludes, there will be an informal listening session that is open to all Indian Country attendees.

Details: These consultations build on those which occurred in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Over three years of consultations, we have had some important, and at times difficult, conversations about barriers to services at USDA and ways we can improve the experience for Indian Country. We have made tremendous progress in many areas identified in these consultations, as we announced at the 2023 Tribal Nations Summit. We are proud of this progress, but there is still work to do. For the 2024 consultations and listening sessions, we will ask for your input on some critical issues that remain difficult to address. Our framing papers will outline key topics where we are seeking Tribal input, in addition to other concerns which leaders wish to bring to our attention.
Documents:

Tribal Invitation (PDF, 214 KB)
Proxy Letter Template (DOCX, 27.6 KB)

Time: Tribal Caucus – 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET / Tribal Consultation – 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Education and Research Consultation

Monday April 22 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 333 KB)
USDA Tribal Colleges, Students, & Youth Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 235 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

Forests and Public Lands Management Consultation

Tuesday April 23 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 314 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

Farming, Ranching, and Conservation Consultation

Wednesday April 24 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 327 KB)
USDA Tribal Producers Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 353 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

Economic Development Consultation

Thursday April 25 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 310 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

Food, Safety, and Trade Consultation

Friday April 26 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 283 KB)
USDA Tribal Food Sovereignty Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 417 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

USDA Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers: Forests and Public Lands Management
2024-04-23 13:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
