FEMA Annual Tribal Nations Training Week
2024-03-09 - 2024-03-16 | Center for Domestic Preparedness Campus, Anniston, AL, United States
The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) will host the 9th
Annual Tribal Nations Training Week the week of March 9 –
16, 2024 on the CDP campus in Anniston, AL. CDP training is
completely funded for state, local, Tribal, and territorial
emergency responders to include roundtrip airfare, meals,
lodging, training, and any equipment required during training.
View the list of classes and additional information for this training week.

FCC Webinar: Wind Down Affordable Connectivity Program
2024-03-13 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
March 13 at 1:00 pm Eastern
The briefing will be streamed live on www.fcc.gov/live and recorded and archived for public viewing available at fcc.gov/acp.
On March 4, 2024, the FCC issued a Public Notice (DA 24-23) confirming that absent additional funding from Congress, April 2024 is the last fully funded month for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). April will be the final month that households receiving the benefit will see it applied to their monthly internet bill and without renewed funding from Congress, the ACP will only be able to provide a partial reimbursement for May 2024. ACP service providers are required to send notices about the program’s end no later than 15 days after the release of the March 4, 2024, Public Notice.
As part of its continued consumer education, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) will host a webinar on March 13, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The briefing will be streamed live on www.fcc.gov/live and recorded and archived for public viewing available at fcc.gov/acp.
Please join CGB’s Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division for more information and the latest updates regarding the ACP Wind-Down, the release of new consumer education materials, a review of the program’s consumer protections, and how to solicit support from the agency’s outreach and engagement teams to minimize consumer confusion.
This webinar will be webcast with open captioning and sign language interpreting at www.fcc.gov/live. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests will be accepted but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to FCC504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).
Registration is not required for this public event.
For more information about the ACP Wind-Down, visit www.fcc.gov/acp. The Order released on January 11, 2024, provides requirements and guidance on the ACP Wind-Down.

IRS Office Hours to assist with IRA/CHIPS Pre-filling Registration Tool
2024-03-13 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-03-20 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-03-27 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-04-03 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 ReConnect Round 5 Webinar for Tribal Applicants
2024-03-13 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
March 13 at 2:00 pm Central
Register
Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service, this webinar will provide an overview of the ReConnect Program, highlight resources, and key considerations for tribal applicants, and allow ample time for questions and answers.
This webinar will include:

A brief overview of the ReConnect Program
A brief overview of the round 5 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
Key considerations for Tribal applicants
Extended question and answer period

FEMA Webinar: EMMIE Decommissioning Webinar
2024-03-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
FEMA is hosting a webinar and in-depth training to provide information, guidance, and answer questions on its official system of record for Public Assistance grant activities – Grants Manager and Grants Portal. The informational webinar will provide an overview and timeline of the decommissioning process of the agency’s Emergency Management Mission Integrated Environment (EMMIE) system, and the training will help enhance user experience with the system as the agency replaces EMMIE with the more modern, transparent, and accessible Grants Manager and Grants Portal systems.

EMMIE Decommissioning Informational Webinar
When: March 14, 2024, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. ET
Where: Zoom https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1605377504
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Or One tap mobile :
+16692545252,,1605377504# US (San Jose)
+16468287666,,1605377504# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 551 285 1373 US (New Jersey)
+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)
Meeting ID: 160 537 7504
Passcode: [REDACTED]

DOI Briefing Call to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration's FY 2025 Budget Request
2024-03-14 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
The briefing call will focus on the Administration’s budget plan to bolster the level of resources needed for Indian Affairs’ mission of service to Tribes and support its role in strengthening the Federal Government’s nation-to-nation relationship with Tribes as well as its treaty and trust responsibilities. The President’s Budget supports an all-of-government approach to addressing Federal responsibilities and Tribal needs in Indian Country and is committed to Tribal sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and self-determination.
MEETING INFORMATION:
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time
FORMAT: ZoomGov or Call-In
Register in advance for this meeting: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsc-mqpzspHtcrqlJbvngwlwF9bXDzeCw
Please note that this meeting is off-the-record and not for press purposes. It is highly encouraged to join the meeting 5 to 10 minutes early to avoid any potential technical delays.

U.S. Department of Energy: Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands – 2024 (DE-FOA-0003298) FOA Webinar
2024-03-14 14:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
March 14 at 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm Central
Register
The DOE Office of Indian Energy will conduct an informational webinar on March14, 2024 (1:00-3:30 p.m. MT) to provide information on the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to potential applicants. In addition to describing the FOA, information will be provided on who is eligible to apply, what an application needs to include, cost share and other requirements, how to ask questions, and how applications will be selected for funding. If you are unable to attend the webinar, it will be recorded and posted for later viewing.

National NAGPRA Program Webinars
2024-03-15 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

Treasury Tribal Consultation: TTAC Subcommittee Project Plan and Report on Tribal Pension Issues
2024-03-19 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Project Plan and Report on Tribal Pension Issues
March 19 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
The Report is a work product of the TTAC. It highlights issues that Tribal employers have raised under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA ‘06), including related provisions under section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and section 3(32) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and contains proposed recommendations.

FEMA Webinar: Grants Portal Functionality with EMMIE Decommissioning Training
2024-03-20 11:30 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
FEMA is hosting a webinar and in-depth training to provide information, guidance, and answer questions on its official system of record for Public Assistance grant activities – Grants Manager and Grants Portal. The informational webinar will provide an overview and timeline of the decommissioning process of the agency’s Emergency Management Mission Integrated Environment (EMMIE) system, and the training will help enhance user experience with the system as the agency replaces EMMIE with the more modern, transparent, and accessible Grants Manager and Grants Portal systems.

Audience: State, Tribal, and Territorial partners – Recipient level
Host: Public Assistance Training and Development Branch, SLTT Section

What:
The Public Assistance Training and Development Branch, SLTT Section will be hosting a Grants Portal Overview in response to scheduled EMMIE decommissioning. The overview will highlight the Grants Portal functionality for completing Amendments, Time Extensions, Closeout and Reporting with the decommissioning of EMMIE.
Additionally, a registration process will be shared for participating in additional training webinars to review in depth the Grants Portal and Grants Manager workflow for each of the following: Amendments, Time Extensions, Closeout and Reporting. Webinars will be available on FEMA YouTube at a future date.
Why:
To assist our State, Tribal and Territorial partners in managing the impact of EMMIE decommissioning and transitioning fully to Grants Portal for the management of Public Assistance grants.
When: March 20, 2024 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET
Where: Zoom https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1610975089
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Or One tap mobile :
+16692545252,,1610975089# US (San Jose)
+16469641167,,1610975089# US (US Spanish Line)
Dial by your location
+1 669 254 5252 US (San Jose)
+1 646 964 1167 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 646 828 7666 US (New York)
+1 669 216 1590 US (San Jose)
+1 415 449 4000 US (US Spanish Line)
+1 551 285 1373 US (New Jersey)
Meeting ID: 161 097 5089
Passcode: [REDACTED]

IHS Virtual HSPD-12 for Background Investigations Information Session
2024-03-20 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
March 20 at 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Zoom link

USDA Forest Service Informational Webinar on Funding Opportunity for Invasive Species Funding for Work on Tribal Lands
2024-03-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
March 21 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Microsoft Teams Meeting link
Proposal Template

US Army Corps of Engineers Public Virtual Meeting on Rescinding Appendix C
2024-03-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
the US Army Corps of Engineers formally proposed rescinding Appendix C of its regulatory program and instead following the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)’s regulations for implementing the National Historic Preservation Act. You can view the proposal HERE. This would represent a big win for THPOs and Tribal Nations, one that has been a long time coming. NATHPO has been working diligently with THPOs and allied organizations to advocate for this change.
The Corps of Engineers will be holding two virtual meetings to discuss this proposal, one open to the public on February 22 and a second for Tribal Nations on March 21. The Zoom information for those sessions is below. Additionally, comments on this proposal are due April 9, 2024. NATHPO will be preparing a comment letter, which we will share with you when it’s ready. NATHPO will also be hosting a webinar for THPOs and Tribal representatives to talk through these proposed changes and hear questions and your concerns directly. We will share the details of that webinar as soon as they are finalized.
Appendix C Virtual Meeting Information:
Public Virtual Meeting on February 22, 2024 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST
Webinar Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/s/1611505118
Call-in Information:
Phone Number: 669-254-5252
Meeting ID: 161 272 1966
Tribal Virtual Meeting on March 21, 2024 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EDT
Webinar Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/s/1612721966
Call-in Information:
Phone Number: 669-254-5252
Meeting ID: 161 272 1966

Monthly CDFI Certification Conference Calls
2024-03-21 14:00 - 15:00 | 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.

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 | 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
