United South & Eastern Tribes

Office of Facilities, Property, and Safety Management Virtual Listening Sessions
2024-03-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-03-07 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
The Office of Facilities, Property, and Safety Management will conduct two virtual listening sessions in March 2024, to improve the Indian Affairs methodology used to calculate facilities Operation and Maintenance funding allocations across all sites and buildings within the IA inventory.
March 5 at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern
Register
March 7 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Register

Indian School Equalization Program Tribal Listening Session
2024-03-06 13:00 - 15:00 | LA
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
The purpose of these listening sessions is to advise the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) on the need for possible revisions to 25 C.F.R. Part 39 – Indian School Equalization Program. Under 25 U.S.C. § 2018(a), prior to publishing any proposed regulations and prior to establishing a negotiated rulemaking committee, BIE is required to convene regional meetings to consult with educators at BIE-operated schools and Tribal officials, parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members of Tribes served by BIE-funded schools to provide guidance to BIE on revisions to the regulations. These sessions, along with the previously held sessions, serve that purpose.
Wednesday, January 17 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Mountain
Virtual Session
Register
Wednesday, February 7 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Mountain
Gila River Resorts and Casinos
Room: Acacia CD
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd.
Chandler, AZ 85226
Wednesday, March 6 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Central
Rushmore Hotel and Suites
Room: Roosevelt/Lincoln
445 Mt Rushmore Rd.
Rapid City, SD 57701
For additional details, please visit our BIE Consultation & Initiatives webpage at: www.bie.edu/landing-page/consultations-initiatives.
WRITTEN COMMENTS: Your written comments are welcomed on the ISEP and ISEP Transportation program by the extended comment deadline of March 31, 2024.
Please E-MAIL your comments to: consultation@bia.gov – SUBJECT LINE: ISEP and ISEP Transportation regulations.

Permitting Council Tribal Consultation
2024-03-07 13:30 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
The Permitting Council Executive Director cordially invites Tribal leaders and their designees to a virtual Tribal consultation on the Permitting Council’s Draft Tribal Consultation Policy and Plan.

Registration
The consultation on the Permitting Council’s Tribal Consultation Policy and Plan will be held virtually on the date below. Registration is required to participate in the consultation.

March 7, 2024 from 2:30-4:30 pm ET

Click here to register.

Background
The Permitting Council is responsible for implementing Executive Order (E.O.) 13175, “Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments.” The enclosed draft Tribal Consultation Policy and Plan implements E.O. 13175.

Email Attachments:

Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Consultation Framing Paper
Draft Permitting Council Consultation Policy and Plan

Please contact PoQueen Rivera, Director of Tribal Affairs, for the Permitting Council at poqueen.rivera@fpisc.gov should you have any questions.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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, 2024-05-07 11:30 - 13:00 | 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.

DOI Consultation on the the development of the Scientific Integrity Policy.
2024-04-22 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-26 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-30 19:00 - 21:00 | 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

USDA Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers: Farming, Ranching, and Conservation
2024-04-24 13:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event

USDA Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers: Economic Development
2024-04-25 13:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event

USDA Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers: Food, Safety, and Trade
2024-04-26 13:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event

ASPE Tribal Consultation on the 2023 HHS Equity Action Plan Update
2024-04-29 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation seeks Tribal input and recommendations on the 2023 update to its Equity Action Plan. The plan is part of HHS’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government, reaffirming the Administration’s commitment to deliver equity across America. ASPE welcomes comments on all aspects of the plan and has also developed guiding questions to facilitate Tribal review that are set forth in this Dear Tribal Leader Letter. The consultation will be on April 29 at 2:30 – 4:00pm ET with written comments request by May 29 via consultation@hhs.gov with subject line “HHS Equity Action Plan.”

Department of Education Tribal Consultation on FY 26 Budget Priorities
2024-04-30 13:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
April 30 at 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) will conduct a Tribal Consultation on developing budget priorities for the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget for the Department. The purpose of this consultation will be to receive meaningful input from American Indian and Alaska Native communities to ensure that your views inform the FY 2026 budget development process. This consultation will advance the Department’s commitment to upholding the federal trust responsibility described in Executive Orders 13175 and 14112.
In addition to the Tribal Consultation session, the Department will accept written comments by email sent to TribalConsultation@ed.gov. The comment period opens today March 29, 2024, and closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on May 30, 2024. Written comments received prior to the scheduled Tribal Consultation will be provided to Department officials in preparation for the Tribal Consultation. The Department of Education remains steadfast in its commitment to honor the nation-to-nation relationship and advance Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
A Tribal government may designate information provided during the consultation as “sensitive” and request non-disclosure of the information to the public. Certain federal laws, including the Freedom of Information Act, may require the Department to disclose information provided during this Tribal Consultation even if it was designated as sensitive by a Tribal government. Questions about this notice can be sent to TribalConsultation@ed.gov. This Tribal Consultation is closed to the press.

Department of Homeland Security's Tribal Government Affairs Virtual Consultation on the Immigration and Naturalization Act
2024-05-06 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-05-10 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
The Department of Homeland Security’s Tribal Government Affairs office will be hosting several virtual consultation sessions on proposed legislative changes to the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), specifically section 289.

Monday, May 6, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., ET
Register
Friday, May 10, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., ET
Register
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., ET
Register
Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., ET
Register

Please send any written comments and recommendations on the proposed amendments to INA 289 by e-mail to: Tribal.Consultation@hq.dhs.gov – Subject line: INA 289 Change.
DHS will accept written comments prior to and during the consultations and afterwards through July 9, 2024. After the comment period closes, DHS will review all feedback and internally deliberate on the proposed amendments to INA § 289 that should be proposed to Congress.
If you have questions regarding this effort, or need any accommodations for the sessions, please directly contact the Tribal Affairs mailbox at Tribal.Affairs@hq.dhs.gov.

IHS Tribal Consultation on Health Information Technology (IT) Modernization Program – Deployment and Cohort Planning
2024-05-09 12:30 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
IHS is hosting quarterly Tribal consultations on Health IT (or HIT) Modernization effort. The next session will be held on May 9 from 1:30 – 3:00pm ET on the topic of “Deployment and Cohort Planning.” Registration information and details on the calendar year consultation dates is included in this Dear Tribal Leader Letter.
