OVC Virtual Tribal Consultation on the FY 2024 Tribal Set-Aside
2024-01-17 08:00 - 2024-01-18 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
January 17 and 18 at 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm each day
Register
The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will host a virtual Tribal Consultation on the Tribal Set-Aside from the Crime Victims Fund for Fiscal Year 2024 on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, and Thursday, January 18, 2024, from 1:00−3:30 p.m. eastern time each day.
OVC invites Consultation testimony to be provided by:

an elected Tribal leader,
an appointed Tribal leader, or
someone designated by an elected or appointed Tribal leader. Designation must be provided in writing.

In preparation, OVC presents the OVC FY 2023 Crime Victims Fund Tribal Set-Aside Program report that provides a brief history of the program and how Tribal Set-Aside funds were obligated in FY 2023. An informational Framing Paper on the FY 2024 Tribal Set-Aside provides relevant background and questions for participants at the consultation to consider.
If you are a Tribal leader’s designee and you plan to speak at either day of the Consultation, OVC asks that you provide a Delegation of Authority letter on Tribal letterhead signed by the elected or appointed Tribal leader or have the elected or appointed Tribal leader send an email to ovctribalsetaside@usdoj.gov to confirm your authorization to testify on behalf of the Tribe. Instructions for how to submit your testimony will be available after you register. During the Consultation, Tribal leaders will be called in the order in which their registration was received.

Rescheduled: Department of Treasury | Elective Pay Webinar
2024-01-17 12:30 | Virtual Event
Wednesday, January 17 at 1:30 pm Eastern, the Department of Treasury will host an Elective Pay webinar and provide an overview of the pre-filing registration process.
Register in advance for this briefing.
Earlier this year, Treasury issued proposed Elective Pay and Transferability guidance, which can be found here and here. In addition to the Treasury press release, you can find FAQs and fact sheets that outline key information contained in the proposed guidance. You can also find helpful information on CleanEnergy.gov/directpay. Treasury and the IRS will carefully consider public feedback before issuing final rules.

USDA and Department of Energy Listening Session on American Farms, Rural Benefits
2024-01-17 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will host a series of listening sessions this winter. The agencies invite perspectives on the benefits and challenges of the rapidly increasing levels of clean energy being sited on agricultural lands and in rural communities.
USDA and DOE seek feedback directly from a diverse set of stakeholders about what the agencies can do through their leadership, program guidance, or research and information sharing to encourage positive clean energy siting outcomes that benefit farmers, rural Americans, the renewable energy industry and others.
Stakeholders can register to participate in public listening sessions that are available virtually by clicking on the selected date and time:
• Government permitting and policy representatives at state, county, and local levels on Jan. 12, 2024, at 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. ET Government Permitting and Policy Representatives, Register Here
• Agricultural producers on Jan. 16, 2024, at 10 – 11:30 a.m. ET. Agriculture Producers, Register Here
• All stakeholders and members of the public on Jan. 16, 2024, at 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. ET. All Stakeholders, Register Here
• Rural electric coops and clean energy developers on Jan. 17, 2024, at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET. Energy Organizations, Register Here
Stakeholders may submit written comments by Jan. 20, 2024, to CleanEnergySiting@USDA.gov.

USPTO Tribal Consultation on World Intellectual Property Organization IGC Negotiations
2024-01-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Federal Register :: Formal Tribal Consultation on WIPO IGC Negotiations
January 16 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
January 17 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register in advance to participate in one of these webinars. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Department of Commerce, announces a formal Tribal Consultation, and requests written comments on issues involving genetic resources (GR), traditional knowledge (TK), and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). These topics are being discussed at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Specifically, the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore (traditional cultural expressions) (WIPO IGC) is undertaking negotiations regarding how best to protect GR, TK, and TCEs of Indigenous Peoples.

Indian School Equalization Program Tribal Listening Session
2024-01-17 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-02-07 14:00 - 16:00
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.

HHS Tribal Consultation on the definition of Indian Tribe
2024-01-17 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-01-18 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Tuesday, January 9 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Thursday, January 11 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Wednesday, January 17 at 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, January 18 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern

Zoom Registration
Please send your written comments and recommendations on which definition of Indian Tribe to include in the updated Consultation Policy by Friday, February 20, 2024 via e-mail to: consultation@ihs.gov with the subject line: DEFINITION OF INDIAN TRIBE.
What definition of Indian Tribe should be included in the updated Consultation Policy: the List Act Definition (25 U.S.C. § 5130); or the ISDEAA Definition (25 U.S.C. § 5304(e))?
Option #1: List Act Definition (25 U.S.C. § 5130): “Indian tribe” means any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian Tribe.

Executive Order 13175 (“Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments”) defines “Indian Tribe” using the List Act definition. It is also the definition used in the Presidential Memorandum on Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation (November 30, 2022), the HHS TCP, and all other Federal Tribal Consultation Policies.

Option #2: ISDEAA Definition (25 U.S.C. § 5304(e)): “Indian tribe” or “Indian Tribe” means any Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

The ISDEAA definition of Indian Tribe includes Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and is currently utilized in the existing IHS Tribal Consultation Policy.

Department of Homeland Security Listening Sessions on Environmental Justice Program
2024-01-19 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-01-23 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-01-29 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
The Department of Homeland Security (Department or DHS) invites comment and feedback from Tribal Nations and indigenous peoples on barriers and challenges, suggestions, and ideas to help advance the Department’s environmental justice program, help DHS conduct meaningful engagement of the public in decision making, and address challenges facing environmental justice communities related to DHS programs and activities. On December 18, 2023, DHS issued a Request for Information (RFI) Federal Register :: Request for Information Regarding Department of Homeland Security Activities and Advancing Environmental Justice, Docket ID: DHS-2023-0048, asking specific questions. The public comment period will be open for 60 days, closing on February 16, 2024.
Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, signed April 21, 2023, defines “environmental justice” as the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment so that people:

are fully protected from disproportionate and adverse human health and environmental effects (including risks) and hazards, including those related to climate change, the cumulative impacts of environmental and other burdens, and the legacy of racism or other structural or systemic barriers; and
have equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.

DHS will host three virtual information and listening sessions via Zoom during the public comment period to hear participants’ responses to the questions in the RFI.
Please register to attend one of the information and listening sessions through the links below:

Friday January 19, 2:00-3:30 PM, Eastern Time – Session 1: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gsR3Ue5UR5mxjiBLstD7nQ (-> lnks.gd)
Tuesday, January 23, 2:00-3:30 PM, Eastern Time – Session 2, Tribal and Indigenous peoples: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TnXdmN9ZSDGqy5LxnlKxeg (-> lnks.gd)
Monday, January 29, 3:30-5:00 PM, Eastern Time – Session 3: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fNpD6F9WRiaY5hLPkMYtyA (-> lnks.gd)

For more information on the DHS Environmental Justice Program, please visit www.dhs.gov/dhs-environmental-justice-strategy (-> lnks.gd). For questions, please contact dhsenvironmentaljustice@hq.dhs.gov.

Virtual Engagement Session on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination
2024-01-22 14:30 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Date: Monday, January 22, 2024
Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm ET
Location: Virtual
Register
The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) invites Tribal Leaders to a virtual engagement session with Biden-Harris Administration leadership to discuss Executive Order 14112 on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination.
During this engagement session, Biden-Harris Administration leadership and staff from the White House and Federal Departments will discuss the substance and implementation process the Administration is planning for EO 14112. Tribal leaders are invited to ask questions, provide comments, and share their perspectives on how EO 14112 can best meet the needs of their Tribal Nations.
The agenda for the session is included in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter (DTLL) below. Tribal leaders are welcome to send an questions regarding the session to whcnaa@bia.gov
DTLL | EO Fact Sheet

HHS Maternal Health Stakeholder Briefing
2024-01-23 14:30 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Time: 3:30 – 4:30 PM ET
Register: Please register via this link
In honor of Maternal Health Awareness Day, you are invited to join the Department of Health and Human Services for a briefing on HHS maternal health priorities and activities for 2024 on Tuesday, January 23rd, at 3:30 PM ET. During the webinar you will hear from key agency leaders on Departmental activities that advance equity in maternal health outcomes. Following the presentations, there will be an opportunity for question and answer.

Administration for Community Living Tribal Consultation
2024-01-24 12:00 - 16:00 | Hybrid Event, TN
This consultation will be held in-person and virtually on:
Wednesday, January 24, 2024, from 1 pm – 5 pm ET
Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street NW
Washington, DC, 20036
Please contact TEYA Support Services, LLC, to register for the Tribal Consultation at:
laura.stevenson@teyacompany.com or melissa.szasz@teyacompany.com. They respectfully request that each Tribal government register one primary leader or designee to provide comments. All others are welcome to register as listen-only participants.
ACL will send out an agenda and list of registered speakers before the consultation.
WRITTEN COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: If you wish to send written comments, please submit them by February 23, 2024 to: olderindians@acl.hhs.gov.
ACL looks forward to your feedback. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Edwin Walker at 202-795-7463, edwin.walker@acl.hhs.gov, or Cynthia LaCounte at 406-780-0349, cynthia.lacounte@acl.hhs.gov.
Background
The United States has a unique trust & treaty relationship with Tribal Nations. In recognition of this unique legal relationship, and to strengthen the government-to-government relationship, Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000 (Consultation & Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments), charges all executive departments and agencies with engaging in regular, meaningful, and robust consultation with Tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have Tribal implications and sets forth fundamental principles and policymaking criteria.
On November 30, 2022, President Biden signed the Presidential Memorandum on Uniform Standards for Tribal Consultation which establishes uniform minimum standards to be implemented across all agencies regarding how Tribal consultations are to be conducted. Further, on January 26, 2021, he issued Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships. These Presidential Memoranda are designed to improve and streamline the consultation process for both Tribes and Federal participants, and ensure more consistency in how agencies initiate, provide notice for, conduct, record, and report on Tribal consultations.
ACL was created around the fundamental principle that older adults and people of all ages with disabilities should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose, and with the ability to participate fully in their communities. On November 27, 2023, ACL announced our draft Tribal Consultation Policy and distributed it to Tribal Nations in attendance at the HHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Council (STAC) meeting. ACL plans to hold a Tribal Consultation on the draft policy to receive Tribal leader feedback and recommendations of what to incorporate in the final policy.
Specifically, they hope to receive your feedback on these topics:
1. Processes involving evaluating, noticing, & conducting a Tribal consultation;
2. Processes involving Tribal official requests to initiate consultation, consultation records, and training;
3. Processes involving listening sessions & Tribal engagement;
4. Preferences on whether ACL should continue to hold consultations virtually to increase tribal access or limit to in-person attendance; and
5. Any other questions, comments, or suggestions regarding the ACL Tribal Consultation Policy.

American Climate Corp Listening Session
2024-01-25 17:00, 2024-02-01 09:00 | Virtual Event
In September, President Biden announced the launch of the American Climate Corps, a groundbreaking workforce training and service initiative that will prepare tens of thousands of young people for good-paying jobs in the clean economy.
Beginning this week, the Biden-Harris Administration will convene a series of virtual listening sessions to hear directly from prospective American Climate Corps applicants and implementing partners. Join the American Climate Corps team and special guests to share your thoughts about how to make the ACC a success.
The first listening session will be held on Thursday, January 11 at 10 am ET. Sign up here.
Additional listening sessions will be held on the following dates:

January 16 at 6 pm ET. Sign up here
January 25 at 6 pm ET. Sign up here
February 1 at 10 am ET. Sign up here

More information about the virtual listening sessions can be found here.

IHS Consultation on Proposed $250 Million Opioid Response Supplemental Funding Request
2024-02-01 15:30 - 17:30 | Virtual Event
The Indian Health Service (IHS) has announced it is initiating consultation on President Biden’s domestic supplemental funding request, which would provide $250 million to the IHS to address the ongoing opioid and fentanyl crises. The funding request has not been taken up by Congress yet, but the IHS is holding consultation in order to efficiently allocate the funds if they are enacted. USET SPF stated our support for these supplemental funds in our testimony for the record for the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs’ (SCIA) hearing on fentanyl in Tribal communities.
IHS will hold the consultation on February 1, 2024 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm EST. Interested participants may join using this link. The IHS will accept written comments on this topic until March 4, 2024. Additional information can be found in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter.

HHS Tribal Consultation on Draft Tribal and Tribal Epidemiology Center Data Access Policy
2024-02-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Draft HHS TTDA Policy
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invites Tribal leader feedback and recommendations on its draft HHS Tribal and Tribal Epidemiology Center Data Access (TTDA) Policy . The policy outlines the types of data to be made available to Tribes and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) acting in their capacities as public health authorities. It also serves to establish HHS-wide expectations for Divisions responding to Tribal and TEC data requests covered by the policy, including through the development of Division-specific implementation protocols.
The draft TTDA Policy was developed based on extensive Tribal input received during HHS consultations held in October 2022, as well as internal analyses of Division data system requirements and legal considerations. Feedback provided by Tribal leaders on the enclosed draft policy will assist in the preparation of the final policy later this year. Comments are welcome on all aspects of the draft policy. HHS is also specifically requesting Tribal feedback on a series of questions posed in its Dear Tribal Leader Letter announcing the consultation.
HHS invites Tribal leaders to the following opportunities to provide input and feedback on the draft policy.
Virtual Consultation:
Date: February 6, 2024
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM EST
Call-In: 669-254-5252
Meeting ID: 161-416-1119
ZoomGov Registration:
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsc-iurzorE5MWGjSDXfNG0spDpVXEm9o (-> click.connect.hhs.gov)
Written Comment Period:
Written comments are requested by March 5, 2024. Please send comments via one of the following methods:
Email: consultation@hhs.gov
Subject Line: HHS Tribal Data Policy
Postal Mail: Acting Director Jess Smith
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Hubert Humphrey Building
200 Independence Ave. SW
Mail Stop: 620E
Washington, DC 20201

DHS Consultation on Draft Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Projects at DHS-owned Facilities
2024-02-15 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-02-16 12:30 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
On September 13, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) sent an invitation to consult to Tribal Nations on the development of a Program Alternative to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 800.14, for certain undertakings to enhance climate resiliency and sustainability, reduce energy and water consumption, and increase use of renewable energy at DHS owned facilities. They held two information and listening sessions for Tribal Nations on October 18, 2023, where 45 Tribal Nations, Alaskan Native Corporations, and non-governmental organizations engaged in dialogue with Departmental historic preservation staff. During the 75-day public comment period that closed December 1, 2023, we received comments from five (5) Tribal Nations.
Based on comments received, DHS has revised its draft nationwide programmatic agreement and they invite your Tribal Nation to consult at the following consultation meeting via Microsoft Teams for the following dates and times:

February 15, 2024 – 3:00-4:30pm, Eastern Time
Microsoft Teams – Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 249 221 939 001 Passcode: [REDACTED]
Call-in (audio only): +1 202-516-6093,,946944557#
February 16, 2024 – 1:30-3:00pm, Eastern Time
Microsoft Teams – Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 274 705 618 53 Passcode: [REDACTED]
Call-in (audio only): +1 202-516-6093,,543488495#

Additionally, they request written comments on the revised draft Nationwide Programmatic Agreement be provided by February 27, 2024, via email at sep-ephp@hq.dhs.gov. The red line and clean versions of the document are below as is the comment matrix containing comments received and DHS’s response.

DRAFT – DHS nPA for Resilience and Sustainability – 1.3.2024 RED LINE.docx
Draft NPA Comments and Info.Listening Sessions – 1.3.2024.xlsx
DHS DRAFT nPA for Resilience and Sustainability – DTLL-2 01172024.pdf
DHS DRAFT nPA for Resilience and Sustainability – DTLL-1 09132023.pdf
DRAFT – DHS nPA for Resilience and Sustainability – 1.3.2024 CLEAN.docx

US Army Corps of Engineers Public Virtual Meeting on Rescinding Appendix C
2024-02-22 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

DOI Listening Session on Climate Adaptation Plan
2024-02-26 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-02-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-02-28 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-02-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
February 26 at 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Eastern |Register
February 27 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern | Register
February 28 at 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Eastern | Register
February 29 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern | Register
The Department of the Interior (Interior, the Department) invites you to participate in listening sessions regarding the Department’s planned update to its Climate Adaptation Plan. This update would succeed the existing Climate Action Plan, issued on October 7, 2021, and fulfill direction laid out in section 211 of Executive Order 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad;” section 5(d) of E.O. 14030, “Climate-Related Financial Risk;” and section 503 of E.O.14057, “Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries And Jobs Through Federal Sustainability.”
The update, renamed to “Climate Adaptation Plan” (CAP), is expected to evaluate exposure to climate hazards and drivers of change across the full suite of DOI buildings and employees, and to the lands, waters, and cultural and natural resources it is responsible for stewarding. The CAP will also outline actions to address the threats these exposures present—through investments and changes to policy, budgeting, grant funding, and training.
Interior is working with Tribal Nations and Alaska Natives, as well as the Native Hawaiian Community and Indigenous people of the U.S. Territories, on a range of climate adaptation and resilience efforts. The Department also recognizes that Tribal Nations and Alaska Natives have shared input during recent consultations that can inform the development of the CAP. Interior will reference this input and incorporate it into the development of this plan.
The Department is seeking your input on several topics related to the potential content of the CAP, including:

What data and knowledge sources should we consider as we assess climate risk?
Recognizing that all lands, waters, and those who inhabit them are important, are there particular Interior-managed resources that hold special significance for Tribal Nations and/or Alaska Natives and should be considered for prioritization in climate adaptation planning?
How can the Department address exposure to climate hazards for these resources that hold special cultural or natural significance?
How can the Department incorporate climate resilience and accessibility for Tribal communities into its grants and funding opportunities?
What barriers prevent the implementation of climate adaptation and resilience efforts on Tribal lands and in Tribal communities?

The Office of Policy Analysis will conduct four Tribal listening sessions listed below and will accept oral and written comments. Please register in advance for any listening session you plan to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please note that these Tribal listening sessions will be closed to the press and the public to protect confidential information that may be discussed during the sessions.
The Department welcomes your written comments, which should be submitted by email to
ryan_richards@ios.doi.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 30, 2024. If you have any
questions, please contact Ryan Richards at ryan_richards@ios.doi.gov.

FEMA Tribal Consultation on Individual Assistance Reform
2024-02-27 14:00 | Virtual Event
February 27 at 3:00 pm Eastern
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
Register
FEMA will host a virtual tribal consultation with Tribal Nations to discuss the Individual Assistance (IA) Reform. The purpose of this consultation is to gather Tribal Nation’s feedback on the new IA Reform that will help inform the implementation of this rule, share key elements of the rule, and offer valuable input on how FEMA can better meet the needs of Tribal Nations through this rule.

NIEA Listening Session: Interagency Listening Session during National Indian Education Association Hill Week
2024-02-28 14:00 - 16:30 | Embassy Suites Washington DC, 900 10th St NEW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
February 28 at 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm Eastern
Embassy Suites by Hilton, Washington, DC Convention Center, 900 10th Street NW Washington, DC 20001.
The following federal agencies invite you and other important stakeholders to attend a listening session in conjunction with the National Indian Education Association’s (NIEA) 2024 Hill Week on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, from 3 – 5:30 p.m. ET:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans (ANA), the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), the U.S. Department of Education Office of Indian Education (OIE), and the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHI-NATCU).
This listening session aims to identify Tribal data priorities and traditional knowledge in education. High-quality, culturally relevant data collection is critical to serving the educational needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (Native) students. Native Nations maintain a sovereign right to collect, use, manage, and access their data.
The above agencies are seeking input on perspectives from Native Nations regarding the collection, development, protection, and application of sovereign data (e.g., cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and Native languages).
This listening session will seek input on the following questions:

What recommendations do you have on improving data sovereignty procedures and data agreements with Native Nations in the educational sector?
How can the federal government improve the quality and application of Native educational data?
How can the federal government respectfully obtain permission to collect data from your community?
What recommendations do you have for further improving federal engagement with Native Nations on data collection?
What current benefits or barriers does your community experience with the current status of data reporting?
How best should the federal government make decisions regarding access to the data in a way that respects the autonomy and cultural values of the Native Nations and communities?
What recommendations do you have for specific federal reforms regarding the use of traditional knowledge in the U.S. educational system?
How can the federal government co-steward with Native Nations, Native and non-profit organizations, states, schools, and higher education institutions to create or improve protections (e.g., memorandum of understanding, consent letters, etc.)?
When collecting data, are there certain types of questions or topics that your community would prefer not to answer?
What kind of assurances (e.g., protections of cultural knowledge and intellectual property) from the federal government would your Native Nation or Native language community need to participate in the federal government’s data collection and surveys?

The NIEA 2024 Hill Week and listening session will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Washington, DC Convention Center, 900 10th Street NW Washington, DC 20001.
In addition to providing feedback in person at the listening session, written feedback can be emailed to whcnaa@bia.gov. The deadline to submit feedback is March 28, 2024.
If you have any questions regarding the listening session, please contact Hannah Kozik, Leadership for Educational Equity Fellow, at hannah.kozik@ed.gov.

BIE Listening Session
2024-02-28 14:30 - 16:30 | Embassy Suites Washington DC, 900 10th St NEW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
February 28 at 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm Eastern (in conjunction with the National Indian Education Association’s (NIEA) 2024 Hill Week)
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Washington, DC Convention Center
900 10th Street NW
Washington, DC 20002
The purpose of this listening session is to identify American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (Native) data priorities and traditional knowledge in education. High-quality, culturally relevant data collection is critical to serving the educational needs of Native students. Native Nations maintain a sovereign right in the collection, use, management, and access of their own data.
In addition to providing feedback in person at the listening session, written feedback can be provided via email to whcnaa@bia.gov. The deadline to submit feedback is March 28, 2024.
If you have any questions regarding the listening session, please contact Stephanie Conduff at stephanie.conduff@bie.edu.

FCC Listening Session on Proposed Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program
2024-02-29 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Thursday, February 29 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Registration is free; all attendees must register. To register, please send an email message to Tribal.Events@fcc.gov with “Cybersecurity” in the Subject line. Please include the names and titles of anyone attending and include the Tribal affiliation. The FCC has invited leaders from all 574 federally recognized Tribes to participate in the consultation. Tribal library, school, and information technology (IT) representatives are also welcome to attend and may participate.
You may also send any questions to Tribal.Events@fcc.gov, as this email address is monitored by the Office of Native Affairs and Policy.
On November 13, 2023, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), WC Docket No. 23-234, seeking comment on its proposal to establish a pilot program to learn more about cybersecurity and advanced firewall services that could help K-12 schools and libraries protect their broadband networks and data, while also ensuring that limited Universal Service funds are utilized in the most effective manner.
Summary: The cybersecurity pilot program proposes to provide funding to eligible K-12 schools and libraries to defray the costs of qualifying cybersecurity and advanced firewall services to protect their broadband networks and data from the growing number of school and library-focused cyber events. As proposed, this pilot program would provide up to $200 million over three years, and would be funded through the Universal Service Fund (USF), but budgeted separately from the Commission’s other USF programs.

Comments can be submitted through the FCC’s Electronic Comment and Filing System in Docket No. WC 23-234 at: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/standard

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request by sending an e-mail to: FCC504@fcc.gov or calling the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice). Include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to contact you if we need more information. Please make your request as early as possible as we may be unable to fulfill last minute requests.
If you have any questions about this Listening Session or on another issue, please reach out to the Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) at Native@fcc.gov.

FDA virtual Listening Session on FDA's efforts to address misinformation and vaccine hesitancy
2024-02-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
February 29 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration invites the National Indian Health Board and Area Indian Health Boards to participate in a call with the FDA’s Stakeholder Engagement Staff and Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) to discuss the FDA’s efforts to address misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.
The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the risks of health-related misinformation and disinformation for public health. Misinformation has also increased distrust in government authorities and beliefs in false medical cures.
The call will be held on Feb. 29, 2024, from 2 – 3 p.m. EST (U.S. and Canada). Please register by using the following link:
https://fda.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsfuqoqzwsHSuOASILX6TlBFEm0xGrA4I#/registration
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the meeting.
The FDA is committed to disseminating timely, accurate, science-based information to all communities, including Tribal Nations, minorities, women, seniors, and persons with limited English proficiency.
During the webinar, the FDA hopes to establish a dialogue with the National and Regional Area Indian Health Board Directors to increase understanding of health-related mis/disinformation affecting Tribal communities, share knowledge and understanding of the prevalence of mis/disinformation in Tribal communities, discover the main sources of misinformation and discuss ways we might counter misinformation with factual information.
The webinar recording will be available on the FDA Tribal Affairs page after the event.
