United South & Eastern Tribes

USET Community Resilience Virtual Roundtables
2025-08-20 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-17 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-15 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-11-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
Join the USET Community Resilience Program for a series of virtual roundtable discussions on strategies that Tribal Nations are using to protect their citizens and lands from environmental challenges. Each roundtable will begin with a short presentation on a resilience project or initiative taking place in the USET region followed by questions and open discussion for attendees to learn from one another and build community across the region. The roundtable topic will be announced one to two weeks before each session through an update to the outlook event. We encourage attendees to join all discussions as they’re able, since all facets of environmental care and resilience interact and discussions are enriched by diverse groups of participants.
When: on the third Wednesday of each month at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Central/3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern (ending on November 19, 2025)
Who Should Attend: USET member Tribal Nation staff, leaders, and citizens interested in community resilience, regardless of department or typical work duties.
What You will Learn: Participants will share and receive ideas for creative solutions for environmental adaptation and resilience across sectors while building relationships and potential partnerships across Nations.
Register: Registration is open.
Questions: Please contact Steph Courtney, USET Community Resilience Liaison, at scourtney@usetinc.org with any questions or concerns.

Public Health Infrastructure Defined and Reimagined
2025-08-28 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
USET’s Office of Tribal Public Health (OTPH) invites you to an upcoming virtual training on understanding Tribal Public Health Infrastructure with public health leader Dr. Charlotte Huntley.
The training includes:

Foundations of Public Health
Tribal Data Sovereignty
Building Public Health Infrastructure
Culturally Responsive and Community-Driven Public Health
Public Health Programs and Services and Their Interconnectedness
Systems Check

When: August 28 at 9:00 am – 11:00 am Central/10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern
Who should attend: All USET member Tribal Nation staff who interface with public health efforts, including but not limited to chronic disease prevention, maternal and child health, environmental health and clean water, emergency preparedness and response, behavioral and mental health, and infectious disease surveillance and response.
Learning objectives

Equip Tribal Nation staff with foundational and advanced knowledge of PHI concepts.
Provide practical tools and strategies to strengthen Tribal public health systems.
Foster peer-to-peer collaboration and knowledge-sharing among USET member Tribal Nations.
Support alignment with USET’s vision of healthy, vibrant Tribal communities through sustainable public health infrastructure.

Registration is open!
Questions? Please contact Hailey Wade, Public Health Planning & Infrastructure Manager, at hwade@usetinc.org or (803) 417-7009.

USET OERM Food Sovereignty Fridays
2025-08-29 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual Event
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management presents
Food Sovereignty Fridays
On the last Friday of every month, the Food Sovereignty Program within the Office of Environmental Resources Management (OERM) will host a 1.5 hour webinar highlighting Tribal agriculture and aquaculture infrastructure best management practices that are successfully revitalizing Tribal food systems. Each Session will highlight Tribal Food Sovereignty Projects, and/or Culinary Traditions! All webinars will be open to the public and recorded.

When:

The last Friday of the month at 10:00 am – 11:30 am Central/11:00 am – 12:30 pm Eastern

Who should attend: Tribal Leaders and Tribal Agriculture/Natural Resources/Environmental Directors. This is open to all of Indian country.

Registration:
Register today.

Questions:
For more information, please contact Danielle Greendeer, USET Food Sovereignty Program Manager, at dgreendeer@usetinc.org.

Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force Meeting
2025-09-02 12:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Event
The USET Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force (Tribal PHPR) is a Tribally centered epidemiological approach to public health preparedness and resilience with the primary goal of strengthening the resilience of Tribal Nations in the USET region through public health strategies focused on the mitigation, prevention, and preparation phases of the disaster management cycle.  The goal of this Task Force is to build relationships between Tribal Nations in the USET region and the USET Epidemiology team! Join the contact list today to start receiving updates.
Date: The first Tuesday of every month at 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Central / 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Eastern

Who Should Attend?

Tribal Leaders and Tribal Council Members
Health Directors, Physicians, Medical Staff, Behavioral Health Professionals, Public Health Nurses
Emergency Response/ Coordination Personnel, Homeland Security Personnel
Emergency Services Personnel, First Responders, Public Safety Personnel
Epidemiologists, Data Specialists
Risk Management Personnel, Community Planners
Environmental Health Staff, Public Works Personnel
Anyone interested in Public Health Preparedness and Resilience

Registration: Once we receive your contact information on the form here, you will be sent the link for the calendar invite. We do this to preserve the integrity of the PHPR Task Force and ensure only USET member Tribal Nation staff and organizations are able to join.
Questions: For questions, please contact Anna Garrett, USET Senior Epidemiologist at agarrett@usetinc.org, Samantha Rieche, USET Staff Epidemiologist at srieche@usetinc.org, or Haley Tulis, Epidemiology Administrative Assistant at htulis@usetinc.org.

Tribal Health Services Self-Determination and Self-Governance Technical Assistance Monthly Office Hours
2025-09-03 11:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Due to the high demand of additional information, the USET Office Tribal Public Health is hosting office hours with Martha Ketcher, a subject matter expert, who will provide resources and guidance related to the navigating the Indian Self Determination Education Assistance Act as it pertains to health operations.
To solicit feedback on topics, please email Onawa Miller, USET OTPH Director, at omiller@usetinc.org
When: First Wednesday of every month at 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Central/12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Who should attend: Health Directors, Tribal Leaders, and Tribal Nation Designated Staff
Participants will learn about:

The Basic ISDEAA Contracting Title I vs Title V
How to write Letters of Intent (LOI); Estimating Pre Award and Startup Cost
The Preparation of Budget Negotiation, Aligning Salaries, Structuring Budgets, Contract Support Cost (CSC)
How to Interpret Tribal Shares Tables
How to Add new Programs, Functions, Services and Activities (PFSAs), Clinics, Pharmacy
The 340B Pharmacy
CSC on RCM
Maximizing Space for a 105(l)
TMG, TSG
HSP Tools, SAP

Registration: Register today
Questions and Feedback: Please contact Onawa Miller, USET OTPH Director, at omiller@usetinc.org with any questions or feedback on topics.

Bridging the Education Gap: A Behavioral Health Approach to Learning in Schools
2025-09-03 11:30 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Join USET’s Office of Tribal Public Health (OTPH) for a conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Daryl Tonemah. This webinar will explore how behavioral health strategies are being integrated into classrooms to support healing, student well-being, boost academic performance, and create more inclusive learning environments. Together, we’ll examine how addressing mental and emotional health is helping bridge educational gaps and foster long-term student success.
When: September 3 at 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Central/12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Who should attend: All Tribal Nation staff who work with children, including teachers, school administrators, youth counselors, club leaders, and caregivers.
Learning objectives

Understand the impact of behavioral health and trauma on student learning and academic performance.
Identify key behavioral health strategies that can be implemented in school settings to support student success.
Explore ways to collaborate across education and mental health systems to address barriers to learning.
Learn how behavioral health interventions can reduce disparities and close achievement gaps.
Gain insight into evidence-based practices that promote emotional regulation, resilience, and classroom engagement.
Discuss real-world examples and case studies of schools successfully integrating behavioral health supports.

Registration is open!
Questions? Please contact Caro Caballero at ccabalero@usetinc.org.

Clinical Operations Technical Assistance Office Hours with James Spillane
2025-09-17 11:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
The USET Office of Tribal Public Health (OTPH) is pleased to announce that starting January 15th we will be holding regular virtual office hours with James Spillane and OTPH Data Improvement Staff to offer technical assistance on a variety of healthcare related topics: Social Determinants of Health, GPRA measures, EHR templates and reminders, RPMS, iCARE panels, workflow management, and the Patient-Centered Medical Home model and accreditation. Please mark your calendars and feel free to drop by during these times.
When: The third Wednesday of the month at 11:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central/12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Who should attend: USET member Tribal Nations Health Directors and Clinical Staff
Learning Objectives: These office hours are a great opportunity to discuss any questions, requests, or concerns you or your clinical staff may have regarding:

Social Determinants of Health
GPRA measures
EHR templates and reminders
RPMS
iCARE panels
workflow management
Patient-Centered Medical Home model and accreditation

Registration: Registration is not required.
Join via Zoom: Zoom link
Questions: Please contact Hailey Wade, USET Public Health Planning & Infrastructure Program Manager, at hwade@usetinc.org.

Economic Cluster Working Group – Creative Economies Kickoff Meeting
2025-09-17 13:30 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
USET’s Office of Economic Development welcomes you to join us in starting an important new project aimed at promoting a strong and healthy economy for USET Tribal Nations. As part of our updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) plan to help rebuild and grow different areas of Tribal economies, we are creating working groups that will work on key economic areas. This meeting will be focused on creative industries and entrepreneurship.
This effort will provide an important opportunity for Tribal leaders, Tribal economic developers and staff, and community stakeholders to discuss engaging with creative innovators, entrepreneurs, and professionals who are actively shaping vibrant creative economies in Native communities. “Creatives” in this context includes artists, crafters, designers, inventors, innovators, storytellers, performers, and other culture bearers whose work reflects and sustains cultural identity and economic resilience. By participating in this working group session, you will gain insights into the emerging ideas and practical strategies that support economic development through creative industries rooted in tradition, innovation, and community values.
We are excited to invite you to the kickoff meeting for the Creative Economies Working Group. This project aims to discuss innovative opportunities, support up and coming creative industries, and provide helpful resources to build creative economies. We look forward to your participation in this first step toward creating solutions that will make a real difference.
When: September 17 at 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Central/2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern
Who should attend: Tribal leaders, Tribal economic developers and staff, and community stakeholders, creative entrepreneurs, artists, crafters, designers, inventors, innovators, storytellers, performers, and other culture bearers
Kickoff Meeting Agenda

Welcome and Introductions – Meet fellow participants and key stakeholders.
Project Overview – Understanding the initiative’s objectives and expected outcomes.
Resource Overview – Presentation of available tools and support structures.
Identifying Needs – Open floor for participants to share insights and requirements.
Next Steps and Timeline – Set milestones and action items for the coming months, and discuss roles and responsibilities.

Registration is open!
Questions? Please contact Brenna Ortiz, Project Admininstrator, at bortiz@usetinc.org.

USET Diabetes Support Program Regional Training
2025-09-23 00:00 - 2025-09-24 23:59
The USET Office of Tribal Public Health is providing the USET Diabetes Support Program Regional Training for the Indian Health Service (IHS) Nashville Area Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) program coordinators. The purpose of this event is to provide a collective approach to understanding the needs of their SDPI program and provide educational resources/materials to support their program productivity and impact.
When: September 23-24, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Eastern each day
Where: Foxwoods Casino Resort, 350 Trolley Line Blvd, Mashantucket, CT 06338
Book your hotel room online!
Who should attend: IHS Nashville Area SDPI program coordinators, Health Directors, and healthcare professionals
Learning objectives:

Understand resources available to the IHS SDPI Nashville-area recipients.
Learn diabetes care best practices from subject matter experts working within the USET region.
Understand how to effectively collect and analyze data within RPMS Diabetes Management System (DMS).
Learn how to implement program activities and initiatives.
Understand the grant requirements in order to effectively manage program.

Registration for this training is now closed as all available seats have been filled. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please email Michele Scarlata, Project Administrator, at mscarlata@usetinc.org.
Questions? Please contact Michele Scarlata, Project Administrator, at mscarlata@usetinc.org or 407-575-2667.

Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force Meeting
2025-10-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-11-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-12-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-06 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
The USET Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force (Tribal PHPR) is a Tribally centered epidemiological approach to public health preparedness and resilience. Its primary goal is to strengthen the resilience of Tribal Nations in the USET region through strategies focused on mitigation, prevention, and preparation in the disaster management cycle.

The Task Force also builds relationships between Tribal Nations and the USET Epidemiology Team, creating a space to share best practices, discuss public health strategies, and collaborate on preparedness efforts.

When: The first Tuesday of each month at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Central/1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EasternMeetings will last 30-60 minutes, depending on the topic. Attend any meetings you are able — no ongoing commitment required.

Who should attend: You must be an employee, citizen, or otherwise designated with a USET member Tribal Nation to join.

Tribal Leaders & Tribal Council Members

Health Directors, Physicians, Medical Staff, Behavioral Health Professionals, Public Health Nurses

Emergency Response / Coordination Personnel, Homeland Security Personnel

Emergency Services Personnel, First Responders, Public Safety Personnel

Epidemiologists, Data Specialists

Risk Management Personnel, Community Planners

Environmental Health Staff, Public Works Personnel

Registration is open!

Questions? Please contact Anna Garrett, USET Senior Epidemiologist, at agarrett@usetinc.org, or Haley Tulis, Epidemiology Administrative Assistant, at htulis@usetinc.org.

Tribal Health Services Self-Determination and Self-Governance Technical Assistance Monthly Office Hours FY26
2025-10-15 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-19 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-12-17 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
Due to the high demand for additional information, the USET Office Tribal Public Health is hosting office hours with Martha Ketcher, a subject matter expert, who will provide resources and guidance related to the navigating the Indian Self Determination Education Assistance Act as it pertains to health operations. To provide feedback on topics, please email Hailey Wade, USET OTPH Planning and Infrastructure Manager, at hwade@usetinc.org.

When: The third Wednesday of each month at 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Central/10:00 am – 1:00 pm Eastern

Who should attend: Tribal Leaders, Health Directors, Tribal Nation designated staff

Learning objectives

October 15: The Basic ISDEAA Contracting Title I vs Title V

November 19: The 340B Pharmacy

December 17: How to Add new Programs, Functions, Services and Activities (PFSAs), Clinics, Pharmacy

January 21: How to Interpret Tribal Shares Tables

February 18: How to write Letters of Intent (LOI); Estimating Pre-Award and Startup Costs

March 18: The Preparation of Budget Negotiation, Aligning Salaries, Structuring Budgets, Contract Support Cost (CSC)

April 15: Contract Support Costs (CSC) on Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), Direct Contract Support Costs

May 20: Maximizing Space for a 105(l)

June 17: Tribal Management Grant (TMG), Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP)

July 15: Annual Funding Agreement Negotiations & Defining Scope of Work

August 19: Health System Planning (HSP) Tools, Strategic Action Plan (SAP)

Registration is open!

Questions? Please contact Hailey Wade, USET OTPH Planning and Infrastructure Manager, at hwade@usetinc.org.

CANCELED: 2025 USET Annual Board of Directors Meeting and USET SPF Annual Board of Directors Meeting
2025-10-27 00:00 - 2025-10-30 23:59 | DoubleTree by Hilton Williamsburg, 50 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, United States
2025 USET Annual Board of Directors Meeting and
USET SPF Annual Board of Directors Meeting
October 27-30, 2025
Hosted by the USET member Mid-Atlantic Tribal Nations
REMINDER: Dissimilar to many other Tribal/Native organizational meetings and conferences held across Indian Country, the USET and USET SPF Impact Week and Annual Meetings are Board of Directors meeting convenings and are not open for general, public registration. Anyone who is not representing a member Tribal Nation would need an invitation from the organization and/or a member Tribal Nation in order to attend and participate.

Update 10/9/25, 4:50 PM Central
After many conversations and in coordination with our Executive Officers Committee (EOC) and our hosts, the Mid-Atlantic Tribal Nations, we regret to inform you that the USET and USET SPF Annual Board of Directors Meetings, originally scheduled for October 27-30, 2025, have been canceled.
This decision was made after careful consideration of the ongoing federal government shutdown and the resulting uncertainties and related impacts on each of your Tribal Nation operations, and ultimately, the success of our convening. Additionally, the timing of this decision included negotiations with the host hotel/facility to avoid cost burdens to USET and USET SPF. Bottom line, the current circumstances have made it impractical to move forward with our in-person meeting as originally planned.
Recognizing that there are still some time-sensitive matters that require Board attention and discussion, we will be convening a special four-hour virtual board meeting to address a limited set of priority items. The decision to transition to a virtual format reflects our shared responsibility to continue moving forward while honoring the unique pressures facing our communities. Details regarding the date, time, agenda, and virtual access will be shared in the coming days.
We apologize for the inconvenience, and for those of you who have already made travel arrangements. Please note that all hotel reservations will need to be cancelled by each, individual traveler. All registrations will be refunded to those who have already paid. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we navigate these challenges together.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What happens to my Annual Meeting registration?
All Annual Meeting registrations will automatically be cancelled.
How do I request a refund of my registration fee?
You do not need to request a refund. All registration fees will be refunded automatically, however it may take up to two weeks for refunds to be reflected in your account.
How will my registration fee be refunded?
Registrations will be refunded as they were received. If you paid with a credit card, your credit card will be refunded. If you paid by check, you will receive a check.
Do I need to cancel my hotel reservation?
The hotel has canceled all the reservations made under our hotel code. If you have not called to cancel, you no longer need to do so. If you wanted to keep your reservation despite the meeting cancellation, please call DoubleTree at 800-222-8733 to rebook your stay. (Updated 10/15, 10:45 AM Central)

Agendas
Board of Directors Agenda
Committee Agendas

Culture and Heritage – agenda coming soon!
Economic Development and Entrepreneurship
Education – not meeting
Health – agenda coming soon!
Homeland Security and Emergency Services
Housing
Natural Resources – not meeting
Social Services – agenda coming soon!
Transportation
Tribal Administration
Tribal Justice – not meeting
Veterans – agenda coming soon!

Resolutions
Please submit resolutions to Liz Malerba at lmalerba@usetinc.org by October 6. Late resolutions may not be considered.
Draft resolutions submitted after the deadline are only eligible for consideration at the authorization of the USET SPF Executive Officers Committee (EOC) if: (1) the resolution addresses an emergency, an issue that was not known before the deadline, or for other good cause; and (2) the EOC, at its discretion, agrees to consider the resolution. Emergency resolutions must be received by 5 pm local time during the first day of the USET SPF meeting. Otherwise, they will not be considered.

USET SPF Resolution Template for 2025 Annual Meeting
USET Resolution Template for 2025 Annual Meeting

USET/USET SPF Safe Public Health Practices Policy for All USET/USET SPF Meetings
While the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, the lessons learned during this time remind us of the importance of maintaining proactive and precautionary health measures. Moving forward, USET/USET SPF remains committed to fostering safe and healthy environments for all members, staff, and event attendees by applying general public health best practices. The USET Tribal Epidemiology Center (USET TEC) is a designated public health authority and encourages all attendees to adopt general health measures to protect themselves and others, such as:

Staying home when feeling unwell.
Washing hands frequently and thoroughly.
Practicing respiratory etiquette (e.g., covering coughs and sneezes).
Remaining aware of potential health risks and staying informed about public health updates.

Clinical Operations Technical Assistance Office Hours with James Spillane
2025-11-05 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-11-19 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-12-03 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-12-17 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-01-07 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual Event
The USET Office of Tribal Public Health (OTPH) will be holding regular virtual office hours with James Spillane and OTPH Data Improvement Staff to offer technical assistance on a variety of healthcare related topics. Please mark your calendars and feel free to drop by during these times.

When: The first and third Wednesday of every month at 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Central/12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Eastern

Who should attend: USET member Tribal Nation Health Directors and Clinical Staff

Learning objectives: These office hours are a great opportunity to discuss any questions, requests, or concerns you or your clinical staff may have regarding Social Determinants of Health, GPRA measures, EHR templates and reminders, RPMS, iCARE panels, workflow management, Patient-Centered Medical Home model and accreditation.

Registration is not required. Join via Zoom during any scheduled office hours.

Questions? Please contact Hailey Wade, USET OTPH Planning and Infrastructure Manager, at hwade@usetinc.org.

Home and Health: Exploring the Link Between Housing and Behavioral Health Outcomes
2025-11-12 11:30 - 12:30 | Virtual Event
Join us as the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana highlights the connection between housing and mental well-being. Stable, safe, and affordable housing is a critical determinant of behavioral health. This webinar will explore how housing conditions, instability, and homelessness intersect with mental health and substance use outcomes and share research insights, policy considerations, and programmatic solutions.
When: November 12 at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm Central/12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Eastern.
Who should attend: Public health officials, housing directors, Tribal leaders, social workers, clinicians, service providers, and others with interest
Learning objectives

Relate how housing stability influences behavioral health outcomes across diverse populations.
Identify populations most at risk for behavioral health challenges due to housing insecurity.
Recognize the unique housing-related behavioral health needs of Tribal and underserved communities.
Understand evidence-based models that integrate housing supports and behavioral health services.
Integrate policy and funding strategies to support housing as a component of behavioral health care.
Enhance knowledge of opportunities to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and address housing as a determinant of health.

Registration is open!
Questions? Please contact Caro Caballero at Ccaballero@usetinc.org.

USET Economic Cluster Working Group: Tourism and Creative Economies Collaborative Session
2025-11-19 13:30 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
USET’s Office of Economic Development welcomes you to join us in starting an important new project aimed at promoting a strong and healthy economy for USET Tribal Nations. As part of our updated Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) plan to help rebuild and grow different areas of Tribal economies, we are creating working groups that will work on key economic areas. This meeting will be a collaborative session amongst our two ongoing working groups; Tourism and Creative Economies/Entrepreneurship.

When: November 19 at 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Central/2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern

Who should attend: Tribal leaders, Tribal tourism staff, Tribal economic developers and staff, and community stakeholders, creative entrepreneurs, small business owners.

Registration is open!

Questions? Please contact Brenna Ortiz, Economic Development Project Administrator, at bortiz@usetinc.org.

Agenda

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm Welcome and Introduction of Collaborative Session1:45 pm – 2:30 pm Paving a new path in economic development through Indigenous creative entrepreneurship and tourism.2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Networking, Closing Statements

Discussion Questions for the Working Group Collaborative session

How can the Indigenous Tourism sector influence entrepreneurship development in Tribal communities?

Discuss developing projects within or surrounding your Tribal community.What projects are being planned for FY 26 that involve Indigenous tourism or creative entrepreneurship development? What projects would you like to see develop in the future?

Implementation of innovative ideas.

What isn’t working?

Where do we see the progress within economic development in Tribal communities?

Trust is the fabric of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. How can we establish a better relationship with our entrepreneurial community?

Putting the "Community" in Community Garden at Monacan Indian Nation
2025-11-20 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual Event
What better way to build community support for food sovereignty programs than by organizing an Elder Seed & Plant Giveaway? Monacan Indian Nation did just that as part of their USET Food Sovereignty project and cultivated many benefits. Tribal elders received seeds, plants, recipes, and medicinal information and the community garden got a boost of community support and engagement. Join the Monacan Indian Nation Food Bank to learn about their project design and the outcomes of their outreach efforts. If you’ve ever wrestled with how to get the community into the community garden, this webinar is for you.

When: November 20 at 9:00 am – 10:00 am Central/10:00 am – 11:00 am Eastern

Who should attend

Food Sovereignty professionals and volunteers involved with Tribal farms, food banks, and gardens

Public Health professionals interested in food sovereignty and community wellness

Learning objectives

Designing a successful community outreach event

Outreach and engagement pre- and post-event

Documenting the special moments and outcomes

Takeaways from Monacan’s outreach events

Registration is open!

Questions? Please contact David Anderson, Food Sovereignty Senior Technical Assistance Specialist, at danderson@usetinc.org or 615-557-5352.

Insights from the Survey of Native Nations
2025-12-03 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
USET’s Office of Economic Development is pleased to continue sharing updates on our ongoing collaboration with the Center for Indian Country Development (CICD), the driving force behind the Survey of Native Nations. We first shared the opportunity to participate in the Survey of Native Nations in May 2024, to better understand the economic conditions, governance structures, and priority spending shaping Indian Country today.

With the survey expansion’s new findings, we invite USET member Tribal Nations to join us for an in-depth discussion of the results and what they reveal about our shared progress and challenges. This member-only webinar will highlight how Tribal voices and data are shaping national understanding of Native governance and economies, and how continued participation can strengthen future updates.

By connecting in this session, members will have the opportunity to::

Contribute to shaping the next phase of the Survey of Native Nations.

Learn about emerging trends and lessons from across Indian Country.

Share their own Nation’s experiences and priorities.

When: December 3 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Central/2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern

Who should attend:

Tribal Leaders interested in governance and data-informed decision-making;

Tribal Economic Developers and Planners;

Tribal Policy and Research Staff engaged in data collection, analysis, or program evaluation; and,

Tribal Administrators and Program Managers who use community data to guide strategy and investments.

Registration is open!

Questions? Please contact Rebecca Naragon, USET Economic Development Director, at RNaragon@usetinc.org.

Draft Agenda

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Partnership Overview

History and Purpose of the Survey of Native Nations: How this effort began and its role in supporting Tribal decision-making

Presentation of Key Findings: Insights, trends, and stories emerging from the latest survey data

Member Reflections and Discussion: Opportunities for USET members to share their experiences and lessons learned

Questions & Answers / Open Dialogue

Next Steps: How to stay engaged and contribute to the next phase of the survey

Resilience Writing Retreat
2026-01-13 00:00 - 2026-01-15 23:59
The 2026 USET Resilience Writing Retreat will be hosted by the USET Community Resilience Program and Pamunkey Indian Tribe. USET member Tribal Nation staff, leaders, and citizens working on community resilience documents, such as vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans, climate action plans, and hazard mitigation plans, are invited to participate. During the 3-day event, individuals or teams from each Tribal Nation will have structured work time with facilitators and subject experts to focus on writing their community resilience document that may otherwise be hard to prioritize among day-to-day tasks. The retreat will also prioritize peer editing, reflection, presentations, and identifying areas that may require additional resources, community input, or research.

When: January 13-15, 2026, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern each dayWe recommend arriving on January 12 and traveling home the evening of January 15 or on January 16.

Where: The retreat will be hosted on the sovereign territory of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe at the new Pamunkey Cultural Resources & Community Center (225 Lay Landing Rd, King William, VA). We recommend one of the following hotels:

Holiday Inn Express Richmond-Mechanicsville, 7441 Bell Creek Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 (804) 559-0022

Hampton Inn Richmond-Mechanicsville, 7433 Bell Creek Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 (804) 559-0559

A limited number of stipends are available to USET member Tribal Nation staff/citizens on a first-come, first-served basis to offset the costs of travel, lodging, and meals; please note your request for a travel stipend on the registration form. Stipends will be distributed after the event has concluded.

Who should attend: USET member Tribal Nation staff, leaders, and citizens working on community resilience documents, such as vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans, climate action plans, and hazard mitigation plans.

Learning objectives:

Learn strategies for tackling large writing projects.

Learn from peers and partners working in similar fields.

Make progress on resilience document drafts.

Identify information inputs still needed.

Registration is open through December 19! After registering, USET Community Resilience Staff will reach out to discuss the project you will bring to the retreat to identify facilitators or topic experts that may support your work.

Questions? Contact Bre Knudsen, USET Community Resilience Program Manager (bknudsen@usetinc.org or 629-277-1160) and/or Steph Courtney, Community Resilience Liaison (scourtney@usetinc.org).

Draft agenda at-a-glance

Tuesday, January 13

Introductions and welcome to Pamunkey lands

Teams set goals and intentions for the Retreat

Structured writing time

Field trip to nearby resilience project(s)

Wednesday, January 14

Structured writing time

Peer reflection and review

Presentations from subject matter experts

Local cultural presentation or activity

Thursday, January 15

Structured writing time

Peer reflection and review

Presentations from subject matter experts

Closing reflections and celebration
