Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices, a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO Clinic
2023-03-28 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. would like to announce the 2023 Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices, a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO Clinic. Native Psychological Brilliance refers to the intelligence, strengths, balance, innate resources, and resilience of Native people. This no-cost telehealth series will be held throughout 2023 on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern. Each session will be one hour in length.
Who should attend? Tribal Nation health directors, clinic staff, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, Tribal Epidemiology Center staff, and anyone supporting Tribal Nation citizens through the health/behavioral health sector are welcome to join.
The one-hour Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance virtual series will provide an opportunity for participants to:

Gain skills on strength-based approaches in partnership with Native People to enhance Native behavioral health, and
Discuss ways that Native brilliance is demonstrated and supports behavioral health, and
Learn about Native brilliance examples to share with behavioral health and other health care staff, as well as with local Tribal Nation citizens

The concept of Native psychological brilliance will be celebrated through Native music videos and Native spoken word performances as part of each session of the Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance series.
Continuing education credits will be provided.
Register in advance for the session.
For questions, please contact Bryan Hendrix, USET THPS Quality Improvement Analyst, at bhendrix@usetinc.org.

ezFedGrant (eFG) for Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) webinar series
2023-03-29 12:00, 2023-04-12 12:00 | Virtual Event
USDAs’ Animal Plant Health Inspections Service (APHIS) has provided funding opportunities for Tribal Nations, Tribal Organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. Most of the funding opportunities are made available through the ezFedGrant (eFG) system. The system is sometimes hard to navigate and may not seem user-friendly. The Office of National Tribal Liaison would like to formally invite you to ezFedGrant (eFG) for Tribal Nations, Tribal Organizations, and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) webinar series. The series is broken down into four modules:

Module 1 – Introduction to ezFedGrant: March 22 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Module 2 – Accessing ezFedGrant: March 29 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Module 3 – What happens after selection and award: April 12 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Module 4 – Amendments, closeouts, and recap: April 19 at 1:00 pm Eastern

ONTL is providing this opportunity so tribes can learn how to access and navigate the system, so Tribes can be better equipped to apply for funding opportunities through APHIS. Below you will find the registration link and webinar link.
Registration Link
Web Join URL
Meeting ID: 161 031 6583
Meeting Password: *$Q37ZKk
Dial-in information: 669-254-5252 | 646-828-7666
Contact information: Denise.Salvetti@usda.gov

USET 2023 Diabetes Coordinators Training
2023-03-30 - 2023-03-31 | Hutton Hotel, 1808 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37203, United States
USET 2023 Diabetes Coordinators Training
The USET Diabetes Coordinators Training will provide technical assistance and resources to Tribal Nations who are current and newly funded Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) Primary Grantees.

When: March 30-31 at 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Central

Where: Nashville, TN
Hutton Hotel
1808 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203
Reserve your room today. Room Block ends on March 3, 2023.

Who should attend: USET member Tribal Nations and IHS Nashville Area Service Units Diabetes Coordinators. This invitation is private and is only open to USET member Tribal Nations and IHS Nashville Area staff.

Attendees will learn about the:

SDPI Operating System
SDPI Outcomes System
Diabetes Web Audit
Diabetes Grants Management

Registration Information: Registration link

COVID Protocols (as of 09/15/2022, subject to change)
The USET Tribal Epidemiology Center (USET TEC) is a recognized public health authority supported by the Tribal Nations within the USET region. Throughout the course of the COVID pandemic, we have relied on their expertise to guide us to ensure for the overall safety, health, and wellness for our members, staff, and event attendees. As the impacts of COVID have evolved, we have continued to assess our protocols to ensure that they remain reflective of the current status of the pandemic. Today, we are announcing the following updates to the USET sponsored meeting COVID protocols:
USET/USET SPF Sponsored Meetings

Up to date* vaccinated attendees will not be required to mask and can fully engage without restrictions. Vaccinated attendees will provide proof of up-to-date status via self-attestation. Daily testing is strongly encouraged.
Unvaccinated attendees, or attendees not up to date, will be allowed to attend, but will be required to:

Wear a KN-95 or N-95 mask, or
Test negative within 24 hours of the event AND also test negative daily, if the meeting is for extended days

As part of our public heath authority responsibilities, we will continue to provide education, offer PPE, rapid tests, and continue to strongly encourage best practices. Additionally, for USET/USET SPF meetings hosted by member Tribal Nations, we will continue to comply with the COVID protocols that each set for their respective nation. While these protocols have changed to better reflect the current state of the pandemic, updated booster shots, and availability of treatments options, the USET TEC strongly recommends ongoing caution due to the health disparities that exist across Indian Country.
*Please note that up-to-date means that the primary series has been received and any current boosters (if eligible and/or available) have been administered.

For questions, please contact D’Angelique Lister, USET Public Health Program Coordinator, at dlister@usetinc.org.

National Advisory Council on Indian Education Meeting
2023-03-30 - 2023-03-31 | Virtual Event
March 30-31, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Register to attend via Zoom
The dial-in listen only phone number for the meeting is 1-669-254-5252, Meeting ID: 161 715 5166.
The purpose of this meeting is to convene NACIE and conduct the following business: discussion of bylaws and charter; taking action to establish meeting calendar and subcommittees; discussion of recommendations to be provided to the Secretary of Interior and Secretary of Education, including the U.S. Department of Education’s budget request; discussion of annual report action item follow-up; and discussion of invited federal partner updates, e.g., U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities (Initiative) in accordance with Section 3 of Executive Order 14049, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and similar programs.

Self-Governance PROGRESS Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Meeting
2023-03-30 08:00 - 16:00
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Self-Governance PROGRESS Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (Committee) will hold the sixth and seventh public meetings to negotiate and advise the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) on a proposed rule to implement the Practical Reforms and Other Goals To Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination for Indian Tribes Act of 2019 (PROGRESS Act).
Dates:

Sixth public meeting: The meeting will be held Thursday, March 2, 2023, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern. Members of the public may attend in-person, at the 7th floor South Penthouse room, or virtually. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 3, 2023.
Seventh public meeting: The meeting will be held Thursday, March 30, 2023, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern. Members of the public may attend in-person, at the 7th floor South Penthouse room, or virtually. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 1, 2023.

Comments:
Send your comments to the Designated Federal Officer, Vickie Hanvey, by any of the following methods:

Preferred method: Email to comments@bia.gov with “PROGRESS Act” in subject line.
Mail, hand-carry or use an overnight courier service to the Designated Federal Officer, Ms. Vickie Hanvey, Office of Self-Governance, Office of the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 3624, Washington, DC 20240.

Department of Energy Webinar: Funding for Transitioning Tribal Communities to Clean Energy
2023-03-30 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
March 30 at 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central
Register
In this webinar, the Office of Indian Energy will highlight its current funding opportunities and technical assistance opportunities. Guest speakers from the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Energy (DOE), and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory will share information on funding available to tribes, including:

USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service and Rural Business and Cooperative Service Inflation Reduction Act Programs
Tribal Home Energy Rebates Program
Clean Energy to Communities Program

Energizing Rural Communities Prize grants and loans for renewable energy and infrastructure.

Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States” (2023 Rule)
2023-03-30 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-04-05 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-04-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Partners,
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) published the final “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” rule in the Federal Register on January 18, 2023; the rule will become effective on March 20, 2023. The agencies developed this rule with consideration of the relevant provisions of the Clean Water Act and the statute as a whole, relevant Supreme Court case law, and the agencies’ technical expertise after more than 45 years of implementing the longstanding pre-2015 “waters of the United States” framework. This rule also considers the best available science and extensive public comment to establish a definition of “waters of the United States” that supports public health, environmental protection, agricultural activity, and economic growth.
EPA and Army are hosting a series of webinars in March and April specifically for Tribes and States to learn about the final rule and implementation considerations. The agencies will first present an overview webinar and will then present three additional webinars on topics of specific interest to Tribes and States. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions before each topical webinar, and the agencies will use those questions to inform development of the presentations.
All webinars will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. ET and include time for questions and answers. Please submit questions in advance to wotus-outreach@epa.gov. Questions must be received at least one week in advance of the webinar to be considered.
Tribal and State officials can register for individual webinars listed below. Participants should register with their Tribal or State email address, if available, so that EPA can ensure attendance is limited to participants from Tribal and State government agencies and member organizations. The webinars, but not the Q&A sessions, will be recorded and posted to EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/wotus.
Please reach out to epa@horsleywitten.com with logistical questions about these webinars or to arrange for accommodations (e.g., sign language interpreters or translation). Accommodations will be provided if received no later than a week prior to each webinar.

Rule Overview

March 22, 2023, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
To register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN__Qj6hC1ETQ-o6UyTEyGiTw
This webinar provides an overview of the final rule “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States.’”

Relatively Permanent Standard

March 30, 2023, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
To register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_kIqGLuAiTa-3xFFxzWBB3g
This webinar focuses on the relatively permanent standard for determining the jurisdictional status of certain waters.

Significant Nexus Standard

April 5, 2023, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
To register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_SozIFw5rSResY36LyuEOAw
This webinar focuses on the significant nexus standard for determining the jurisdictional status of certain waters.

Exclusions and Other Topics

April 12, 2023, 2-3:30 p.m. ET
To register: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_iUDO7OfWTteFRh7oD5XL_A
This webinar discusses the rule’s eight categories of exclusions (waters and features that are not “waters of the United States”) and will include time for discussion of any topics not otherwise addressed in the webinar series.

3rd Annual Indigenous Knowledge Symposium
2023-03-31 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
3rd Annual Indigenous Knowledge Symposium
March 31, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central/1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern, Online/Virtual. Utah State University’s 3rd Annual Indigenous Knowledge Symposium will take place on March 31, 2023. The theme is Land, Water, and Life: The Critical Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Environmental Science. Presenters include Dr. Andrea Reid (Nisga’a), Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné), and Dr. Melinda Adams (San Carlos Apache). The virtual symposium is open to the public and will take place on Zoom.

41st Annual Protecting Our Children Conference
2023-04-02 - 2023-04-05
41st Annual Protecting Our Children Conference
Reno, Nevada
April 2–5, 2023
Join the annual Protecting Our Children conference, the premier national event addressing Tribal child welfare.

RES 2023
2023-04-03 - 2023-04-06
RES 2023 is the Summit to attend for those looking for high caliber networking, winning teaming opportunities, business development sessions, one-on-one consulting, all centered around American Indian Enterprise.
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is embracing EMPOWERING FOR GENERATIONS for the 2023 Reservation Economic Summit. The event features tribal leaders, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, state and local officials, and top CEO’s on a national platform.

Meeting of VA Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs
2023-04-04 - 2023-04-06 | Virtual Event
The Federal Register published the VA Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs’ notice of meeting.
The Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs (ACTIA) will meet on April 4, 5, and 6, 2023 at the Seven Feathers Hotel Resort, 146 Chief Miwaleta Lane, Canyonville, OR 97417.
The meeting sessions will begin and end as follows:

April 4, 2023 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Eastern
April 5, 2023 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Eastern
April 6, 2023 11 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern

ACTIA meetings will be open to the public (virtually) during the meeting times listed.
The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary on all matters relating to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Native American Veterans. This includes advising the Secretary on the administration of healthcare services and benefits to American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and Native Hawaiian Veterans; thereby assessing those needs and whether VA is meeting them.
On April 4, 2023, the agenda will include opening remarks from the Committee Chair, Executive Sponsor and other VA officials. There will be updates on the PACT Act, Tribal HUD-VASH, co-pay exemptions for Native American Veterans, Veterans Health Administration/Indian Health Service (HIS) Memorandum of Understanding, IHS/Tribal health program reimbursement agreements and purchased referred care.
On April 5, 2023, the agenda will include updates and a panel discussion with senior officials from VA and IHS. Subsequent updates and briefings will be provided on the White House Council on Native American Affairs Health Committee; Tribal Veterans Representation Expansion Project; Veterans Benefits Administration Claims events in Indian Country; Native American Direct Loan; and the Native American Veteran Program.
On April 6, 2023, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. there will be Public Comment from those public members who have provided a written summary. The Committee will then receive a briefing on AI/AN Data for Veteran suicide/behavioral health. This will be followed by a discussion on the transition plan for the Committee with new and outgoing members. The Committee will then hold open discussion on topics relevant to the Committee and address follow-up and action items including dates for next meeting.
The meetings are open to the public (virtually) and will be recorded. Members of the public can attend the meeting by joining the Zoom meeting: https://veteransaffairs.webex.com/veteransaffairs/j.php?MTID=m84b407c76887afa5d1db9bb499c27d64.
Individuals who wish to speak are invited to submit a 1-2-page summary of their comments no later than March 31, 2023, for inclusion in the official meeting record. Members of the public may also submit written statements for the Committee’s review to Peter Vicaire, at Peter.Vicaire@va.gov. Any member of the public seeking additional information should contact Peter Vicaire at the email address above or by calling 612-558-7744.

Bridge NPRM Tribal Consultation Webinar
2023-04-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Date: April 4, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Description: The purpose of the webinar is to announce the publication in the Federal Register of the TTFBP Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and to discuss some of the proposed amendments in 23 CFR part 661 since the last update in 2008. Also, to inform the Tribes on the upcoming three Tribal consultations; the dates and locations.
The proposed rule would update the existing Tribal Transportation Program Bridge Program, formerly known as the Indian Reservation Road (IRR) Bridge Program, by renaming it the Tribal Transportation Facility Bridge Program (TTFBP) to comply with the changes made in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), carried on through the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, and the recent changes made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
For information, visit https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/programs-tribal/webinars (-> nticc.us13.list-manage.com).

Irrigate Your Garden
2023-04-05 08:00 - 17:00 | United States
The Gakwi:yo:h Farm, in partnership with USET & Cornell Extension, wants to help you irrigate your garden. Setting up an irrigation system for your garden saves water and produces healthy plants. We’ll cover the basics of drip irrigation systems for three sisters and other crops. The first ten attendees will receive an irrigation kit for a 20’ x 20’ garden.

When: April 25, 2023, at 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern

Where: Gakwi:yo:h Farm, 13594 Taylor Hollow Rd, Collins, NY 14034

Who should attend: Tribal Farmers

What you will learn:

Irrigation basics
How to install an irrigation system
Troubleshooting & maintenance

COVID Protocols (as of 09/15/2022, subject to change)
The USET Tribal Epidemiology Center (USET TEC) is a recognized public health authority supported by the Tribal Nations within the USET region. Throughout the course of the COVID pandemic, we have relied on their expertise to guide us to ensure for the overall safety, health, and wellness for our members, staff, and event attendees. As the impacts of COVID have evolved, we have continued to assess our protocols to ensure that they remain reflective of the current status of the pandemic. Today, we are announcing the following updates to the USET sponsored meeting COVID protocols:
USET/USET SPF Sponsored Meetings

Up to date* vaccinated attendees will not be required to mask and can fully engage without restrictions. Vaccinated attendees will provide proof of up-to-date status via self-attestation. Daily testing is strongly encouraged.
Unvaccinated attendees, or attendees not up to date, will be allowed to attend, but will be required to:

Wear a KN-95 or N-95 mask, or
Test negative within 24 hours of the event AND also test negative daily, if the meeting is for extended days

As part of our public heath authority responsibilities, we will continue to provide education, offer PPE, rapid tests, and continue to strongly encourage best practices. Additionally, for USET/USET SPF meetings hosted by member Tribal Nations, we will continue to comply with the COVID protocols that each set for their respective nation. While these protocols have changed to better reflect the current state of the pandemic, updated booster shots, and availability of treatments options, the USET TEC strongly recommends ongoing caution due to the health disparities that exist across Indian Country.
*Please note that up-to-date means that the primary series has been received and any current boosters (if eligible and/or available) have been administered.

For questions, please contact Lea Zeise, USET OERM Assistant Director, at lzeise@usetinc.org.

Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee ACA/IHCIA Webinar: Overview of the 2022 American Indian/Alaska Native Marketplace Enrollment
2023-04-05 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
The Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC) will host a Webinar on April 5, 2023, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm (ET). The Webinar will provide an
analysis and review of the key findings on: 1) the number of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/Ans) enrolled in health insurance coverage through the Marketplace in 2022; and 2) trends in AI/AN Marketplace enrollment and access to cost-sharing protections over the past eight years.
Panelists will provide an overview of:

Ongoing efforts by Tribes and Tribal organizations to ensure that eligible AI/ANs receive the comprehensive cost-sharing protections to which they are entitled.
Recommendations to advance efforts to help AI/ANs secure comprehensive health insurance coverage through the Marketplace and receive the most generous cost-sharing protections available.
Recent analysis conducted by the TSGAC to ensure that the Summary of Benefits and Coverage documents prepared by Marketplace plan issuers accurately reflect the comprehensive cost-sharing protections.
Updated Toolkit on Tribal Sponsorship available on the website.

As always, there will be significant time available for participant questions.

Click here for Registration

Click here for the full TSGAC issue brief:
TSGAC-Brief-AI-AN-Marketplace-Enroll-2022-2023-03-13e-002.pdf (tribalselfgov.org)

HRSA IEA National Tribal Learning Session: Understanding Historical Trauma and its Impacts on the American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) Workforce
2023-04-05 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
Please join HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs on a national webinar designed to enhance Tribal stakeholder knowledge of HRSA priorities, programs, technical assistance resources, and funding opportunities in Indian Country. This webinar will examine historical trauma and its impacts on the American Indian/ Alaska Native workforce and discuss programs and strategies to alleviate workforce shortages and grow the AI/AN workforce population.

The event, “HRSA IEA National Tribal Learning Session: Understanding Historical Trauma and its Impacts on the American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) Workforce” is scheduled for April 5, 2023 from 2:00 PM-3:30 PM EST (1:00 PM – 2:30 PM CST/ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM MST/ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PST, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM AKST).

REGISTER HERE? or visit? https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_I5GSHjZ8S5mI8Z3hS_aQvQ

Learning Objectives
As a result of this primer, Tribal stakeholders will:

Learn more about HRSA programs, resources, and funding to support tribal communities
Hear first-hand about how historical trauma has impacted the AI/AN workforce
Identify HRSA regional contacts and opportunities for technical support for Tribal Partners

Target Audience

Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban Indian Health (I/T/U) Tribal leaders, members, and staff
Academic Institutions
Grant writers
Federal, State, and local community partners.

bi-weekly White House Health Community Engagement Call
2023-04-05 13:30 | Virtual Event
Bi-Weekly on Wednesdays at 2:30 pm Eastern
Register.

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Tribal Consultation on Child Support Issues
2023-04-06 08:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Tribal Consultation on Child Support Issues: The ACF Office of Child Support Enforcement will consult with Tribal Nations on April 6, 2023, from 9:00am to 4:00pm Eastern on programmatic, regulatory, and legislative priorities. To facilitate the discussion, ACF invites input on discussion questions posed in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter . Tribal Nations have the option of attending in-person in Atlantic City, New Jersey, or virtually. Written comments are requested by May 6 to OCSE.Tribal@acf.hhs.gov.

USET Infectious Disease ECHO
2023-04-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
We invite you and your staff to participate in the new Infectious Disease ECHO. This ECHO is merging the COVID-19 and Hepatitis C ECHOs and will focus on a different topic every month. This ECHO will also include COVID-19 and influenza updates for the USET Region. Additionally, clinical cases are encouraged to be submitted to gain insight into healthcare recommendations from other medical providers working in the field. This no-cost telehealth series will be held throughout 2023 on the second Friday of every month at 11:00 am Central/12:00 pm Eastern.
Each session will be one hour in length that will provide an opportunity for participants to:

Learn about emerging infectious diseases
Gain skills on treating different infectious diseases
Continue to stay up to date on COVID-19

Who should attend? Tribal Nation health directors, clinic staff, physicians, nurses, Tribal Epidemiology Center staff, and anyone supporting Tribal Nation citizens through the health sector are welcome to join.
Registration: Register in advance for the session. You ONLY need to register ONCE for the series. Once you register, you can download the reminder to your calendar with the Zoom information.
2023 Second Quarter Topics:

April 7: HIV Part 2
May 12: Hepatitis C
June 9: Lyme Disease

Continuing Education: This activity will offer CE credits for a variety of professionals. More information will be provided at a later date.

For questions, please contact Gabbie Niski, USET THPS Infectious Disease Program Manager at gniski@usetinc.org or Bryan Hendrix, USET THPS Quality Improvement Data Analyst, at bhendrix@usetinc.org.

USDA APHIS Webinar: Avian Influenza and SARs-COV-2 Cervid Surveillance Projects
2023-04-10 12:00 | Virtual Event
April 10 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Register
Meeting ID: 160 144 2622
Web Join
Zoom Join
Meeting Password: [REDACTED]
Dial-in information:
+1 669-254-5252 US
+1 646-828-7666 US
The Office of National Tribal Liaison (ONTL) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) greatly values its partnerships with Tribal Nations and communities. To keep you abreast of some major APHIS activities, they have hosted several Tribal webinars over the last several months. These webinars are designed to give you a better insight into how APHIS is helping to protect U.S. and Tribal agricultural and natural resources—and citizens— from animal and plant disease and pest threats.
They invite you and your staff members to attend their next webinar session: “Avian Influenza and SARs-COV-2 Cervid Surveillance Projects” at April 10, 2023, at 1:00 pm Eastern.
APHIS’ Wildlife Services (W.S.) National Wildlife Disease Program (NWDP) currently conducts targeted wild bird surveillance activities in all four flyways (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific) and investigations of morbidity/mortality events in wild birds.
During 2022/2023 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) surveillance season:

APHIS partnered with 49 states and has collected around 30,000 samples.
90% of its targeted samples have been collected, and the current surveillance season ends soon.

Since November 2021, the NWDP has also coordinated SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in cervid species. During the first surveillance season, samples were collected from around 11,000 white-tailed deer. During the second surveillance season, APHIS is:

Collaborating with 38 states, 5 Tribes, and 2 U.S. territories collecting over 17,700 samples from cervids.
Species sampled include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, mule deer, caribou, and others.

During this webinar session, they would like to take the time to update Tribal Nations on the current HPAI situation, the 2022/2023 wild bird HPAI surveillance program, the SARS-CoV-2 cervid surveillance, and encourage feedback for future communication and potential avenues for continued collaboration with Tribes.
If you have questions about the webinar, don’t hesitate to contact ONTL Program Analyst Denise Salvetti at denise.salvetti@usda.gov or Terry Clark at terry.w.clark@usda.gov.

Healing the Spirit of Native Youth Town Halls
2023-04-10 19:00 | Virtual Event
The National UNITY Council’s (NUC) Executive Committee invites all youth within the network to sign up for one of the four upcoming virtual Town Halls. The purpose of these town hall meetings are to gather Native youth’s views on UNITY’s National Initiative to address wellness and restore tribal support systems. Youth are welcomed to share their solutions and challenges with their representatives. All feedback collected by the NUC Youth Program will be used for next year’s trainings and resource development.
Save the Dates:

Monday, April 10th at 5PM PST
Wednesday, April 26th at 8PM EST
Wednesday, May 17th at 6PM MST
Wednesday, May 24th at 7PM CST

Sign up today

IHS Information Systems Advisory Committee Semi-Annual Meeting
2023-04-11 - 2023-04-12 | Virtual Event
IHS Information Systems Advisory Committee Semi-Annual Meeting
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Information Systems Advisory (ISA) Committee will hold an in-person meeting in Rockville, Maryland on April 11-12, 2023. Interested participants may also join remotely using this Zoom link with Meeting ID: 160 431 9067, Passcode: [REDACTED] Questions should be directed to Christy Tayrien, at Christy.Tayrien@ihs.gov.

Tribal Interior Budget Council
2023-04-11 - 2023-04-14 | Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC, United States
Agenda

USET Project ECHO HCV/HIV/SUD Clinical Training
2023-04-11 08:00 - 15:00, 2023-04-12 08:00 - 15:00 | Westin Portland Harborview, 157 High Street, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Project ECHO HCV/HIV/SUD Clinical Training

presented by
USET Tribal Health Program Support
During the pandemic, Tribal Nations saw a rise in injectable drug use. This, in turn, caused a rise in the number of new Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV infections. People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for HIV and HCV infections if they use needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment. Both of these infectious diseases are treatable and manageable with the right knowledge and tools at hand.
Learning objectives:

Recognize the importance of universal screening and universal treatment of HCV and HIV.
Examine the epidemiology and prevalence of Hepatitis C, HIV, and Substance Use Disorder in relation to Indian Country – with an emphasis on the Nashville Area.
Describe the newest HCV and HIV antiviral treatments including indications and side effects.
Describe the newest Substance Use Disorder medicated assisted treatments including indications and side effects.
Learn about the best practices in Indian Country for HCV, HIV, and Substance Use Disorder.
Establish a teleconferencing mentoring system for HCV, HIV, and Substance Use Disorder patients utilizing the ECHO model.

Draft Agenda
When? April 11 – April 13, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Eastern each day
Where? This in-person training will take place at the Westin Portland Harborview, 157 High Street, Portland, ME 04101. Reserve your room at the group rate through March 24.
Who should attend? USET member Tribal Nation health directors, clinic staff, physicians, nurses, case managers, and anyone supporting Tribal Nation citizens through the health sector are welcome to join.
USET will allot up to two stipends for staff members from each USET member Tribal Nation to attend the Clinical Training to offset the cost of travel; however, attendance is not limited just to those who receive stipends. Upon verification of full event attendance, stipend payments will be mailed.
Register for the training
Continuing education credit will be offered for various health professions. More information will be available soon!
Questions? Contact Bryan Hendrix, USET Quality Improvement Data Analyst.

COVID Protocols (as of 9/15/2022, subject to change)
The USET Tribal Epidemiology Center (USET TEC) is a recognized public health authority supported by the Tribal Nations within the USET region. Throughout the course of the COVID pandemic, we have relied on their expertise to guide us to ensure for the overall safety, health, and wellness for our members, staff, and event attendees. As the impacts of COVID have evolved, we have continued to assess our protocols to ensure that they remain reflective of the current status of the pandemic.
Today, we are announcing the following updates to the COVID protocols for USET-sponsored meetings:

Up to date* vaccinated attendees will not be required to mask and can fully engage without restrictions. Vaccinated attendees will provide proof of up-to-date status via self-attestation. Daily testing is strongly encouraged.
Unvaccinated attendees, or attendees not up to date, will be allowed to attend, but will be required to:

Wear a KN-95 or N-95 mask, or
Test negative within 24 hours of the event AND also test negative daily, if the meeting is for extended days

As part of our public heath authority responsibilities, we will continue to provide education, offer PPE, rapid tests, and continue to strongly encourage best practices. Additionally, for USET/USET SPF meetings hosted by member Tribal Nations, we will continue to comply with the COVID protocols that each set for their respective nation. While these protocols have changed to better reflect the current state of the pandemic, updated booster shots, and availability of treatments options, the USET TEC strongly recommends ongoing caution due to the health disparities that exist across Indian Country.
*Please note that up-to-date means that the primary series has been received and any current boosters (if eligible and/or available) have been administered.

AIANTA Webinar: Seed Savers and Food Sovereignty
2023-04-11 11:00 | Virtual Event
Tuesday, April 11, 2023 10:00 a.m. (Mountain)
Register
In this American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) webinar, you will hear about the value of seeds in our stories, our lives, and their contribution to food sovereignty. The speaker, Andi Murphy (Diné) started the “Toasted Sister Podcast” show in 2017 and has since talked with dozens of Native chefs, farmers, and individuals in the food industry who are working towards Indigenous food sovereignty. Spend time with them to increase your understanding of the food culture today and how to integrate it into your agritourism offerings. Andi’s podcast The “Toasted Sister Podcast” is an award-winning show that documents the Native American Food Movement. Andi can teach you how using the stories of seed saving and the production of traditional foods can impact food sovereignty and create awareness for this critical part of Indian Country life. “Seeds are a vibrant and vital foundation for food sovereignty and are the basis for sustainable, healthy agriculture. We understand that seeds are our precious collective inheritance and it is our responsibility to care for the seeds as part of our responsibility to feed and nourish ourselves and future generations.” – Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance.

DHS/FEMA virtual Tribal Consultation on Achieving Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Officials
2023-04-11 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
April 11 at 3:00 pm Eastern
Register to attend via Zoom
You are invited to attend a virtual Tribal consultation on April 11, 2023, on DHS/FEMA’s “Achieving Equitable Recovery: A Post-Disaster Guide for Local Officials (Equity Guide). The purpose of the Tribal consultation is to solicit feedback and recommendations, from Tribal officials and leaders, about the contents of the guide before final publication. The Tribal consultation will be hosted by FEMA Recovery senior leadership. Topics include:

Reducing recovery disparities for people who are under-resourced, underserved, and marginalized.
Building resilience for the whole community, reducing impacts of recurring disasters, and mitigating climate risks.
Aligning recovery efforts with Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, and the Justice40 Initiative.
Advancing FEMA Strategic Goal 1: Instill equity as a foundation of emergency management.
Building upon Community Assistance Recovery Support Function Technical Assistance and resource guides

All information will also be available on the FEMA website at: www.fema.gov/about/tribes/consultations. The consultation record will remain open after the virtual session for tribal leaders to submit feedback or comments to FEMA-CA-RSF@fema.dhs.gov. Final feedback and comments are due by Thursday, May 11, 2023. Email the comment matrix and/orcomments to FEMA-CA-RSF@fema.dhs.gov.

TAP Climate Resilience Workshop
2023-04-12 - 2023-04-13
April 12-23, 2023
The Euchee Butterfly Farm
Bixby, Oklahoma
Register
Please join a special two-day national conference event hosted by Tribal Alliance for Pollinators to learn how Tribal citizens can protect our lands, our traditions and our people as we adapt to the challenges of extreme weather events and harmful environmental trends that threaten our survival.
Agenda
Hotel options
Travel Scholarships available. Apply.
