United South & Eastern Tribes

Low Income Housing Tax Credits to Homeownership Tribal Toolkit Training
2024-05-14 - 2024-05-16
May 14-16, 2024
Spokane, WA
Register
Learn everything you need to know about the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program in this session. The presenters will take you through the history and overview of the program.
Additionally, you will discover how Tribal Nations and other entities can convert LIHTC rental units to Homeownership units after the initial 15-year Compliance Period. The strategies that support residents in transitioning to homeownership, including lease-purchase agreements and homeownership loan products, will also be covered. The tool kit will assist Tribal Nations and other entities with sample documents and planning considerations for conveying LIHTC units.
This presentation is the ultimate guide to all the topics you need to consider and plan for when you’re thinking about your LIHTC units. Get ready to take your LIHTC knowledge to the next level! Don’t forget to bring a copy of your LIHTC project land use restrictive covenants and Homeownership policies.
This training is being instructed by Jason Adams of Ace Housing Development, Robin Thorne of RTHawk Housing Alliance and Darkfeather Ancheta of 1st Tribal Lending.
There is no charge for this informative training for NAIHC members and industry professionals.

National Tribal Road Maintenance Symposium
2024-05-14 - 2024-05-16
May 14-16
The Box Events Center
Rapid City, South Dakota
Register
This inaugural event will bring together Tribal road maintenance practitioners and staff from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Transportation and BIA Regional Tribal Transportation Program. The event will provide essential support for Tribal transportation directors, supervisors, planners, office staff, equipment operators, project managers. and others.
Participants will

Learn about the BIA Road Maintenance Program
Hear updates on administrative and field operation components of federal road maintenance programs
Gain an understanding of federal standards and requirements
Discover resources available for Tribal governments
Share experiences in improving road maintenance practices
Build capacity for advancing tribal transportation infrastructure and safety
Have the opportunity to participate in a heavy-equipment roadeo

Registration for the conference is $150. Scholarship assistance is available in case of financial need.

FCC Tribal Consultation and Workshop
2024-05-14 - 2024-05-15 | Indigo Sky Casino and Resort, 70220 East HWY 60, Wyandotte, OK, 74370, United States
Host Tribe: Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Location: Indigo Sky Casino and Resort, 70220 East HWY 60, Wyandotte, OK 74370
Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2:00-4:00PM CDT (Tribal Consultation); Wednesday, May 15, 8:00AM to 5:00PM CDT (Workshop)
Consultation and Workshop website
ay 14 – (1) Optional Library Tour (10:00 am); and (2) Tribal Consultation

10:00AM Optional tour of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s Library
2:00PM to 4:00PM Tribal consultation on the FCC’s recently released Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), FCC 24-30, seeking comment on a proposal to adopt a new Emergency Alert System (EAS) event code for Missing and Endangered Persons

Registration for May 14th consultation
All attendees must register to attend the consultation. To register and to ask any questions, please send an email message with the subject line “May MEP Consultation” to Tribal.Events@fcc.gov by Monday, May 13, 2024. This is an email in-box monitored by ONAP staff.
In your message, provide the names, titles and Tribal affiliation of anyone attending. In providing Tribal affiliation, please provide the Tribe, and specifically indicate whether the participant is an elected and/or appointed leaders or duly appointed representative of the Tribe.
If you cannot personally attend and wish to designate a proxy(ies), please specify who is authorized to speak on your behalf in the registration email. You are encouraged to bring public safety and information technology (IT) staff and other interested representatives from your Nation to the Tribal consultation. If time permits, we may offer a listening session opportunity for those who are not Tribal leaders to ask questions and/or provide remarks after the consultation is concluded.
ONAP Tribal Workshop
This event is designed to provide information that will help Tribal Nations identify and evaluate opportunities to develop more robust broadband infrastructure and services in Tribal communities. It is also designed to provide information about FCC policies and programs to address the lack of adequate communications services on Tribal lands nationwide. Tribal government leaders, Tribal service provider and IT managers, government and community planners and managers, Tribal enterprise specialists, and representatives of Tribal social service agencies, schools, and libraries are all persons who should consider attending this event.
Sessions at the FCC workshop are expected to include:

A training session on the Broadband Data Collection and broadband map, tailored to Tribal leaders, Tribal providers and other Tribal filers.
Presentations on the Universal Service Fund and FCC programs, including the E-Rate Tribal Library Program.
A discussion on how to file comments with the FCC and how to follow FCC rulemakings.
Presentations from the federal representatives from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Registration for both events are free. You may indicate in your registration for the consultation that you intend to stay for the workshop.
To register for the workshop only, please send your name, title, Tribal affiliation, and contact information, with the subject line “May Workshop” to Tribal.Events@fcc.gov.

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

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

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

USET OERM Webinar | Learning About Lead Exposure in Tribal Children
2024-05-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management presents
the Learning About Lead Exposure in Tribal Children Webinar
USET’s Office of Environmental Resource Management (OERM) is introducing our Lead Testing program. EPA’s 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities was developed to help schools and child-care facilities to implement a voluntary program for reducing lead in drinking water. This EPA program is focused on promoting voluntary testing of drinking water for lead, taking corrective action if problems are identified, and sharing testing results and plans for reducing lead exposure in drinking water with parents, staff, students, and the community at large.

When:

April 4 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central/3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
May 9 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Central/3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
June 13 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm /3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern

Who should attend: Tribal Leaders, Health Directors, Education Directors, Education Faculty/Staff, Tribal Administrators, Clinic Staff, Tribal utility workers at USET member Tribal Nations

What: This webinar will cover the following:

Physical properties of lead
Adverse health effects of lead poisoning
Guidance and remediation of lead plumbing from schools and childcare facilities

Registration:
Register today.

Lead Program Summary:
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that is globally recognized as a substance that has serious health consequences if consumed, especially for children. The adverse health effects range, from lowered birth weight and slowed physical and mental development in infants, to lowered IQ levels, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, and poor classroom performance in young children. Clean and safe water is essential and paramount to building a sustainable economy, successful educational and public health systems, and most importantly, a healthy and productive environment for children.
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management (OERM) is introducing our Lead Testing program, which is funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The OERM Lead Testing program has adopted the EPA 3 Ts program for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities. This program was developed to help schools and child-care facilities to implement a voluntary program for reducing lead in drinking water.
Our Lead Testing program promotes voluntary training, testing of drinking water for lead, and taking corrective action if problems are identified. For USET Member Tribal Nation participants, OERM is offering assistance to conduct testing at Tribal schools and child-care facilities. USET will assist with sampling Tribal childcare facilities, and will collect data such as sampling results and facility location on behalf of participating Member Tribal Nations. Member Tribal Nations may store data on a secure USET server that is only accessible by the respective Member Tribal Nation.
We survey Tribal childcare facilities to prioritize the needs of our respective Member Tribal Nation community.
For USET Member Tribal Nations who are interested in participating in our Lead Testing program, please complete the Lead Testing program application.
For more information, please contact USET’s Lead Program team:
Jakira Saunders, Program Manager
Ben Peyton, Senior Technical Assistant Specialist

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

National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Research Webinar
2024-05-09 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
May 9 at 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Central
Register
NABS is excited to announce the first event in our Research Webinar Series: Exploring the Legacy of Boarding Schools. Join us May 9th, 2024, from 12:00pm-1:30pm CT to discuss the legacy of boarding schools in Hawai’i.
This webinar will feature an opening song by Elijah Kalā McShane and a presentation by Dr. Maile Arvin. This event will be moderated by Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell.

FEMP and Office of Indian Energy Office Hours
2024-05-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Monday, April 22 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, May 9 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Register for the May 9 session
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and the Office of Indian Energy (IE) are co-hosting office hours to answer questions about Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and the Indian Energy Purchase Preference (IEPP). This is partially a follow-up from last month’s training Selling Renewable Energy to the Federal Government: 1 – Renewable Energy Certificates (link to original course registration—on demand coming soon). The primary audience is Tribes and Tribal Majority Owned Business organizations who are interested in selling RECs to the Federal Government, which is also the primary focus of a recently released solicitation from GSA.

USET Infectious Disease ECHO
2024-05-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
We invite you and your staff to participate in the Infectious Disease ECHO. This ECHO merged the previous COVID-19 and Hepatitis C ECHOs and will focus on a different topic every month. Additionally, clinical cases are encouraged to be submitted to gain insight into healthcare recommendations from other medical providers working in the field. Beginning in March 2024, this no-cost telehealth series is held on the second Wednesday of every month at 1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern.
Each session is one hour in length and provides 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

This month’s theme is Harm Reduction through an Indigenous Lens and is being presented by Sheena Kanott Lambert, Public Health Director at the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
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.
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.

IRS Office Hours | Assist with IRA/CHIPS Pre-filing Registration Tool
2024-05-08 12:00 - 13:30, 2024-05-01 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
The IRS is offering office hours (through Microsoft Teams) to help entities with the pre-filing registration process on the new IRA/CHIPS Pre-filing Registration Tool. Pre-filing registration is a required step for applicable entities and eligible taxpayers to take advantage of elective payment or transfer of credits available in the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act. Representatives from the IRS will be available to answer your pre-filing registration questions.
Registration for office hours is open. Registration is required and can be completed by clicking on the links below.

May 1 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern
Register
May 8 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern
Register
May 15 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern
Register

Department of Treasury Webinar: SLFRF New Obligation IFR FAQ's
2024-05-07 13:00 | Virtual Event
The U.S. Department of the Treasury published new frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program on the Interim Final Rule (the Obligation IFR). On November 29, 2023 Treasury held a Tribal consultation on the SLFRF program to further clarify the “obligation” requirement. After carefully considering Tribal leader feedback and written comments and pursuant to Executive Order 14112 (Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination), Treasury updated the FAQs on obligations in the newly-added Section 17.
A webinar for Tribal governments will be held on May 7, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET– register here.
Among other items of importance to Tribes, these FAQs, highlighted in the Tribal Factsheet contain important clarifications:

Treasury considers an interagency agreement between a particular Tribal government’s units (including the Tribal Council), departments, agencies, or other instrumentalities of a Tribe to constitute an obligation for purposes of the SLFRF rule if the agreement satisfies certain conditions. A unit of a Tribal government includes an enterprise organized under Tribal law if the Tribe treats that enterprise as a unit, department, agency, or other instrumentality of the Tribe. In addition, a corporation formed under section 17 of the Indian Reorganization Act or section 3 of the Oklahoma Indian Welfare Act would be considered a unit, department, agency, or other instrumentality of the Tribe for purposes of the SLFRF regulations.
For purposes of the SLFRF program, the procurement standards of 2 CFR Part 200 (the Uniform Guidance) do not apply to an agreement between units, departments, agencies, or other instrumentalities of a Tribe discussed above. The procurement requirements of the Uniform Guidance would need to be followed by the Tribal unit, department, agency, or other instrumentality of a Tribe with respect to the procurement of material, equipment, and supplies from outside vendors.
The Obligation IFR clarified, and the FAQs confirm, that subrecipients are not subject to the December 31, 2024, obligation deadline. The obligation deadline applies to the recipient of SLFRF funds. Neither subrecipients nor contractors need to take additional steps to obligate SLFRF funds after entering into a subaward or contract with the recipient.
Treasury considers a recipient to have incurred an obligation with respect to personnel costs for an employee through December 31, 2026, to the extent the employee is serving in a position that was established and filled prior to December 31, 2024.
The Obligation IFR clarifies that Tribes that receive an approved indirect cost rate agreement from the National Business Center or the de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs pursuant to 2 CFR 200.414(f) may continue to charge their negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, after December 31, 2024, through December 31, 2026.
Treasury is clarifying how recipients may cover cost increases associated with contracts or subawards entered into by December 31, 2024.

Additional details about these and other clarifications can be found in the newly-added Section 17 of the FAQs and the attached Tribal Factsheet.
Resources:

SLFRF FAQs
Tribal Factsheet on the Obligation FAQs
2022 Final Rule
Overview of the 2022 Final Rule
2023 Interim Final Rule
Overview of the 2023 Interim Final Rule
Obligation Interim Final Rule
Obligation Interim Final Rule Quick Reference Guide
Compliance and Reporting Guidance

FEMA Tribal Listening Sessions and Consultation on the Tribal Consultation Policy
2024-05-07 11:30 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
FEMA Tribal Consultation Policy
FEMA invites Tribal Nations to participate in a series of tribal listening sessions and consultations to provide feedback on the current Tribal Consultation Policy. FEMA is committed to ensuring all participants have equal access regardless of disability status. If you require reasonable accommodation due to a disability to fully participate in the engagements listed below, please contact fema-tribal@fema.dhs.gov as soon as possible.

Tribal Listening Sessions and Tribal Consultations:
Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2024
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: FEMA Headquarters Building, 500 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20472
Virtual: To register for the consultation, please visit this Zoom link

Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MT
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort, 4300 E Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, hosted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G) Conference
Registration: You can register for the TAC-G Conference for free, here

Date: May 23, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm ET
Location: Zoom
Virtual: Zoom Registration link

Date: May 28, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET
Location: Zoom
Virtual: Zoom Registration link

The purpose of the tribal listening session and consultations is to gather Tribal Nations’ feedback on the Tribal Consultation Policy so that it better meets the needs of Tribal Nations across Indian Country.
Additional consultation dates and information, including a framing paper, will be available on the FEMA Tribal Consultations webpage at a later date.
Tribal Nations can send their comments and any questions to fema-tribal@fema.dhs.gov. Please include the subject line “Tribal Consultation Policy – Written Comments.” Feedback and comments are due by July 30, 2024.

APHIS Tribal Training on the Chronic Wasting Disease funding opportunity.
2024-05-06 12:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Registration for Webinar
May 6 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Web Join URL
Zoom Join URL
Meeting Password: [REDACTED]
Dial-in information:
+1 669-254-5252 U.S. () +1 646-828-7666 U.S. ()
Meeting ID: 160 845 5864
May 20 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Web Join URL
Zoom Join URL
Meeting Password: [REDACTED]
Dial-in information:
+1 669-254-5252 U.S. () +1 646-828-7666 U.S. ()
Meeting ID: 160 845 5864
Applicants can find the funding opportunity information on ezFedGrants or Grants.gov by searching the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 10.028 or the Funding Opportunity Number USDA-APHIS-10028-WSNWRC00-24-0005. Applications for the FY24 Tribal Nations Wild Cervid CWD Opportunities are due in ezFedGrants by Monday, June 10th, 2024, at 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time. Applicants can find additional information at the new APHIS website Chronic Wasting Disease Management and Response Funding Opportunities | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (usda.gov), including the FY24 Tribal Nations Wild Cervid CWD Opportunities Funding Opportunity Announcement, Work Plan Template, Financial Plan Template, FY24 FAQs, and information on the Tribal proposals funded in previous years.

2024 Tribal Assistance Coordination Group Conference
2024-05-06 - 2024-05-10
The Tribal Assistance Coordination Group Conference brings together tribal emergency managers and program personnel, federal emergency management personnel, volunteer organization active in disasters personnel, state, local and non-government organizations involved in emergency management professionals to share the latest program information and best practices for all hazard emergencies and disasters.
Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort, located at 4300 E Washington Street, Phoenix Arizona 85034
There is no cost to register; however, tickets are required to reserve your seat.
2024 Conference Agenda

Rural Transit Resources: Building Capacity and Resilience in Rural and Tribal Communities
2024-05-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) both have transportation-related grant programs and resources to support the vitality and well-being of rural and tribal communities. This webinar will raise awareness about the shared goals of these FTA and USDA programs and take steps toward breaking down barriers, coordinating, and leveraging each other’s resources.
Presenters will include staff from the FTA’s Office of Rural and Targeted Programs, USDA’s Rural Partners Network, and the National Rural Transit Assistance Program (NRTAP) – one of FTA’s technical assistance centers.
The target audience for this webinar is rural and tribal public transportation providers, state departments of transportation (DOTs), USDA staff and grantees, rural development organizations, and others involved in supporting rural communities.
Webinar Objectives:

Inform FTA staff and grantees about USDA rural programs and transportation resources, and how they can get involved and collaborate with development organizations.
Inform USDA staff and grantees about FTA and NRTAP resources, as well as how to identify the transportation needs in a community and how to approach transit project development and collaboration with rural transit.
Determine next steps to further leveraging each other’s programs and resources to achieve our shared goals.

National RTAP is committed to providing equal access to this session for all participants. If you need alternative formats, options, or services, please email info@nationalrtap.org at least 7 business days in advance of this session so we can best assist you.
Register for the webinar

Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan Webinar Series: Advancing Health Equity for Native Communities
2024-05-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
SESSION 1: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 3 – 4 PM ET
Navigating Native Partnerships: How to Build Trust and Advance Health Equity
REGISTER HERE: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nLkaCreXT_G54vx5scZxsA (-> keepitsacred.us11.list-manage.com)
SESSION 2: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 3 – 4 PM ET
Ensuring your Message Lands: Reaching Tribal Communities with Multimodal Media Campaigns
REGISTER HERE: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EH0-TxioStOtGyJn_Pv4jA (-> keepitsacred.us11.list-manage.com)
SESSION 3: WEDNESDAY MAY 1, 3 – 4 PM ET
Supporting Tribes of All Sizes: Ensuring Streamlined Funding Sources to Support Rural Tribal Communities
REGISTER HERE: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FzZbXwT-RoWoGOUdD2ZbAQ (-> keepitsacred.us11.list-manage.com)
The National Native Network, administered by the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan (ITCM), will host a three-part webinar series to reach a variety of state and local health departments around the country to advance health equity and address social determinants of health among American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
The three-part webinar series will include topics on best practices of Community Based Participatory Approaches to working with American Indian and Alaska Native populations, culturally tailored communications for prevention services, and expansion and infrastructure support garnered through the work of the Tribal Vaccine Equity Project.
This webinar series was made possible by funding from the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) to support state and local health departments who received the CDC OT21-2103 grant, National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities.

DOI Consultation on the the development of the Scientific Integrity Policy.
2024-04-30 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-04-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) invites you to consult on the development of the DOI Scientific Integrity Policy. Pursuant to President Biden’s Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking | The White House, the National Science & Technology Council (NSTC) has created new policies and procedures pertaining to scientific integrity for the whole of the Federal Government. Those new polices in turn call for each federal agency to develop its own scientific integrity policy.
As DOI prepares its own policy, they seek to engage with you to hear your concerns and understand what you would like to see included in the policy. NSTC’s framework for all federal agencies is available at A Framework for Federal Scientific Integrity Policy and Practice (whitehouse.gov). To facilitate the consultation, enclosed are some questions for your consideration.
They will hold three consultation sessions, which will be open to all federally recognized Tribal Nations, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations. They invite you to register for one or more of the sessions listed below using the links provided.

Monday, April 22 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register for Session 1
Friday, April 26 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register for Session 2
Tuesday, April 30 at 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Eastern
Register for Session 3

You may submit written comments to DOISIPConsultation@usgs.gov. Written comments must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 31, 2024, to ensure timely consideration.
If you need further information, please contact Chris Hammond, Head of the Office of Tribal Relations at the U.S. Geological Survey, at chammond@usgs.gov or 703-648-6621.

COCO | Community Catalyst Fund virtual Q&A session
2024-04-30 15:00 | Virtual Event
Coalitions and Collaborative, Inc. (COCO) will hold a Community Catalyst Fund virtual Q&A session on April 30, 2024 at 2pm MT. Register here. Email cnpinfo@co-co.org with any questions.
Application Deadline: Applications for the Community Catalyst Fund are due on June 6, 2024, by midnight Mountain Time.
How to Apply: Visit the Request for Applications document for more information and specific instructions to apply.
Purpose: The Community Catalyst Fund aims to strengthen community-serving organizations with increasing capacity towards climate resilience. Priority will be given to proposals that clearly articulate how the proposed project will increase support for frontline communities, as outlined by the Community Navigator Program, with efforts that align with Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provisions. Furthermore, priority will be given to those proposals that clearly define plans to establish longer-term relationships and pathways with the USDA Forest Service for future work.
Frontline communities as outlined by the Community Navigator Program include:

Tribal governments and Indigenous communities
Communities of color
Communities at high risk of wildfire
Communities at risk of extreme climate change impact
Low-income rural communities
Underserved communities of small acreage forest landowners (<2500)

Award Details: Awards range from $10,000 to $150,000, providing substantial support for initiatives focused on leading communities to climate resilience. This funding opportunity is designed to accommodate projects of various sizes and scopes, including: capacity building through training, development and staffing; navigation program delivery; knowledge sharing through stories and resource exchange. See RFA for more information.
Timeline: The Community Catalyst Fund currently operates on an 11-month timeline (June 2024-May 2025).
Application Deadline: Applications for the Community Catalyst Fund are due on June 6, 2024, by midnight Mountain Time.
How to Apply: Visit the Request for Applications document for more information and specific instructions to apply.
How to Connect: COCO will hold a Community Catalyst Fund virtual Q&A session on April 30, 2024 at 2pm MT. Register here.
Please reach out to cnpinfo@co-co.org with any questions.

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

DOI/BIA Training | NPM-TRUS-44 A2: Streamlining the ROW & Business Lease Application Processes for Federally Funded Tribal Broadband Infrastructure Projects
2024-04-30 11:00 | Virtual Event
The BIA Office of Trust Services, Division of Real Estate Services in coordination with the Office of the Solicitor will provide virtual training on the AS-IA’s initiative regarding the recently updated National Policy Memorandum (NPM), NPM-TRUS-44 A2: Streamlining the Rights-of-Way and Business Lease Application Processes for Federally Funded Tribal Broadband Infrastructure Projects – Amendment 2.
NPM link:
https://www.bia.gov/sites/default/files/dup/assets/public/raca/national_policy_memoranda/pdf/npm-trus-44-a2_streamlining_rows_and_business_lease_applications_final_508.pdf
This training is for BIA staff, Tribal Nations, Federal Partners and Industry. The training webinars are scheduled for:

April 26, 2024 at 11:00am Mountain / 1:00pm Eastern

Registration link: https://www.bia.gov/events/npm-trus-44-a2-overview-bia-field-offices-tribes-federal-partners-and-industry-4-26

April 30, 2024 at 10:00am Mountain / 12:00pm Eastern

Registration link: https://www.bia.gov/events/npm-trus-44-a2-overview-bia-field-offices-tribes-federal-partners-and-industry-4-30

Registration can also be found on the BIA DRES webpage: https://www.bia.gov/bia/ots/dres

Contract Support Cost Training
2024-04-30 09:00 - 2024-05-01 16:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
April 30 – May 1 at 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Central
June 4 – 5 at 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Pacific
June 10 – 11 at 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Eastern
Registration link
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Services, Division of Self Determination, is
pleased to announce the Contract Support Cost (CSC) training schedule for FY 2024. The
training sessions are specifically designed for elected Tribal officials, Tribal employees
responsible for the calculation of CSC, Tribal organizations, and others interested in the
calculation of CSC. Each training session is hosted virtually and will be instructor-led.
The training sessions will include a brief overview of P.L. 93-638 Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act, as Amended, the regulations, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs CSC
policy. A considerable portion of the agenda is dedicated to including detailed and concentrated
examples of CSC worksheets and calculations.
Interested participants are invited to enroll using the training link provided. A confirmation
email and a meeting invitation will be provided prior to the start of each training session.
Participation is accepted up to the maximum capacity of the hosting platform.
Questions regarding the CSC training schedule may be directed to Ms. Sunshine Jordan, Chief,
Division of Self-Determination, by email at: Sunshine.Jordan@bia.gov.

EPA Informational Webinar | Solar for All Program
2024-04-29 15:00 | Virtual Event
Announcement
April 29 at 3:00 pm Central
Register
Solar for All will expand existing low-income solar programs and launch new ones. The 60 selected applicants will serve households in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and territories, as well as increase access to solar for Tribes. EPA has selected 49 state-level awards totaling approximately $5.5 billion, six awards to serve Tribes totaling over $500 million, and five multistate awards totaling approximately $1 billion. Solar for All will deploy residential solar for households nationwide by not only providing grants and low-cost financing to overcome financial barriers to deployment but also by providing services to communities to overcome other barriers such as siting, permitting, and interconnection. A complete list of the selected applicants can be found on EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Solar for All website.

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

Tribal Homelessness Network
2024-04-29 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
What is the Tribal Homelessness Network (THN): A network of Tribes/TDHEs coming together online for group learning, peer-to-peer collaborative approaches to prevent and end homelessness, and to access technical assistance and support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Discussions will be Tribally-led based on topics brought forth from the network around issues and challenges they see in their communities.
When will sessions be held? The first two sessions have been scheduled for April 29, 2024 & June 6, 2024. Additional sessions will be scheduled on topics identified by the THN.
How do I register? Register Today: Tribal Homelessness Network Series – HUD Exchange
Where can I get more information? Dear Tribal Leader Letter

NCUIH Annual Conference
2024-04-29 - 2024-05-02
Save the Date!
Preparations are underway for the NCUIH annual conference on April 29 – May 2, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
The NCUIH annual conference provides a platform for Urban Indian Organizations, health care professionals, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates to come together and discuss critical issues related to urban Indian health.
Please save the date in your calendar and stay tuned for further details, including registration information and the full conference program, which will be sent out in the coming months. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our conference organizers at conference@ncuih.org.
Thank you for your dedication to improving urban Indian health, and we look forward to welcoming you to the 2024 NCUIH annual conference on April 29 – May 2, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

NAFOA Annual Conference
2024-04-29 - 2024-04-30 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
Registration is officially open for NAFOA’s 42nd Annual Conference to be held April 29-30, 2024 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Hollywood, FL.
The conference brings Tribal, state, federal, and industry partners together in one educational forum to discuss important economic issues facing Indian Country. Register today to take advantage of great networking and informative educational sessions.
Conference Website

USDA Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers: Food, Safety, and Trade
2024-04-26 13:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces the Annual Consultation and Listening Session on Tribal Barriers: Annual Progress Report and Feedback for Next Steps, to be held April 22-26, 2024. These meetings with Tribal Nation officials will highlight historic Biden-Harris Administration investments made in response to Tribal Nation requests and discuss more ways to improve USDA service to Indian Country.
“In just three years, USDA has fundamentally changed the way we do business with Indian Country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We have more partnerships between Tribes and National Forests, more marketing support for Native producers, and we are including more Native foods in our nutrition assistance programs. These are just a sampling of the many ways that we are reshaping our programs to include Tribal and Indigenous perspectives, remove barriers, and encourage Tribal self-determination.”
Consultations are formal, Nation-to-Nation meetings between USDA (representing the federal government) and officials from among the 574 federally recognized Tribal Nations. There are many agricultural producers in Indian Country, and USDA plays a significant role in upholding Tribal treaty rights and the Nation-to-Nation trust relationship. USDA agencies and offices host consultations throughout the year to hear from Tribal Nations about how USDA policies and programs can better support Indian Country.
The April consultations will focus on key priority areas for the Biden-Harris Administration. Senior USDA consulting officials from each agency will listen to concerns from official representatives from among the 574 federally recognized Tribal Nations. Before each consultation, Tribal organizations will facilitate caucuses to support Tribal leaders in discussing these issues. After the formal consultation with elected Tribal leaders concludes, there will be an informal listening session that is open to all Indian Country attendees.

Details: These consultations build on those which occurred in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Over three years of consultations, we have had some important, and at times difficult, conversations about barriers to services at USDA and ways we can improve the experience for Indian Country. We have made tremendous progress in many areas identified in these consultations, as we announced at the 2023 Tribal Nations Summit. We are proud of this progress, but there is still work to do. For the 2024 consultations and listening sessions, we will ask for your input on some critical issues that remain difficult to address. Our framing papers will outline key topics where we are seeking Tribal input, in addition to other concerns which leaders wish to bring to our attention.
Documents:

Tribal Invitation (PDF, 214 KB)
Proxy Letter Template (DOCX, 27.6 KB)

Time: Tribal Caucus – 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET / Tribal Consultation – 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Education and Research Consultation

Monday April 22 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 333 KB)
USDA Tribal Colleges, Students, & Youth Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 235 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

Forests and Public Lands Management Consultation

Tuesday April 23 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 314 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

Farming, Ranching, and Conservation Consultation

Wednesday April 24 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 327 KB)
USDA Tribal Producers Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 353 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

Economic Development Consultation

Thursday April 25 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 310 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)

Food, Safety, and Trade Consultation

Friday April 26 at 2PM
Registration Link
Framing Paper (PDF, 283 KB)
USDA Tribal Food Sovereignty Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 417 KB)
USDA Tribal Barriers Removed Progress Update Spring 2024 (PDF, 185 KB)
