United South & Eastern Tribes

HUD Training: Environmental Review Training
2025-04-01 - 2025-04-03 | Dennis Chavez Federal Building, 500 Gold Avenue, SW, 7th floor, Albuquerque, NM, 87103-0906, United States
April 1-3 in Albuquerque, NM
Register
This training is in-person and will be delivered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Where:
Dennis Chavez Federal Building
500 Gold Ave, SW, 7th floor
Albuquerque, NM 87103-0906
This training provides Indian tribes, including Native Alaskan villages, and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs) with specific instructions and guidelines for carrying out the environmental review process according to 24 CFR Part 58: Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD Environmental Responsibilities.
Environmental reviews are required for all HUD-assisted projects or activities and must be completed prior to construction or commitment of any HUD funds.

2025 USET Tribal Utility Summit
2025-03-31 - 2025-04-02 | Wind Creek Casino and Resort, 303 Poarch Road, Atmore, AL, 36502, United States
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management presents the
2025 Tribal Utility Summit

The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management is pleased to announce our 15th Tribal Utility Summit (TUS), which is being hosted by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians at the Wind Creek Casino and Resort in Atmore, AL. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Tribal Utility Summit is an opportunity for Tribal Nation utility professionals to enhance skills and knowledge in managing and operating their systems. Attendees can also network with their peers and learn about industry innovations, products, technologies, and services.

When
Monday, March 31, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday, April 1, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday, April 2, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
*All times are Central.

Where

Wind Creek Casino and Resort
303 Poarch Road
Atmore, AL 36502
To book your room at the discounted rate, call (866) 946-3360 and mention room block code: USET Tribal Utility Summit. The room rate is $89 for a single king room and $109 for a double queen room plus 8% tax.

Who should attend: All USET member Tribal Nation Utility professionals, Tribal Leaders, Environmental professionals, Emergency Management Services professionals, Laboratory Technicians, Finance, Planners, and Economic Development staff, as well as vendors, federal agency partners, and educational partners.

Agenda

Attendees will receive:

Federal regulatory updates
Infrastructure development resources
USET resources
Vendor information on equipment
Networking opportunities
Educational opportunities
Benchmarking
Budgeting and Planning
Workforce Retention
Funding opportunities
Cyber Security

Register: Registration is now open.

Stipends: Travel stipends are available to USET member Tribal Nation staff on a limited basis, subject to available funds. All travel stipends must be approved in advance by USET. Stipends will be made payable to the USET member Tribal Nation and not the individual participants. Please complete the online stipend application to initiate your request.

Continuing Education Credits: Continuing education units will be issued pending approval from USET’s Certification Board.
Operator Exam Request: USET will offer proctored operator examinations onsite for Tribal citizens and utility staff who wish to obtain certification at an advanced operator level or in an alternative category. Requests for participation will be accepted until Friday, March 14. There is no cost associated with this opportunity. Review sessions, including a math component, are available upon request. For more information, please contact Jason Sockbeson (jsockbeson@usetinc.org).

Meeting App

Download the USET/USET SPF Events app from your app store. Then within the app search for USET 2025 Tribal Utility Summit. Download the event to the app. You can use it to stay up to date with the latest news and announcements, create your schedule, view all agendas, and connect with attendees.
If you have used the app for a previous USET meeting, you will need to exit that event. Click on your profile, go to settings, and click “exit the event” at the bottom of the screen. Then search for USET 2025 Tribal Utility Summit and download the event to your app.

Open the app in Google Play
Open the app in the Apple Store

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.

For questions, please contact Jane Wilson, USET OERM Program Manager, at jwilson@usetinc.org.

2025 IGA Indian Gaming Tradeshow and National Convention
2025-03-31 - 2025-04-01
March 31-April 3
San Diego, CA
Convention website
The largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in the country, the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention is both the meeting place where the community gathers to learn, network and exchange industry-specific ideas and a cultural celebration of success, strength, and self-reliance. Entering its 39th year, the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention has established itself not only as the premier event for the Indian Gaming Industry but as the figurative heartbeat of Native American success.
The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) is a non-profit organization of sovereign tribal nations with other non-voting associate members representing organizations, tribes and business engaged in tribal gaming enterprises around the country. As the go-to resource for the community on education, legislation and public policy issues, National Indian Gaming Association works to advance the social, economic, and political success of its members and the Indian community, at large.

NICWA Protecting Our Children Conference
2025-03-30 - 2025-04-02 | Doubletree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, 5780 Major Blvd, Orlando, FL, 32819, United States
March 30 – April 2, 2025
Orlando, Florida
Register
Each year, NICWA hosts the largest national gathering on Native child advocacy issues. With over 1,600 attendees—and growing every year—this three-day conference has become the premiere national event addressing Tribal child welfare and well-being. This year they will be in Orlando, Florida March 30–April 2. Keynote speakers have ranged from federal officials to youth with lived experience in child welfare.
For those who can’t make it, they have a virtual option. All three of their amazing general sessions with over a dozen wonderful speakers will be broadcast virtually. If you can’t make it in person, consider being a virtual attendee.
NICWA provides meaningful programming to conference attendees, creating a space where participants can learn about the latest developments and best practices from experts in the field and from one another. Participants represent a cross-section of fields and interests including child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice service providers; legal professionals; students; advocates for children; and Tribal, state, and federal leaders.

Purchasing Under FEMA Awards Training: Common Mistakes
2025-03-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
March 27 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Register
FEMA’s Grant Program Directorate (GPD) is offering a series of trainings on the federal procurement under grants rules applicable to recipients and subrecipients purchasing under a FEMA grant award. These virtual trainings will be facilitated by GPD’s Procurement Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT).
This training presents the most common noncompliance findings from Office of Inspector General audit reports. Participants learn about common procurement compliance pitfalls and how to avoid them.
This training is appropriate for FEMA award recipients and subrecipients, including:

State, local, tribal, and territorial government personnel
Nonprofit organization staff
Eligible private entities
Other non-Federal entities

This training is also appropriate for FEMA staff.
These virtual trainings will be delivered using Adobe Connect. In advance of a training, please test your connection.
Resources:

Procurement Resource Library

Indigenous Economic Development Community of Practice Webinar: Accessing the Resources and Capital to Support Economic Development - Part 2 (Virtual Training Session)
2025-03-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
March 26 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Register
Brief Description: As Tribal Nations and Native communities seek to develop a strong foundation for economic development activities and strategies, they must also identify the array of available sources of funding, financing and/or customers/clients that will support the enterprises and projects that will ultimately implement portions of these strategies. The second section of this track will provide a non-exhaustive list of funding sources and the eligible uses and combinations of these sources as well as provide training on how to advance economic development through external borrowing/financing of activities (as opposed to purely grant-funded approaches) and the use of federal contracting to grow Tribal enterprises and 8(a) businesses.
Part 2:

Reliable Capital and Collaboration: Cultivating Investor-Lender-Borrower Relationships to Support Economic Development

Indian Country ECHO Webinar: Current Measles Response and Clinical and Prevention Best Practices
2025-03-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Mar 26, 2025 2:00 pm Eastern – Current Measles Response and Clinical and Prevention Best Practices
Apr 2, 2025 2:00 pm Eastern – MMR Vaccine Outreach Strategies
Apr 9, 2025 2:00 pm Eastern – Making a Strong Vaccine Recommendation: Vaccine Communication Approaches

Register
This will be a three part collaborative learning series presented by Indian Country ECHO and UNM Project ECHO. Designed for Indian Health Service, Tribal, Urban Indian clinical and support staff, as well as state immunization program managers, this series will provide critical updates on the current measles outbreak, response efforts, and prevention strategies in Tribal and Urban Indian communities. Participants will gain insights into clinical presentation, diagnosis, infection control, and vaccination approaches while exploring culturally tailored outreach strategies to enhance MMR vaccine confidence. Through expert-led discussions and shared learning, this series aims to equip healthcare professionals with effective tools to respond to measles outbreaks in their communities, implement prevention measures, and strengthen immunization efforts in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Indian Health Service (IHS) Provider Enrollment Webinar
2025-03-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
March 26 at 1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern
Register
This webinar will focus on specific Part A and Part B CMS required enrollment applications for IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian providers and facilities as well as revalidation requirements and due dates.

IRS Office Hours on Pre-Filing Registration Process for Elective Payment and Transfer of Clean Energy and CHIPS Credits
2025-03-26 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-03-12 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 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.

Date
Time
Register

January 15, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

January 29, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

February 12, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

February 26, 2024
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

March 12, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

March 26, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

April 9, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

April 23, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

May 7, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

May 21, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

June 4, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

June 18, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

July 2, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

July 16, 2025
1-2:30 p.m. Eastern time
Register

Native Learning Center Virtual Training: Grants Management for Tribal Housing Professionals
2025-03-26 - 2025-03-27 | Virtual Event
The Native Learning Center hosts a 2-day virtual training session, focuses on the fundamentals and basic information pertaining to grants management with numerous examples of best practice techniques and ethical standards for Tribal Housing Professionals, particularly those individuals who are new to their respective position(s) and have not had an opportunity to participate in and/or receive formally structured training or guidance on the effective and efficient operation, financial activities, and compliance protocols of their funding programs.

Dates: March 26-27, 2025
Register Here

Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices, a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO Session
2025-03-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. presents the Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices, a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO Session. Native Psychological Brilliance refers to the intelligence, strengths, balance, innate resources, and resilience of Native people. This no-cost telehealth series will be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern. Each session will be one hour in length.
The March Session will be presented by Holly Echo-Hawk. She will discuss new Medicaid funding for traditional practices.
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,
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 the Reclaiming Team, at ReclaimingTeam@usetinc.org.

2025 Minnesota Tribal Traffic Safety Summit
2025-03-24 - 2025-03-26 | Prairie’s Edge Casino, 5616 Prairie's Edge Lane, Granite Falls, MN, 56241, United States
March 24–26, 2025
Day One: 1:00–5:00 p.m. (optional training)
Day Two: 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Day Three: 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Prairie’s Edge Casino

5616 Prairie’s Edge Lane
Granite Falls, MN 56241
Register
This summit is designed to bring together traffic safety professionals, invested stakeholders, and community members to provide education and raise awareness of crash-related injuries and deaths affecting Minnesota’s Tribal communities. The event also aims to identify strategies that will prevent serious and fatal injury crashes from occurring on Tribal lands and impacting Tribal communities.
See the full summit schedule in the draft agenda (PDF).
Event Goals

Solicit information and feedback related to traffic safety issues from Tribal Nation partners.
Improve crash data sharing and discuss prevention strategies with Tribal community members.
Share experiences and celebrate successful Tribal Nation traffic safety initiatives.
Identify traffic safety resources available to Tribal Nation partners.
Map out collaborative strategies to prevent fatal, serious, and life-altering crashes affecting Tribal community members.
Identify strategies that will address the disproportionate fatality rate of Tribal Nation members on Minnesota’s roadways.

Who Should Attend

Attorneys
Child Passenger Safety Advocates
City, County, State and Tribal Engineers
Departments of Transportation, Public Safety, and Health Employees
Driver Educators
Drug Recognition Evaluators
EMS and Health Care Personnel
Government Employees
Judges
Law Enforcement Officials
Local and State Elected Officials
Probation Staff
Public Health Officials
Safe Communities Coalitions
Traffic Safety Stakeholders
Tribal Council Leaders

Indigenous Economic Development Communities of Practice Webinar: Accessing the Resources and Capital to Support Economic Development - Part 3
2025-03-23 12:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
April 23 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register
Brief Description: As tribes and Native communities seek to develop a strong foundation for economic development activities and strategies, they must also identify the array of available sources of funding, financing and/or customers/clients that will support the enterprises and projects that will ultimately implement portions of these strategies. The second installment in this 3-part training series will explore the use of federal contracting to grow tribal enterprises and 8(a) businesses, including training on various types of federal contracts and some important considerations that tribal entities should be aware of as they seek out federal contracts.
Part 3:

Federal Contracting

Tribal Consultation on the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge
2025-03-19 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Register
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is seeking public comments and testimony regarding the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK Treaty), which was adopted in May 2024. The Treaty aims to establish global rules for the protection of Indigenous Knowledge and genetic resources, particularly requiring patent applicants to disclose the origin of such resources when they are essential to an invention.
Webinar Dates:

Federally Recognized Tribal Nations: Two virtual webinars for federally recognized Tribal Nations and their representatives will be held on:

Tuesday, March 18, 2025, from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. ET.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. ET.

Written Comment Deadline:
All written comments in response to the consultation must be received by Monday, April 28, 2025.
For more information, access the Federal Register Notice here.

HHS Planning Sessions for the Annual Tribal Budget Consultation
2025-03-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
As in previous years, HHS will continue to work to improve the consultation process. The Department understands the importance of hearing from Tribal Nations on national and regional issues, as well as Tribal-specific concerns. HHS will host two planning sessions to prepare for the consultation. These will take place on:

Wednesday, March 5 from 3:00 – 4:00pm ET
Wednesday, March 19 from 3:00 – 4:00pm ET

Please register to attend one or both of the consultation planning calls at the following link: https://hhsgov.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/_HcAOZncSE-vffQpNMhqMA (-> click.connect.hhs.gov). More information about the agendas for these sessions is forthcoming.

Indigenous Economic Development Community of Practice Webinar: Transportation and Infrastructure Development as Drivers of Economic Development (Virtual Informational Session)
2025-03-19 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
March 19 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Central
Register
Brief Description: The evaluation of the fitness of locations for future investment to support economic development activities centers in large part on the suitability of available sites for the proposed activities based on the strength and condition of the infrastructure that will provide access, connection, power, water and other vital resources to these sites. This session will focus on the development of infrastructure as a precursor to economic development activities in order to support a wide range of activities, enable multiple activities to benefit from well-planned installations of new infrastructure, and provide flexibility in the selection and specific sequencing of new economic development activities.

Clinical Operations Technical Assistance Office Hours with James Spillane
2025-03-19 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: GPRA, EHR, RPMS, iCARE, workflow management, and the Patient-Centered Medical Home model/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:

GPRA
EHR
RPMS
iCARE
Workflow Management
Patient-Centered Medical Home Model/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.

BIA Division of Self Determination ISDEAA Training
2025-03-19 - 2025-03-20, 2025-03-12 - 2025-03-13
Please register using the link provided here:
FY25 ISDEAA Training for Tribes and Tribal Organizations
Construction Contracting under Public Law 93-638 – Section 105, 25 CFR, Part 900, Subpart J
January 28-30, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Albuquerque, NM
Contract Support Cost
February 19-20, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time
Virtual
Contract Support Cost
March 12-13, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central Time
Virtual
Single Audit
March 19-20, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Virtual
Contract Support Cost
May 14-15, 2025
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Virtual
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Indian Services, Division of Self Determination, is pleased to announce the FY 2025 training schedule focused on topics specifically related to the P.L. 93-638 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as Amended (ISDEAA). The training sessions are specifically designated for elected tribal officials, tribal employees, tribal organizations, and aims to empower tribal communities with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to assist in navigating the complexities of self-determination, enhance governance, and strengthen tribal sovereignty.
The training objectives include reviewing key policies that support P.L. 93-638 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, as Amended, the regulations, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs policies. The Construction Contracting course will provide information and guidance on how tribal governments may design and build projects under the authority of P.L. 93-638. The Contract Support Cost (CSC) course will include a brief overview of ISDEAA. A considerable portion of the agenda is dedicated to detailed and precise examples of CSC worksheets and calculations. The Single Audit course will include information on preparation and follow-up using OMB policy and compliance supplements.
Interested participants are invited to enroll using the training link provided and registration is on a first-come basis. Participation is accepted up to the maximum capacity, thereafter a waitlist is maintained. A confirmation email and a meeting invitation will be provided prior to the start of each training course.
The Division of Self Determination understands cancellations may occur, and we will be flexible and prepared for potential changes. Cancellation notifications may be submitted as soon as possible or at a minimum of 48 hours in advance to allow sufficient time to offer the availability to an individual on the waitlist.
All training resource documents will be provided electronically, allowing each participant the ease of access to determine whether they prefer to follow along using the electronic version or print the material at their convenience.

TribalHub Webinar: The Power of Coaching in Tribal Leadership
2025-03-18 12:00 | Virtual Event
March 18 at 12:00 pm Central
Register
Great leadership doesn’t happen alone. Coaching is a game-changer for leaders looking to build trust, develop teams, and drive performance. Join TribalHub as they partner with Purpose & Performance Group on a live webinar exploring how coaching strengthens leadership in Tribal organizations. With over 2,000 Tribal leaders certified in government and business sectors, Purpose & Performance Group (P&PG) brings deep expertise in coaching as a leadership tool.
In this session, they’ll cover:

How coaching transforms leadership and team performance
Practical coaching skills you can use immediately
The impact of implementing a coaching culture in Tribal organizations

Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting, this webinar will provide actionable insights to elevate your leadership.

Purchasing Under FEMA Awards Training: Introduction
2025-03-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
March 17 at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern
Register
EMA’s Grant Program Directorate (GPD) is offering a series of trainings on the federal procurement under grants rules applicable to recipients and subrecipients purchasing under a FEMA grant award. These virtual trainings will be facilitated by GPD’s Procurement Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT).
This training provides an overview of the federal procurement under grants rules for recipients and subrecipients when purchasing under a FEMA grant.
This training is appropriate for FEMA award recipients and subrecipients, including:

State, local, tribal, and territorial government personnel
Nonprofit organization staff
Eligible private entities
Other non-Federal entities

This training is also appropriate for FEMA staff.
These virtual trainings will be delivered using Adobe Connect. In advance of a training, please test your connection.
Resources:

Procurement Resource Library

DOI BIE Tribal Consultation on EO to Expand Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families
2025-03-14 13:30 - 15:30, 2025-03-14 11:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
March 14 at 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Register in advance for the Zoom meeting
March 14 at 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Register in advance for the Zoom meeting
On January 23, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) to expand educational freedom and opportunity for families. The EO Section 7 directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) within 90 days to review any available mechanisms under which families of students eligible to attend Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools may use their Federal funding for educational options of their choice, including private, faith-based, or public charter schools. EO Section 7 also directs the Secretary to submit a plan to the President describing such mechanisms and the steps necessary to implement them for the 2025-26 school year.
To meet the deadline set by the President in the EO, BIE is expediting the formal Tribal consultation process to provide Tribes and critical Indian education stakeholders the meaningful and timely opportunity to review and comment on the EO, generally, and possible authorities available to the BIE. Rather than the usual 30-day notification period, BIE is providing a two-week, 14-day notification period that still provides the necessary announcement for meaningful engagement while addressing the timeline set forth in the EO.
Consultation will be conducted to seek input from Tribes and stakeholders on the EO and related topics including:

any available mechanisms that could provide families of eligible students use of Federal funding for educational options of their choice including how any such mechanisms will be funded;
to the extent that there exist any such mechanisms to implement in the 2025-26 schoolyear, the eligibility criteria for students in the plan referenced in the EO;
educational options near existing BIE-funded schools that could provide potentially eligible students local flexibility to attend a non-BIE school, such as private, faith-based, or public charter schools.

Two 2-hour webinar sessions are scheduled to afford time for input. Because of the unique mission of the BIE, both sessions are open to Tribal leaders or their delegated representatives or designee, and/or for school boards, parents, teachers, and other public stakeholders. Oral and written comments will also be accepted for one week through 11:59pm PT on Friday, March 21, 2025.
The language of the Executive Order is located at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/expanding-educational-freedom-and-opportunity-for-families/. The BIE recommends reviewing the language prior to attending a consultation session or submitting written comments for providing meaningful feedback.
If you would like to provide written input, please either email your comments to consultationcomments@bie.edu or mail to Ms. Juanita Mendoza, 1849 C Street, NW, MS 3609, Washington DC 20240. If you have any questions regarding the Tribal consultations, you may contact Ms. Juanita Mendoza by phone at (202) 208-3559 or by email at juanita.mendoza@bie.edu.

EPA Emergency Preparedness Webinar: Lithium-ion Battery Challenges and Best Practices
2025-03-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
March 12 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Join via Microsoft Teams
Webinar webpage
This two hour webinar will present the current best practices, and primary challenges, for responding to lithium-ion battery fires. The course will cover the basics of Li-ion batteries and their unique hazards; types of incidents that may be encountered; and transportation and disposal challenges during remediation of a battery incident.

USDA Community Connect Grant Program Webinar
2025-03-12 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Rural Utilities Service will be hosting a webinar for potential applicants to the Community Connect Grant Program. The webinar will provide an overview of the program and provide application guidance. Details regarding the upcoming Webinar are as follows:

Date/Time: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm ET
Register Here

HUD Webinar Series: Tribal Homelessness Network
2025-03-12 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
March 12 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern
Register
What is the Tribal Homelessness Network (THN)? A network of Tribes and 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). THN members will identify topic areas and lead discussions based on issues and challenges facing their communities.
Session Description: Attend this discussion to hear from the Susanville Rancheria on their experience with data sovereignty and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) as well as other homelessness issues they have addressed.
Where can I get more information? Dear Tribal Leader Letter

HHS Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Briefing for Tribal Nations
2025-03-11 11:30 | Virtual Event
HHS HPAI Briefing for Tribal Nations
Time: March 11, 2025, 12:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register
Please join HHS next week on Tuesday, March 11, at 12:30 PM ET for a briefing on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). This informational briefing will bring you up to date on its status, HHS and USDA engagement, and provide time for Q&A.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact TribalAffairs@hhs.gov for more details.

RES 2025
2025-03-10 08:00 - 2025-03-13 17:00 | Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89109, United States
March 10-13, 2025
Las Vegas, NV
Conference Website
RES 2025 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 Beyond Boundaries for the 2025 Reservation Economic Summit. The event features tribal leaders, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, state and local officials, and top CEOs on a national platform.
