Department of Homeland Security's Tribal Government Affairs Virtual Consultation on the Immigration and Naturalization Act
2024-05-23 12:00 - 13:30 (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.

Introduction to the NSF Engines Funding Opportunity Webinar
2024-05-23 13:00, 2024-06-03 13:00 | Virtual Event
The National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines Program (NSF Engines) has a new funding opportunity, 24-565. Each NSF Engine award will provide a team up to $160 million over 10 years to support growing and sustaining a place-based regional innovation ecosystem built on a future-oriented R&D technology topic, translation of innovations to practice, and inclusive workforce development. The project must be led by a full-time CEO and a coalition of partners and stakeholders.
Priority in the NSF Engines program will be given to projects located in regions of the United States that have not yet fully participated in the technology boom of the past several decades. Local/state governments and Tribal Nations are eligible to apply as lead organizations, along with non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and for-profit organizations. Tribal Nations organizations can lead or participate as a partner.
To learn more, join NSF and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a virtual presentation and Q&A session with members of the NSF Engines team! There will be two events, Thursday, May 23 at 2-3:30pm ET, and Monday, June 3 at 2-3:30pm ET. At each event, the NSF Engines team will present an overview of the solicitation and answer questions about opportunities for participation of Tribal Nations organizations during a live Q&A. The solicitation webinar and slide deck are also available online for additional information about the program.
To attend, please register at these links:
May 23 (2pm ET): https://nsf.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItceGprj4rHjoBvvs04XjzSPGUQEkRLAM
June 3 (2pm ET): https://nsf.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcOisqzktHzFHYLQ01Ot8YaRAICtXJEk
Questions about the program or the solicitation can be directed to: engines@nsf.gov.

FEMA Tribal Listening Sessions and Consultation on the Tribal Consultation Policy
2024-05-23 14:30 - 16:30, 2024-05-28 14:00 - 16:00 | 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.

North American Indian Tennis Association Tournament
2024-05-24 - 2024-05-26 | Emond Center Court, 601 W 15th Street, Edmond, OK, 73003, United States

Indian Country ECHO Webinar on Syphilis Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment
2024-05-28 11:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
Healthcare professionals and other staff serving AI/AN populations are invited to participate in this 2.5-hour virtual training program. The session will feature multidisciplinary presentations on best practices for responding to the rise of syphilis and congenital syphilis in Tribal communities. The webinar will take place on May 28 at 12:00 – 2:30pm ET. Please access the agenda and registration information here.

Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices, a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO Clinic
2024-05-28 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 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 on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern. Each session will be one hour in length.
This month’s theme is “National Bridge Overview: Bridging Emergency Care and Community Health.”
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 Deviyani Bajpai, THPS Public Health Program Coordinator, at dbajpai@usetinc.org.

Rural Clean Energy Federal Funding Fair
2024-05-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
Additional Funding Opportunities for Clean Energy Projects
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is hosting our next federal funding fair on May 28, 2024!
Rural Development (RD) recognizes that clean energy support for rural communities is in high demand and is hosting a series of virtual federal funding fairs for entities interested in building clean energy that supports rural communities. Each virtual funding fair will feature a presenter who will speak about a current federal funding opportunity for clean energy projects in rural American and provide more information about program benefits and eligibility.
For our next webinar, presenters will come from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, U.S Department of Energy’s Energy Improvements for Rural and Remote Areas (ERA) Program, and U.S. Department of Treasury to talk about Elective Pay/Direct Pay benefits. Representatives from USDA will also talk more about USDA Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America (REAP) program and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Programs. Each session will focus on different programs, with this Rural Clean Energy Funding Fair webinar covering the following topics. Please register by selecting the linked sessions below:
Tuesday, May 28, 2024, 2:00pm – 4:00pm EDT:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will present on funding opportunities available through their Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund – a $27B investment to mobilize financing and private capital to address the climate crisis, ensure our country’s economic competitiveness, and promote energy independence while delivering lower energy costs and economic revitalization to communities that have historically been left behind.
U.S. Dept. of Energy will present on their Energy Improvements in Rural and Remote Areas (ERA) program and their announcement about the $78M awarded to support 19 projects across 12 states and 13 Tribal nations to develop and deploy sustainable clean energy solutions and expand access to reliable and affordable energy in rural and remote communities across the nation.
U.S. Dept. of Treasury will present on the Direct Pay/Elective Pay credit delivery mechanism designed to help rural electric cooperatives and other entities gain access to clean energy tax credits for clean energy deployment.
USDA will present on Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric programs for medium and large utility-scale clean energy projects that serve rural communities and Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) program for small-scale clean energy projects for rural small businesses and agricultural producers.

USDA has also developed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) pocket guides to help applicants navigate the suite of programs that were recently developed for clean energy projects in rural America across several agencies. You will notice that the funding fairs will discuss some of the programs featured in our IRA guides. One of the guides sorts programs by common eligible uses and the other organizes programs by common eligible applicant groups: IRA Pocket Guides | Rural Development (usda.gov).

HHS Briefing for Tribal Communities on Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis
2024-05-28 15:30 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Please join ADM Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Dr. Loretta Christensen, Chief Medical Officer at the Indian Health Service (IHS), and Dr. Laura Bachman, Acting Director of the Division of STD Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a briefing on the federal response to syphilis and congenital syphilis in Tribal communities. The briefing will be on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 4:30pm ET.
Briefing for Tribal Communities on Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis
Date: Tuesday, May 28
Time: 4:30-5:00pm ET
Please register at:
https://hhsgov.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsduqurTotH1xNSH08pV3x2-Qx7SEODu0#/registration (-> click.connect.hhs.gov)

CMS Health Equity Conference
2024-05-29 - 2024-05-30 | TN
Virtual participation options are still available for CMS’s upcoming Health Equity Conference on May 29-30 in Bethesda, Maryland. The theme is “Sustaining Health Equity Through Action.” Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CMS leadership on recent program developments; explore the latest health equity research; discuss promising practices and creative solutions; and collaborate on community engagement strategies. More information is available on the conference website.

ONTL and Wildlife Services Tribal Webinar on the Rabies Program
2024-05-29 12:00 | Virtual Event
The USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Office of National Tribal Liaison (ONTL) values the partnerships between APHIS and Tribal Nations. They feel providing opportunities for Tribal Nations to learn about their national programs that safeguard natural resources will aid in developing partnerships and strengthening already existing ones. ONTL and Wildlife Services will host a Tribal Webinar on the Rabies Program.
They cordially invite you and your staff members to attend their Tribal webinar: “Wildlife Services – Rabies Program,” May 29, 2024, at 1:00 pm EDT.
The registration and web link are below.
Registration: https://forms.office.com/g/GPwH0ketDc
Web Join URL: https://coreshield.zoomgov.com/wc/join/1607527485?pwd=[REDACTED]

Forest Service and First Nations Development Institute virtual office hours
2024-05-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
A one-pager on the open funding opportunity to support Tribal participation in emerging climate markets
A compendium of all Landowner Assistance funding opportunities that could support work on Tribal lands

The Forest Service and First Nations Development Institute will co-host a series of virtual office hours for federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native corporations and villages. During these sessions, staff will answer questions about this opportunity and provide feedback on proposed activities. Tribal staff—including forestry, program, and grant writing staff—are encouraged to participate.

Register for the first office hours session: May 29, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Mountain time.

Information on future office hours will be posted to the Forest Landowner Support page as they are confirmed.
Support available to Tribes:

Participate in office hours on May 29, 2-3pm Mountain Time. Register for office hours here.
First Nations Development Institute, a Community Navigator organization, is available to provide support on grant writing (email lriggs@firstnations.org).
The National Indian Carbon Coalition (a project of Indian Land Tenure Foundation) is available to provide technical support to Tribes interested in exploring carbon markets (email bvanstippen@iltf.org).

The agency’s Forest Landowner Support team is available for one-on-one calls with Tribes to discuss ideas for this specific funding opportunity (email SM.FS.LandownerIRA@usda.gov).

HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations: Region 2
2024-05-30 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
Dear Tribal Leader:
I write to invite you to the 2024 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Annual Regional Tribal Consultations that will be held across the country. The Regional Consultations provide regional forums for Tribes to share their views, concerns, and recommendations with HHS officials on health and human services priorities. We hope the consultations will provide a venue for two-way conversations between Tribal leaders and HHS officials.
As in previous years, Regional Consultations will also include opportunities for Tribes to meet one-on-one with regional leadership. These sessions are intended to provide Tribes with time to discuss their specific health and human service issues with HHS officials. Please contact your Regional Tribal Liaison for further information on signing up for a one-on-one session. The contact information for each of the Regions is listed in an appendix to this letter.
Below are the dates for the 2024 Regional Consultations:
May 1-3: Region 10 (Hybrid)
Silver Reef Hotel Casino Resort
4876 Haxton Way
Ferndale, WA 98248
May 14-15: Region 9 (In-person)
University of Nevada – Las Vegas
4505 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89154
May 30: Region 2 (Primarily in-person, hybrid option)
St. Regis Mohawk
Akwesasne Mohawk Resort
873 NY-37, Hogansburg, NY 13655
June 12-13: Region 5 (In-person)
Pending
June 20: Region 1 (Virtual)
ZoomGov
June 25-26: Region 7 (In-person)
Bolling Federal Office Building
601 East 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
July 16-17: Region 3 (In-person)
Chickahominy Indian Tribe
8200 Lott Cary Road
Providence Forge, VA 23140
July 29-30: Region 8 (In-person)
Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Ave. Pkwy
Denver, CO 80204
August 14-15: Region 4 (Primarily in-person, hybrid option)
Eastern Band of Cherokee
Building location TBD
August 20-22: Region 6 (Hybrid)
MetroTech Conference Center
1900 Springlake Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Additional details are forthcoming, including registration links and agendas, and will be communicated directly through each Region to their area’s respective Tribes, as well as via the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) Tribal Affairs Bi-Weekly Newsletter (please sign up for our listserv here).
Thank you for your continued support of the consultation process. We look forward to your participation and ongoing partnership. In the interim, please contact the IEA Tribal Affairs team at consultation@hhs.gov with any questions.
Respectfully,
Bertha Alisia Guerrero, Director
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs
Appendix: Regional Tribal Liaison Contact Information

Region 1: Taylor Bryan Turner taylor.bryanturner@hhs.gov
Region 2: Sean Hightower sean.hightower@hhs.gov
Region 3: Melissa Herd melissa.herd@hhs.gov
Region 4: Natalia Cales natalia.cales@hhs.gov
Region 5: Melissa Watt melissa.watt@hhs.gov
Region 6: Julia Lothrop julia.lothrop@hhs.gov
Region 7: Nick Clasen nickolas.clasen@hhs.gov
Region 8: Elsa Ramirez elsa.ramirez@hhs.gov
Region 9: Schuyler Hall schuyler.hall@hhs.gov
Region 10: Priya Helweg priya.helweg@hhs.gov

NCAI 2024 Mid Year Convention & Marketplace
2024-06-01 - 2024-06-06 | Harrah’s Cherokee Resort and Casino, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC, 28719, United States
At NCAI’s 2024 Mid Year Convention & Marketplace, attendees will have the opportunity to work collaboratively to protect and enhance tribal sovereignty. This will be an in-person convention, which will take place in Cherokee, NC at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Tribal leaders, NCAI members, Native youth, and partners from across Indian Country will gather to embark upon a new era of Nation-to-Nation engagement, which will include: proactive strategy development, advocacy, and much more.

USDA Tribal Consultation on increased and expanded Tribal self-determination policies
2024-06-03 12:00 - 15:00, 2024-06-03 15:30 - 18:30, 2024-06-05 12:00 - 15:00 | Hybrid Event, TN
USDA Tribal Consultations on Expanding Tribal Self Determination Policies at USDA
(Hybrid: In-person and virtual)
Taking Place during the NCAI Mid-Year at Cherokee, North Carolina
Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Forestry Consultation
June 3 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register
Meat Inspections Consultation
June 3 at 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern
Register
Food and Nutrition Programs Consultation
June 5 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register

All attendees, including those attending in-person, must register/RSVP above. The Zoom link will allow you to choose “Virtual” or “In-Person.”
This will be a formal Tribal Consultation. Tribal leaders and proxies will have the floor in a nation-to-nation consultation. Tribal leaders may formally designate proxies to attend and speak on their behalf, and/or may call on subject matter experts to speak on their behalf during the consultation. Proxies may submit their proxy forms, which are enclosed with this letter to tribal.relations@usda.gov.

FCC Tribal Consultation on Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP) Event Code NPRM
2024-06-03 14:00 - 15:30 | Harrah’s Cherokee Resort and Casino, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC, 28719, United States
Greetings from the Federal Communications Commission.
We are pleased to announce that on Monday, June 3rd, Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) staff will hold a Tribal consultation session from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EDT to coincide with the National Congress of American Indians Mid Year 24 Convention and Marketplace in Cherokee, North Carolina. This session will be an informational presentation and opportunity for Tribal consultation on the Federal Communications Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing that a new “Missing and Endangered Person” (MEP) event code be added to the nation’s Emergency Alert System. Further information about the FCC’s MEP event code proceeding can be found online at www.fcc.gov/MEP.
ONAP is coordinating Tribal consultation on the NPRM to facilitate substantive engagement with federally recognized Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian Organizations. As part of the consultation process, Tribal leaders are invited to present statements and comments which, at the option of the Tribal leader, ONAP will enter into the formal record for the proceeding with the goal of ensuring that the FCC considers Tribal input on this important issue.
ONAP’s consultation session is available to anyone attending NCAI’s conference on June 3rd and we encourage you to attend and participate. We also invite Tribal leaders to send their statements regarding the FCC’s proposal in advance, if possible, or after the consultation. Please send statements to Native@fcc.gov which is an email inbox monitored by ONAP staff.
These consultations will be facilitated by ONAP, and in addition to Tribal leaders, may be of special interest to communications and broadcasting personnel; social services, public safety and emergency management personnel; Tribal law enforcement; and other interested representatives from your Nation.
Filing Public Comments
We also encourage you to submit written comments directly to the docket for this proceeding via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System, using the following docket numbers: PS 15-91 and PS 15-94. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, announcing that public comments were due May 20, 2024, and reply comments are due June 17, 2024.
If you have questions or seek further information please write to Native@fcc.gov, or visit www.fcc.gov/office-native-affairs-and-policy.
Bambi Kraus
Chief, Office of Native Affairs and Policy

Contract Support Cost Training
2024-06-04 11:00 - 19:00, 2024-06-05 11:00 - 19:00 | 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.

NAFOA Webinar with the Department of Energy on Tribal Energy Financing Program
2024-06-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
June 4 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Register
During the 42nd Annual NAFOA Conference, the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) Director Jigar Shah shared with attendees an overview of the recent conditional commitment for a loan guarantee to the Viejas Microgrid and/or microgrid projects for high-load centers like gaming, hospitality, and retail facilities — can be great candidates for the Tribal Energy Financing Program.
To follow up on the announcement, NAFOA will host a webinar with the Department of Energy on Tuesday, June 4, from 1-2 p.m. EDT. Members of the Tribal Energy Finance Program team will share more about how solar-plus-storage and microgrid projects can address the needs of Tribal Nations’ high-load facilities, how LPO would work with Tribal Nations on such projects, and answer questions about the topics.

Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force Meeting
2024-06-04 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
The USET Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force (Tribal PHPR) is a Tribally centered epidemiological approach to public health preparedness and resilience with the primary goal of strengthening the resilience of Tribal Nations in the USET region through public health strategies focused on the mitigation, prevention, and preparation phases of the disaster management cycle.  The goal of this Task Force is to build relationships between Tribal Nations in the USET region and the USET Epidemiology team! Join the contact list today to start receiving updates.
Date: June 4, 2024 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Central / 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Eastern (occurring on the first Tuesday of every month)

Who Should Attend?

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

Registration: Register today for the zoom meeting.
Questions: For questions, please contact Anna Garrett, USET Senior Epidemiologist at agarrett@usetinc.org or Samantha Rieche, USET Program Coordinator at srieche@usetinc.org.

SMART Grant FY24 Stage 1 NOFO: How to Apply
2024-06-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) discretionary grant program with $100 million appropriated annually for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026.
The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
SMART is a two-stage program. Stage 1(up to $2,000,000 dollars and 18 months) grants are open for any eligible entity to apply. Recipients of Stage 1 grants will be eligible to expand their projects through Stage 2 grants (up to $15,000,000 and 36 months). Applicants must have received a Stage 1 grant to apply to Stage 2.
The next Stage 1 NOFO is now open.
The application window for the FY24 Stage 1 NOFO is now open. Applications are due July 12th at 5 PM ET. Late applications will not be accepted.
To view the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), click here. The NOFO is also posted on Grants.gov. USDOT anticipates this will be the final Stage 1 NOFO of the SMART Grants Program.
For more information on applying, see the resources under How to Apply. A webinar on How to Apply for the FY24 Stage 1 SMART Grant NOFO will be held on May 28th, 2024, at 1pm ET.
Register for the webinar. A recording will be made available after the webinar.

U.S. DOJ Tribal EJ Consultation
2024-06-05 12:00 - 14:00 | Hybrid Event, TN
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
June 5 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
During the NCAI Mid-Year 2024 Annual Conference
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
777 Casino Drive
Cherokee, NC 28719
July 11 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Virtual
Register
Submit your written comments either by email to OTJ@usdoj.gov or by mail to Office of Tribal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001 by August 16, 2024.

Tribal Homelessness Network
2024-06-06 13:00 - 14:30 | 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

2024 USET Tribal Climate Resilience Camp
2024-06-10 - 2024-06-14 | Avila Center, 711 Mason Road, Durham, NC, 27712, United States
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management presents the
2024 USET Tribal Climate Resilience Camp

United South and Eastern Tribes (USET), in partnership with the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (SE CASC), will convene a Tribal Climate Resilience Camp this year and will support teams representing USET Member Tribal Nations to attend the camp. Participating teams can be comprised of Tribal Leaders, climate change coordinators, planners, program managers, and/or community members with a goal to gather information, build skills, and develop Tribal policies and plans to address climate change impacts. This year’s participants are encouraged to bring specific climate adaptation objectives and/or projects to focus and work on, and to make headway on resiliency plans. Such projects may include community outreach plans, adaptation plans, vulnerability assessments, funding strategies, or other related initiatives. USET’s Climate Camp staff, facilitators, and guest speakers will support participants to further develop specific climate adaptation objectives and/or projects. Accordingly, interested USET Member Tribal Nations and their teams should apply early to allow USET to prepare and ensure resources and facilitators are available to fit each project.

When: June 10-14, 2023

June 10 | 5:00 pm Eastern (Suggested travel day and kick-off dinner)
June 11 – 13 | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern each day
June 14 | 8:00 am Eastern (Breakfast and departure)

Where: The Avila Center, 711 Mason Rd., Durham, NC 27712
Reservations will be made for attendees when they register for the camp.

Who should attend: This year we are encouraging Tribal Nations to bring with them, to the camp, specific climate adaptation objectives and/or projects to focus on, work on, and make headway on during the week. So, ideal candidates to comprise a Tribal Nation’s team for this year’s camp would be any individual connected to those objectives or projects. USET’s Climate Camp staff, facilitators, and guest speakers will all be on hand to support you, whether you’re working alone or as a team, to begin making progress on those specific climate adaptation objectives and/or projects.
We recognize that some Tribal Nations may only be able to send one participant to the Camp. These “Teams” of one are still encouraged to register and attend and will be grouped with other individual participants to benefit from peer learning and discussion opportunities.
Prospective attendees are encouraged to view a brief video (below) on the camp held in the traditional homelands of the Wabanaki at the Schoodic Institute. This camp was hosted by the Penobscot Nation.

Camp Objectives:

Learn examples of Tribal climate adaptation planning.
Identify climate adaptation resources from climate adaptation science centers.
Build camaraderie with your Tribal Nation team.
Discuss how climate adaptation can align with the values and priorities of your Tribal Nation/community.
Create a strategy to engage your Tribal Nation/community in climate adaptation planning.
Bring with you a climate adaptation objective or a climate adaptation/resilience project to focus on, work on, and make headway on with a team of dedicated camp facilitators to help and support you all week!

Agenda (as of 5/28/24)
Agenda at-a-glance

Register
Registration is open. There is no fee for registration. Space is limited (~30 Tribal participants), and limited spots will be appointed on a first come first serve basis. Registration closes on May 10.

Travel Information
Meals and lodging for Tribal Nation teams at the Avila Retreat Center will be covered by the program. Tribal Nation teams, however, are responsible for covering all travel costs getting to and from the event (including but not limited to airfare, airport parking, mileage, per diem, car rental or other expenses on travel days). Teams or individuals from federally recognized Tribal Nations may request stipends for travel reimbursement. The Raleigh Durham International Airport is about 24 miles from the Avila Center. Travel options to and from the airport and Avila center could include taxis, rideshare, or vehicle rental. If limited by travel funding, please contact the USET camp coordinators. We will have a limited number of travel stipends on a first come first serve basis.

COVID Protocols
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.
Currently (as of 04/17/2023, subject to change), USET is no longer requiring proof of vaccination to attend USET-sponsored meetings. A supply of masks and tests will be made available for attendees to use at their discretion.

Contact:
For questions, please contact the USET OERM Climate Program: Casey Thornbrough, Climate Program Manager, at cthornbrugh@usetinc.org; Steph Courtney, Assistant Tribal Climate Science Liaison, scourtney@usetinc.org; Tyler Everett, Tribal Forest Adaptation Technical Assistant, teverett@usetinc.org.

AIANTA/USFS NATIVE Act Request for Proposals for FY 2024 Webinar
2024-06-10 11:00 | Virtual Event
June 10 at 11:00 am Central
Register
AIANTA and the U.S. Forest Service will host an informational webinar regarding the Request for Proposals for NATIVE Act Tribal Projects and Initiatives on or Adjacent to U.S. Forest Service Managed Lands for FY 2024. The webinar will include a panel of past grantees and a question and answer session specific to types of projects, timelines, the application process and implementation.

National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) Open Virtual Meeting
2024-06-11 12:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
The National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) is hosting an open virtual meeting on June 11-12, 2024, from 1-4:30 p.m. ET daily.
The purpose of this meeting is to convene NACIE and conduct the following business: (1) discuss and approve the 2023-2024 Annual Report to Congress; (2) discuss fiscal year 2024 planning activities; (3) discuss and coordinate with the White House Initiative to fulfill Executive Order 14049; and (4) discuss subcommittee activities. On June 12, 2024, NACIE will conduct the following business: (5) discuss and hear updates from federal representatives regarding technical assistance, best practices, and development of regulatory or non-regulatory actions; and (6) hear comments from members of the public.
About NACIE
NACIE is authorized by section 6141 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended (20 U.S.C. 7471). The work of NACIE was expanded by Executive Order 14049. In accordance with section 6141 of the ESEA, NACIE shall advise the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Interior on the funding and administration (including the development of regulations and administrative policies and practices) of any program, including any program established under title VI, part A of the ESEA, with respect to which the Secretary of Education has jurisdiction and (1) that includes Indian children or adults as participants or (2) that may benefit Indian children or adults.
Instructions for Accessing the Meeting
Members of the public may access the NACIE meeting via virtual teleconference. Up to 350 lines will be available on a first come, first serve basis for those who wish to join via teleconference.
Join by Phone
The dial-in listen-only phone number for the meeting is 1–669–254–5252, Meeting ID: 160 613 4472, passcode: [REDACTED]
Join by Web
The web link to register to access the meeting via Zoom.gov is https://www.zoomgov.com/​meeting/​register/​vJItceirqj8tGMEWbkcF5jjkEMhIW7qsBYo (-> l9nnctdbb.cc.rs6.net)
Public Comment
Members of the public interested in submitting written comments may do so via email to Julian Guerrero at Julian.Guerrero@ed.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time (ET) on June 12, 2024. Requests to make oral comment will be accepted on a first requested, first served basis. Each commenter will have a maximum of three minutes to state his or her comment and/or question. Please note that written comments and oral comments made during the open meeting should pertain to the work of NACIE.
Reasonable Accommodations
The virtual meeting is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you will need an auxiliary aid or service for the meeting (e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed in this notice no later than May 28, 2024. Although we will attempt to meet a request received after that date, we may not be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid or service because of insufficient time to arrange it.
Access Meeting Records
The Department will post the official minutes of this meeting on the OESE website, https://oese.ed.gov/​offices/​office-of-indian-education/​national-advisory-council-on-indian-education-oie/ (-> l9nnctdbb.cc.rs6.net)​, 21 days after the meeting. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009(b), the public may also inspect NACIE records at the Office of Indian Education, United States Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST). Please email Julian Guerrero at Julian.Guerrero@ed.gov to schedule an appointment.

DOJ BJA Tribal Solicitation: Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, & Substance Abuse Site-Based Program
2024-06-11 13:00 | Virtual Event
DOJ BJA Tribal Solicitation: Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, & Substance Abuse Site-Based Program
Informational Webinar – June 11, 2024 at 1:00 pm Central
Webinar Registration – Zoom
