United South & Eastern Tribes

HUD Virtual Training: Tribal Council Roles & Responsibilities
2024-09-04 - 2024-09-05 | Virtual Event
This is a two-day course offered to aid Tribal Council members understand the background and history of “NAHASDA” The Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act. This course will further develop their knowledge of the Federal Rules and Regulations that must be adhered to when accepting funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Indian Housing Block Grant Program (IHBG).
Learn more and register.

Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force Meeting
2024-09-03 12:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Event
The USET Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force (Tribal PHPR) is a Tribally centered epidemiological approach to public health preparedness and resilience with the primary goal of strengthening the resilience of Tribal Nations in the USET region through public health strategies focused on the mitigation, prevention, and preparation phases of the disaster management cycle.  The goal of this Task Force is to build relationships between Tribal Nations in the USET region and the USET Epidemiology team! Join the contact list today to start receiving updates.
Date: The first Tuesday of every month at 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Central / 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm Eastern

Who Should Attend?

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

Registration: 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.

Department of the Interior (DOI) Consultation and Listening Sessions on Proposed Rule: Federal Acknowledgement of Tribal Nations (25 CFR 83)
2024-09-03 12:00 | Virtual Event
Consultation Session on September 3 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Register
Listening Session on September 5 at 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
The DOI will be holding a consultation session for Tribal Nations on Tuesday, September 3 at 1:00 p.m. ET on whether it should reconsider its prior decision to ban re-petitioning under 25 CFR Part 83, “Procedures for Federal Acknowledgment of Indian Tribes.” This section determines the regulations establishing the process and criteria for how the DOI administratively acknowledges Tribal Nations. A listening session will also be held for present, former, and prospective petitioners on Thursday, September 5 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The DOI initially proposed continuing the ban on re-petitioning and conducted two tribal consultations and one listening session in June 2022. After reviewing the written comments and transcripts of the consultations and listening sessions, the DOI is now proposing to create a limited exception to the ban through the implementation of a re-petition authorization process.

Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Webinar on Simplified Environmental Reviews
2024-08-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
August 29 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Join the Webinar
HUD has released a Dear Tribal Leader Letter to streamline the environmental review process and reduce the burden on Tribal Nations and Tribally Designated Housing Entities HUD has developed a programmatic environmental review for soft costs (including administration, operations, maintenance, and planning), tenant-based rental assistance, public and supportive services, and activities to assist homebuyers in purchasing existing dwelling units or dwelling units under construction. HUD’s Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) will provide a tenant-based training titled “Simplified Environmental Reviews: Use of the Programmatic and Limited Scope Review.” ONAP will post the recorded training on Codetalk.

Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA) Webinar on Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
2024-08-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
August 29 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
NAFOA is hosting a webinar in conjunction with the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), that will provide an overview of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 for those who oversee the administration of employer-sponsored group health plans. Speakers from EBSA will discuss parity requirements between mental health/substance use disorder benefits and medical/surgical benefits provided by employer-sponsored plans. Topics will include Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations and Quantitative Treatment Limitations to be aware of when ensuring plan compliance.

Annual Federal partner and Tribal Public Law 477 Work Group meeting
2024-08-29 12:00 - 15:00 | Department of the Interior, North Penthouse, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC, 20240, United States
Annual Meeting of Federal Partners and Tribal 477 Workgroup Under Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Act of 2017
SUMMARY:
The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), is announcing the annual meeting of Federal agencies and Tribes that participate in the Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services Act of 2017, as amended known as the “Public Law 477 Work Group.”

DATES:

Meeting: The annual Federal partner and Tribal Public Law 477 Work Group meeting will be held on August 29, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 7, 2024. Send your comments to Genevieve Giaccardo, Deputy Bureau Director, Indian Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street NW, MS-3645-MIB, Washington, DC 20240; or by email to Genevieve.Giaccardo@bia.gov. Please reference the Public Law 477 Work Group in the subject line of your email.

Meeting Access

Physical Access: The meeting will be conducted in the North Penthouse of the Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. Members of the public are required to present a valid government-issued photo ID to enter the building and are subject to security screening, including bag and parcel checks.
Virtual Meeting Access: To join and participate in the meeting via Zoom, please register in advance using the following Zoom link: https://www.zoomgov.com/​j/​1618012499?​pwd=​fRV7vLNtBpeNGqvmlnsdKpTb4hM63d.1.
Audio Meeting Access: To join and participate in the meeting by telephone, please use the following dial-in information: Phone Number: (609) 254-5252, Meeting ID: 161 801 2499, Passcode: [REDACTED]

DOI Division of Facility Management and Construction Tribal Consultations
2024-08-29 11:00 - 12:00, 2024-08-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event
August 27 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Eastern
Register in advance
August 29 at 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Eastern
Register in advance
The Office of Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs (AS-IA), Office of Facilities, Property, and Safety Management (OFPSM), Division of Facility Management and Construction (DFMC), will be conducting two virtual consultation sessions seeking Tribal oral and written comments and input to a new facilities Operation and Maintenance (O&M) funding formula for how the Federal Government requests O&M funds.
Per the Department of the Interior’s Federal Real Property Profile (FRPP), O&M funds the following:
Operations, which is defined as the costs for services related to the normal performance of functions for which the facility is used (include contracted services when applicable but exclude Federal personnel costs). Examples include but are not limited to utilities, cleaning/janitorial, roads/grounds, and actual operations costs. All services include personnel, equipment and supplies.
Maintenance, which is defined as the recurring annualized costs for planned activities needed to maintain an asset’s functionality and capacity over its expected life. This includes but is not limited to planned and scheduled activities such as inspections, preventive maintenance, refinishing, painting, weatherproofing, and parts replacement. This also includes costs for contracted maintenance services and other expenses and supplies required to perform recurring activities to maintain the asset. Actual repair expenditures are included in the annual maintenance costs. Included are costs for personnel, supplies, and materials.
The current allocation formula for O&M funding as implemented in 1990 was based on having access to a comprehensive asset inventory with component level costing. This approach relies on having granular, current, and accurate data maintained by each individual site for each building.
The DFMC would like to stream-line and make transparent calculating O&M allocations, which includes data that is readily available in the Indian Affairs – Facility Management System (IAFMS), which is currently Maximo.
During these Tribal Consultations, DFMC is requesting your input on what considerations you think should be included in a formula to calculate total O&M needs that will support annual budget requests. Areas of consideration DFMC is seeking input include the following.

Should a formula be based on industry best practice standards and utilize data that is readily available in the Indian Affairs — Facility Management System (IA-FMS), which is currently Maximo, or are Tribes open to new types of facility data being collected if the
information is not in Maximo?
Some calculation factors for the formula being considered are gross square feet (GSF) of
facilities, location (nearest reference city), type of facility, and age of facility. Are these effective factors or are there other aspects that should be taken into account?

The DFMC would also like your input on the distribution methodology. The DFMC proposes that O&M funds will be distributed on a pro rata percentage basis based on the calculated need and the O&M funds that are appropriated.
These one ( 1) hour virtual consultation sessions will provide the opportunity for the Tribal Nations to provide input and comment on the new formula for determining O&M needs for budget requests in future years.

USET Cyber-Incident Action Plan Development Training
2024-08-29 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-08-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management is partnering with West Yost Associates to provide Cyber-Incident Action Plan Development and a Tabletop Exercise to member USET Tribal Nations. This series will consist of six virtual training workshops informed cyber-incident first responders of the available resources, strategies and best practices in mitigating or minimizing the impact of a cyberattack on Tribal Nation critical water and wastewater infrastructure.
This training will help USET member Tribal Nations prepare for cyber-incident response and recovery operations. Attendees will have the opportunity to build a Cyber-Incident Response Plan (CIRP) over the course of the training to supplement existing emergency preparedness plans and resources. The final training will be a virtual table-top exercise in which the attendees will be able to evaluate their CIRP in response to a simulated incident.
When:

Thursday, August 8, 9:00 am – 11:00 am Central/10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, August 22, 9:00 am – 11:00 am Central/10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, August 29, 9:00 am – 11:00 am Central/10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern
Tuesday, September 10, 9:00 am – 11:00 am Central/10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, September 19, 9:00 am – 11:00 am Central/10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern
Thursday, September 26, 9:00 am – 11:00 am Central/ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern

Who Should Attend: USET member Tribal Nations Utilities-Water and Wastewater professionals and Tribal Nation governmental officials.

Registration:
Registration is open.

Continuing Education Credits: Continuing education units will be issued pending approval from USET’s Certification Board.

Questions: Please contact Veronica Menta, USET Financial Analyst, at vmenta@usetinc.org with any questions or concerns.

Treasury Department Office Hours | Homeowner Association Fund
2024-08-28 14:00, 2024-08-21 14:00 | Virtual Event
If your Tribal Nation or Housing Authority needs assistance with the quarterly or annual report or would like to talk through program implementation, Treasury hosts weekly office hours on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET – registration link

National Indigenous Women's Resource Center (NIWRC) Fireside Session: Bridging Service Gaps Utilizing Federal Funds to Best Meet the Needs of Tribal Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
2024-08-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
August 28 at 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern
Register
The most sustainable tribal responses to domestic violence, sexual violence, sex trafficking, and related disparities are those rooted in Indigenous cultures and values. The challenge for those receiving federal funds is balancing the development of their responses with administering varying requirements of federal funds. This NIWRC fireside session will focus on how Tribal Nations and tribal organizations can develop their sustainable responses, including responding to challenges to best meet the needs of survivors and Tribal communities, by pooling together different federal funds and maximizing impact.

NCAI Native Get Out the Vote Webinars
2024-08-28 12:00 | Virtual Event
August 28 at 12:00 pm Central/1:00 pm Eastern
Register
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is pleased to announce the launch of a coordinated non-partisan national Native Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Campaign. While several valuable efforts championed by Tribal Nations and Native organizations are already occurring across Indian Country, NCAI is interested in culling together these efforts by sharing GOTV tool kits, resources, and financial support to Tribal Nations to ensure active engagement in the upcoming federal elections.
Our GOTV work is intentionally non-partisan.  As former NCAI President Jefferson Keel (Chickasaw) used to say, “The work we do is not ‘D’ for Democrat or ‘R’ for Republican but ‘I’ for Indian.”  Our goal is to excite our fellow American Indian and Alaska Native people to vote and to support a “Sovereignty Ticket” of key issues critical to Tribal Nations and their citizens.
NCAI will concentrate efforts across three distinct phases:

Launch activities to encourage election participation;
Plan additional mobilization and engagement exercises leading up to election day; and,
Provide technical support for the incoming administration, whomever that may be.

Key actions will include:

Producing a short video to excite and encourage people to vote;
Holding a series of webinars across the NCAI regions;
Creating trusted messenger videos with American Indian and Alaska Native celebrities and federal legislators; and
Sharing short 30-second video testimonials to urge Native voter participation.

Please, plan to join one of our webinars during the week of August 19. These sessions will be co-hosted by myself, regional NCAI vice presidents, and alternates. The theme for these webinars is: Recognizing the Snyder Act 100th Anniversary—Honoring the Past; Preparing for Our Future.
The agenda for the webinars is as follows:

Introductions
Importance of Exercising Our Right to Vote
Be the Margin of Victory
Establishing a “Tribal Sovereignty Ticket” and Federal Indian Policy Agenda
Mobilize/Activate Your Tribal Nation and Tribal Citizens
Tribal Leader Discussion

POSTPONED: USET Office of Economic Development Webinar | Progressing the Whole Story: A Conversation of Economic Data
2024-08-28 08:00 - 17:00 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
UPDATE: The webinar is postponed. More information is coming soon.

Progressing the Whole Story: A Conversation of Economic Data
presented by the
USET Office of Economic Development
During this webinar, attendees will explore the multifaceted aspects of Tribal economic data, uncovering insights that paint a holistic picture of economic activity within the USET region. The goal is to foster a dialogue that goes beyond conventional metrics, shedding light on recent USET work on economic data endeavors that contribute to the vibrancy and resilient of Tribal Nations. Join us as we embark on this enlightening journey to progress the whole story of Tribal economic data.
When: August 28 at 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM Central/2:00 PM – 5:30 PM Eastern
Who Should Attend: USET Tribal Leaders, Tribal Economic Development Practitioners, and Data Enthusiasts
Learning Objectives:

Understand the significance of Tribal economic data its impact on policy.
Explore innovative methods for studying and sharing Tribal economic data.
Identify strategies for leveraging Tribal economic data for future growth.

Register: Registration is open.
Questions: If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Fly, USET Administrative Assistant, at sfly@usetinc.org.

the National Tribal Housing Ecosystem Summit
2024-08-27 - 2024-08-29 | Boise Center, 850 West Front Street, Boise, ID, 83702, United States
August 27 -29
Register
The strength of Indian Country will be on display at the National Tribal Housing Ecosystem Summit in Boise, Idaho, August 27-29. TDHEs and housing authorities will be front and center in a Tribal Showcase Series! Learn from peers about their development projects and engage in eight strong housing ecosystem sessions to build Tribal economies around housing.

BIA Indian Police Academy Instructor & Training Certification Program
2024-08-27 - 2024-08-29 | Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St. NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, United States
BIA Indian Police Academy Instructor & Training Certification Program
Albuquerque, New Mexico – August 27-29, 2024
Summary – 2024 USIPA Instructor & Training Certification Forum (cvent.com)

National Native American Law Enforcement Association (NNALEA) Training Conference
2024-08-27 - 2024-08-29 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
National Native American Law Enforcement Association (NNALEA) Training Conference
August 27-29, 2024
Las Vegas, Nevada

Self-Monitoring Training
2024-08-27 - 2024-08-28
The Self-Monitoring training program, is an essential tool designed to assist housing departments and housing authorities in performing the required self-monitoring under the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA). Our course includes a comprehensive overview of the requirements and an in-depth discussion of each self-monitoring questionnaire issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Native American Programs (HUD ONAP). Our expert trainer will guide you through every step, ensuring you have a thorough understanding of the self-monitoring process and how to meet the necessary requirements. With this training, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to successfully complete the self-monitoring process and achieve compliance with NAHASDA regulations.
Location: Westin Phoenix Downtown, 333 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Learn more and register.

A National Conversation on Resilience in America
2024-08-23 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
Join Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell for a virtual event on Aug. 23 from 1–2:30 p.m. ET.

Each August, FEMA celebrates National Resilience Month to highlight all the critically important resilience work occurring across the country. In honor of this annual campaign and 2024 being named as FEMA’s Year of Resilience, FEMA is hosting a “National Conversation on Resilience in America” virtual event featuring Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell along with other federal, state and local partners.
Over the past three years, the Biden-Harris Administration has invested $50 billion in building resilience. This virtual event will highlight this funding and how communities across the nation can help protect their communities against the impacts of extreme weather events caused by climate change and other domestic-related threats such as cyber and critical infrastructure.
Working together to build resilience is critical to our nation’s future. By leveraging federal funding for disaster mitigation, states, local governments and communities can strengthen the resilience of disadvantaged communities and build infrastructure to withstand more frequent and severe disasters. These actions will ultimately reduce costs and creating safer and more sustainable communities.
By bringing together leaders from across these sectors, more communities will benefit from the sharing of examples and best practices to help each other protect our communities against future disasters.
Speakers include:

Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
Deanne Criswell, Administrator, FEMA
Erik Hooks, Deputy Administrator, FEMA
Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary of Health, Health and Human Services
Rebecca Zimmerman, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, Department of Defense
Andrea Spillars, Region 7 Administrator, FEMA
Barbara Buffaloe, Mayor, City of Columbia, Missouri
Melissa Hoffer, Climate Chief, State of Massachusetts

The event will be moderated by Christopher “Chris” Logan, Deputy Associate Administrator – Resilience at FEMA.

Event Details
Date: Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 – 1– 2:30 p.m. ET via Zoom
Audience: State, local, Tribal Nation and territorial stakeholders, emergency managers, city managers, mayors, and non-profits.
Registration is required. Register at: A National Conversation on Resilience in America | FEMA.gov

Native Americans in Philanthropy Webinar | Funding Opportunities for Native Non-Profits
2024-08-22 12:00 | Virtual Event
August 22 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Register
Please join this impressive group of practitioners and advocates on Thursday, August 22 at 1:00 PM ET for a holistic conversation on the needs and resources available to Native non-profits. Native Ways Federation’s Carly Bad Heart Bull (Dakota/Muscogee) and Native Voices Rising’s Shash Yázhí Moreno Charley (Diné) will share their resources and knowledge to ensure that Native non-profits across Turtle Island are safeguarded and secured for generations to come.

Tribal Aviation Symposium
2024-08-21 11:00 - 2024-08-22 16:00 | Virtual Event
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) cordially invite you to participate in the Third Annual Tribal Aviation Symposium on August 21-22, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET each day. This virtual event provides an opportunity for Tribal Leadership to engage with FAA and DOT leadership, discuss matters concerning Tribal Nations related to aviation, and learn about FAA programs and initiatives.
They value opportunities to collaborate with Tribal Leaders and are eager to address aviation topics that are important to your community. The agenda features diverse presentations and opportunities for collaboration, questions and idea sharing. View the preliminary agenda.
To secure your spot, please register today.
Together, let’s highlight the strength of Tribal Nations and work towards safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation solutions for your aviation systems.

Housing Board of Commissioners Training
2024-08-21 - 2024-08-22 | Virtual Event
This training is being offered to aid participants who serve as “Housing Board of Commissioners” understand the background & history of NAHASDA “The Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act”, To help develop their knowledge of Federal Rules and Regulations that must be adhered to when accepting funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Indian Housing Block Grant Program (IHBG).
This training will explain how to Understand the NAHASDA Statute, the Code of Federal Regulations – Title 24 Part 1000- Native American Housing Activities, Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements and HUD Program Guidances and PIH Notices, and how these required components fit together in order to build your NAHASDA compliant Housing Program.
Summary
Participants will learn of the various HUD requirements they will need to ensure their Housing Entity/Program has in place. Their role in providing oversight for a successful Indian Housing Program, and the duties of the Housing Board of Commissioners in this process. The course materials will cover eligible program activities, eligible participants and the required policies and procedures that must be in place and adopted.

Learn more and register.

Tribal Consultation on Executive Order 14112
2024-08-20 13:30 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
Venue: ZoomGov
Date: August 20, 2024
Time: 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET
Register
On August 20, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) will conduct a Tribal Consultation on the implementation of Executive Order 14112 (EO). The purpose of this consultation will be to receive meaningful input from American Indian and Alaska Native communities to ensure that your views inform how the Department may increase the flexibility of funding, remove barriers and limitations, and reduce administrative burdens to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with applicable law. This consultation will advance the Department’s commitment to working with other Federal agencies to uphold the U.S. Government’s Federal trust responsibility described in Executive Orders 13175 and 14112.
The consultation will be conducted by the Department’s Office of Indian Education and facilitated by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities and other Department officials.

NAFOA Webinar Series | Tribal Tax Parity Legislation H.R. 8318
2024-08-20 13:00 - 14:30 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
Between July and August, NAFOA will host a series of three webinars covering the new Tribal Tax Parity legislation, H.R. 8318, introduced in May by Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) in partnership with Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ). This legislation is a critical step forward for tribal economies and business development and requires the support of Indian Country to ensure it meets the needs of tribes and is successfully enacted. NAFOA’s webinar series will provide an analysis of this newly rewritten legislation and is scheduled for:

Tuesday, July 23rd from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Tuesday, August 6th from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Tuesday, August 20th from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time

Register for Webinar Series

USDA Forest Service - Tribal Forum - Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policy
2024-08-20 12:00 | Virtual Event
Please join the USDA Forest Service for an August 20, 2024, Tribal Forum on Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Policies. The USDA Forest Service is pursuing a range of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies to protect, conserve, and manage national forests and grasslands for climate resilience. This Tribal Forum will focus on the first series of policy revisions to address water quality best management practices, water data, recreation fee waivers, and fire management in wilderness, wild and scenic rivers.

Tribal Forum Details
Date: August 20, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Register in Advance: Meeting Registration – Zoom (zoomgov.com)
**If the above registration link does not work, please copy and paste this URL into your web browser: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsd-CvpjkvGo7coWnxDXm9rMTPI25k1Pk**
The Forest Service recently completed a climate-oriented review of national policies and procedures in response to Secretary Vilsack’s Memorandum on Climate Resilience and Carbon Stewardship and the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on Climate Resilient Forests and Grasslands. This review and input received during National Tribal engagement and public comment informed options for climate-adaptive changes to agency policy, guidance, and program implementation involving carbon stewardship, water and watersheds, wildlife, planning, wood product innovation, and outdoor recreation. Please note that opportunities to consult on the ANPR will remain available until its conclusion. More information on the ongoing opportunity to consult is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/tribal-relations/national-consultation#CurrentConsultation. The Forest Service will extend separate invitations to consult on specific climate adaptation and mitigation policy revisions.
The agency is beginning to develop the first in this series of options to modernize and adapt current Forest Service internal guidance and procedures to better anticipate, identify, and respond to rapidly changing conditions associated with climate amplified impacts. The upcoming Tribal forum will focus on an initial set of four potential changes to the Forest Service Manual and Handbook. Over the next several years, we anticipate future opportunities for Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations to engage on additional climate adaptation and mitigation policy reforms.
For more information, or to request consultation on the proposed policies, please contact your regional Tribal relations program manager or Reed Robinson, Director of the Office of Tribal Relations in Washington, DC, at SM.FS.otrtribalcon@usda.gov. Thank you.

Green Transportation Summit and Expo
2024-08-20 - 2024-08-22 | Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Tacoma, WA, United States
August 20-22, Tacoma, WA.
Tribal Nation leaders are invited to attend the 2024 Green Transportation Summit and Expo at no cost – Tribal leaders may use the code GTSE-TA24 to waive registration fees, and travel stipends may also be available. The 13th Annual Green Transportation Summit & Expo is the leading event for sustainable transportation, featuring networking opportunities, informative sessions, workshops, vehicle demonstrations, and more. Attend GTSE 2024 for keynotes, workshops, and networking events focused on transportation decarbonization and collaboration in the clean transportation industry.

HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations: Region 6
2024-08-20 - 2024-08-22 | 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

HUD Executive Director Training
2024-08-19 - 2024-08-20 | Virtual Event
August 19-20 at 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
This training covers Executive Directors’ essential roles and responsibilities for Tribally Designated Housing Entities and other Tribal housing departments. The training will focus on the day-to-day management of these entities and inform participants about overseeing the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) funded programs and critical elements of compliance. The session will also describe the expected reporting and relationships with tribal leadership. This training is highly recommended for Tribal council members, Board Members, Board of Commissioners, Procurement/Accounting/Property managers, Deputy Directors, and other individuals and teams in leadership roles.

Health IT Modernization Tribal Summit
2024-08-16 | Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, United States
August 16
Register
This year’s Summit is a half-day, in-person event for Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to participate in face-to-face discussions with IHS leadership regarding the Health IT Modernization Program. The IHS will provide attendees with updates on the implementation planning process and the enterprise build process. We anticipate robust and meaningful dialogue with Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders on important Health IT Modernization issues impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities as a result of this initiative. Space will be made available at the Summit for Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to caucus, allowing for the exchange of viewpoints and information sharing.
