United South & Eastern Tribes

2024 Indian Preference and Procurement Conference
2024-11-05 - 2024-11-07 | Harrah’s Cherokee Resort and Casino, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC, 28719, United States
Presented by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Employment Rights Office
November 5-7, 2024
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino
Register
Conference website

Tribal Public Health Preparedness and Resilience Task Force Meeting
2024-11-05 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.

USET Wetland Program Plan Virtual Writing Workshop
2024-11-06 08:00 - 15:00, 2024-11-13 08:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
Rescheduled: These workshops have been delayed a week. New dates are below

The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management Department is providing a virtual workshop on Wetland Program Plan Writing. Participants will receive instruction and support to outline long-term goals and actions for Tribal departments managing wetlands through Wetland Program Plans (WPP). This four-part writing webinar will review the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed WPP core elements and actions, hear presentations from Tribal wetland specialists about their wetland programs, and put departmental goals and objectives into writing using a draft WPP template. The second half of each webinar will be a dedicated writing time block for attendees to share experiences in their writing process, ask questions, and work on WPP documents.
When: October 30, November 6, 13, and 20 at 8:00 am – 3:00 pm Central/9:00 am – 4:00 pm Eastern
Who Should Attend: USET member Tribal Wetland and Environmental Staff
Participants Will:

Develop a WPP to aid in organizing Tribal Wetland protection
Bolster your Tribal Nation’s capacity into the future
Hear from and network with other Tribal Wetland professionals

Registration: Registration is open!
DRAFT Agenda
Questions: For questions, please contact USET OERM Senior Technical Assistance Specialist, Michael Purvis, at mpurvis@usetinc.org.

Grant Opportunity Webinar: 2025 Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund AND Tribal High Priority Projects (HPP) Program - Office Hours
2024-11-06 11:00 | Virtual Event
GRANT OPPORTUNITY: 2025 Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund AND Tribal High Priority Projects (HPP) Program – Office Hours
Bring your questions and discuss your projects during virtual office hours with the TTP Safety Fund and Tribal High Priority Projects program managers. Use the links below to register for the office hour session:

November 6, 2024 at 9:00am Pacific / 12:00pm Eastern (Register)

Prevent and reduce transportation-related injuries and fatalities on Tribal Lands by applying for a grant from the FY 2025 Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (TTPSF). Applications for the TTPSF will be accepted through January 15, 2025. If you have questions, please email TTPSF@dot.gov.
Eligible projects for the TTP Safety Fund include:

develop and update transportation safety plans
safety data assessment, improvement, and analysis
systemic roadway departure countermeasures
infrastructure improvements

TTPSF application materials and additional information can be found on the program web page at https://highways.dot.gov/federal-lands/tribal/safety/funds (-> links-2.govdelivery.com)
A webinar reviewing the TTPSF funding opportunity was held on October 3, 2024. A recording of the webinar is here.

IRS Webinar: Nonemployee payments (Form 1099)
2024-11-06 11:00 - 15:00, 2024-11-13 11:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
November 6 at 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register
November 13 at 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register
You’re invited to join the IRS for free webinars hosted by the Office of Indian Tribal Governments. There will be two identical sessions. During the webinars they will review federal tax responsibilities for nonemployee payments for tribes and tribal entities, using information from: Publication 4268, Employment Tax for Indian Tribal Governments PDF.
They will also cover basic information for accounts payable employees and those responsible for filing Forms 1099 and Form 945, particularly those new to their positions.
Topics include:

Introduction to nonemployee payment reporting
Independent Contractor or Employee?
Reporting Payments to Independent Contractors (Forms 1099)
Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax
Deposit Rules
Gaming Per Capita Payments
Electronic Filing – new requirements

Registration is required for the webinars. There is a different link for each session. Once you have registered you will receive a confirmation email.

APHIS Webinar: National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) Tribal Funding Opportunity - Information for Applicants
2024-11-06 12:00 | Virtual Event
November 6 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Zoom Join Link
Meeting Password: [REDACTED]
December 4 at 1:00 pm Eastern
Zoom Join Link
Meeting Password: [REDACTED]
The webinar will be recorded and posted to the NADPRP website for those unable to attend the live session.
In October 2024, APHIS will announce its third annual NADPRP Tribal Nations funding opportunity. USDA APHIS will provide up to $500,000 to further animal disease prevention, preparedness, and response in priority areas. Eligible applicants include Tribal Nations and governments, Tribal organizations, and Tribal colleges and universities. APHIS will prioritize funding to project proposals aimed at:

Developing, enhancing and exercising Tribal animal disease outbreak emergency response plans,
Supporting livestock and poultry biosecurity measures and program,
Enhancing the capability and capacity for depopulation, carcass disposal, and decontamination in a disease outbreak,
Supporting animal movement decisions in a disease outbreak,
Enhancing animal disease traceability during a disease outbreak,
Developing and delivering training & exercises to improve animal disease outbreak response capabilities,
Supporting outreach & education on animal disease prevention, preparedness, and response,
Enhancing aquatic animal disease preparedness and response
Enhancing equine disease outbreak prevention & response

After the funding opportunity is officially announced in October, additional information about this funding opportunity, application assistance/ instructions, and other resources will be available at USDA APHIS | National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program.
To aid Tribal Nations with applying for this opportunity, NADPRP has partnered with ONTL to host a webinar to assist Tribal applicants with the application process. They want to invite you and members of your staff to attend their Tribal Webinar: “National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) Tribal Funding Opportunity: Information for Applicants” on November 6, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET and December 4, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the NADPRP website for those unable to attend the live session. If you have questions about the webinar, please contact ONTL Program Analyst Denise Salvetti at denise.salvetti@usda.gov. You can also reach out to the VS NADPRP program at vs.nadprp@usda.gov.

Tribal Nation Transmission Program Listening Session
2024-11-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
November 6 at 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central
Register
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is hosting several virtual listening sessions with multiple sectors including communities, Tribal Representatives, Independent System Operators (ISOs), Regional Transmission Operators (RTOs), Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs), utilities, and state agencies to solicit diverse perspectives and feedback about the intersection of transmission planning processes and energy equity. These listening sessions are part of the Inclusive Transmission Planning Project, an initiative by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office. For more information on the project, listening sessions, and other available dates visit the project website.

IHS monthly Tribal Leaders Call
2024-11-06 14:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
IHS – November All Tribal and Urban Indian Organization Leaders Call

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Eastern)
Join ZoomGov Meeting: https://ihs-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1618555396?pwd=[REDACTED] | Meeting ID: 161 855 5396 | Passcode: [REDACTED]
Telephone: (833) 568-8864 Toll-free | Meeting ID: 161 855 5396

Find your local number: https://ihs-gov.zoomgov.com/u/aq9CVDZPI

The Indian Health Service invites you to join us on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, for our monthly call for Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to provide important IHS updates and to extend an opportunity for leaders to share input with IHS officials.

SAMHSA Tribal Consultation on its Tribal Consultation Policy
2024-11-06 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
November 6 at 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Eastern
Register
December 5 at 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern
Register
SAMHSA is seeking input from Tribal leaders to modernize its Tribal Consultation Policy. SAMHSA will also align the policy with the reorganization of the agency under the 21st Century Cures Act and the updated HHS Tribal Consultation Policy.
Written comments are welcome through January 6 and may be submitted to otap@samhsa.hhs.gov.

Department of Justice Tribal Consultation on funding for Tribal public safety and criminal justice systems
2024-11-06 14:00 - 16:00 | Multiple Locations
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Framing Paper
Register for one of the sessions below.
October 22 at 2:30-4:00 pm Alaska Time
Southcentral Foundation, Mt. Ahklun Building Gathering Room
4501 Diplomacy Dr.
Anchorage, AK 99508
This consultation session will be held in coordination with the Alaska Intertribal Technical Assistance Working Group meeting. Up-to-date information can be found on the meeting information page, linked above.
October 30 at 12:45-2:15 pm Pacific
MGM Grand Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
This consultation session will be held in coordination with the National Congress of American Indians 81st Annual Convention & Marketplace, please check above link for up-to-date information.
November 4 at 3:00-5:00 pm Eastern
Virtual
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 992 705 570 911
Passcode: [REDACTED]
November 6 at 3:00-5:00 pm Eastern
Virtual
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 992 641 662 771
Passcode: [REDACTED]
November 19-21, 2024
Tribal leaders have the option of addressing the enclosed framing paper in their oral testimony at this annual consultation under the Violence Against Women Act.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
This consultation session will be held in coordination with the 19th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation. In addition to oral testimony at the event, Tribal leaders may provide written comments by the deadline below.

USET OERM Webinar | EPA QAPP Guidance and Overview for Tribal Nations
2024-11-07 11:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Event
The USET Office of Environmental Resource Management (OERM) is excited to host a webinar with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), focused on breaking down the complexities of the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). Stephanie McCarthy, from the EPA will provide an overview of the latest QAPP guidance. A QAPP is a formal document that outlines how organizations will ensure the quality and integrity of their data and project processes. It is an essential component for compliance with EPA standards, particularly for environmental projects. Most funding for EPA projects that include air and water quality, erosion studies, bird/wildlife surveys, and other environmental activities require an EPA approved QAPP before funding can be awarded and projects can commence. Staying up to date with the latest guidance is crucial as QAPP requirements can vary based on the specifics of each project, making it vital for teams to continually enhance their skills and knowledge in document development.
This webinar is designed to support project managers, coordinators, and technical writers who may find the QAPP drafting process complex or time-consuming. Whether you are new to creating a QAPP or have faced challenges with previous submissions, this session will offer practical insights and tools to help you streamline the process and meet the latest EPA standards. You will learn directly from an EPA Quality Assurance Manager, who will provide clear, actionable guidance on how to develop a QAPP, reducing common barriers and frustrations that can delay the approval process.
This session will equip you with a clear roadmap for developing QAPPs and offer opportunities to ask questions specific to your projects. By attending, you will gain the tools to enhance your skills and reduce the time needed to draft and finalize these critical documents. We encourage anyone involved in creating or reviewing QAPPs to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn from an expert and improve their quality assurance processes.
When: November 7 at 11:00 am – 2:30 pm Central
Who Should Attend:

Tribal staff including project managers, coordinators, and technical writers tasked with creating or reviewing QAPPS.
Organizations and Tribal Nations who need support in ensuring compliance with EPA quality assurance standards.

Learning Objectives:

To understand the purpose of EPA’s QAPP Standard
To understand the requirements in the QAPP Standard
To be introduced to the updates in EPA’s Quality Program terminology and definitions

Registration: Register today.
Questions: Please contact Jakira Saunders, USET OERM Lead Program Manager, at jsaunders@usetinc.org or Ben Peyton, Lead Senior Technical Specialist, at bpeyton@usetinc.org.

Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Health IT Modernization Program: Site Readiness and Training
2024-11-07 12:30 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
November 7 at 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
Comments due on December 7, 2024

FDA Tribal Consultation to discuss sodium reduction in the food supply
2024-11-07 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
November 7 at 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
**Please note that each registrant will receive a confirmation email with a unique sign in for the call. Please remember to save this link to attend the call.
Please feel free to contact me or FDA’s IGA staff at IGA@fda.hhs.gov if you have any questions or visit the FDA Tribal Affairs webpage to view the letter of invitation.

2024 D.C. Indian Law Conference
2024-11-08
November 8, 2024
Arlington, Virginia + Webcast
Learn more and register
Tribal nations and their citizens are encountering a new range of opportunities and challenges in diversifying Tribal economies and exercising Tribal sovereignty alongside federal and state governments.
The 2024 D.C. Indian Law Conference is designed to help practitioners better understand these developments and what legal and policy issues will come forward in Indian country.
On November 8, this year’s conference will focus on new approaches for creating, sustaining, and diversifying economic growth on Tribal lands, emerging technology and connectivity issues, as well as a perspective on the 100-year anniversary of the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act and the continued battles around voting rights.
Educational panels will feature leading Tribal advocates and Indian law practitioners who are tackling these issues in various forums and advising Tribal government and business leaders. Join these experts and other colleagues as we explore these topics.

USDA FDPIR Supply Chain Disruptions Follow-Up Consultation
2024-11-09 11:00 - 17:00 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
Where: Intertribal Agriculture Council Annual Conference, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
When: Monday, December 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 pm Pacific Time
RSVP: Whether attending in person or remotely, please register.

FDPIR Supply Chain Disruptions Follow-Up Consultation(PDF, 199 KB)
Proxy Letter Template (DOCX, 28.1 KB)

Veteran's & Indigenous Warrior's Day
2024-11-11 | 123 Easy Street, Nashville, TN, 37211, United States
The USET/USET SPF offices are closed today in honor of Veteran’s & Indigenous Warrior’s Day.

Federal Highway Administration Webinar: Risk-Based Safety Planning for Tribes
2024-11-12 12:30 - 14:00, 2024-11-13 15:00 - 16:30 | Virtual Event
November 12 at 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Register
Motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians are rare events that often result in high-severity consequences. Because these crashes occur infrequently, it can be difficult to plan infrastructure improvements and justify their funding. This webinar will share the results of a research project sponsored by FHWA. The research establishes risk-based safety planning tools to evaluate infrastructure in Tribal areas for pedestrian safety.
November 13 at 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Eastern
Register
In Tribal areas where safety data is often lacking, there is still a need to prioritize investments and provide justification for funding. Risk-based safety planning is one way to make informed safety decisions and develop justifications. In this webinar, hear from several speakers who will share an approach to risk-based safety planning for tribal areas.
The webinar will include:

An introduction to risk-based safety planning (Adam Larsen)
Overview of the Abley Safe Curves pilot with Native American Tribal nations (Steve Abley)
Using 3D Data to Identify Safety Concerns (Larry Mohr)
usRAP overview including the usRAP demonstrator tool (Zachary Hans)
Discussion of the usRAP Tribal pilots using 360-cameras (Kimberly Vachal)

Data in Action: The 2024 Center for Indian Country Development Data Summit
2024-11-13 10:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
November 13 at 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Central
Register
Data are not static and lifeless. Leveraged effectively, data can help articulate and amplify our stories across Indian Country. Tribal leaders and institutions increasingly rely on braiding traditional data expertise with modern applications in ways that influence the economic prosperity of Indian Country.
You are invited to join on November 13 for a series of conversations with leaders from Native nations and Indigenous communities, academic researchers, and policymakers to learn how Indian Country is expanding its data capacity and putting data in action.

Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities Applicant Webinars
2024-11-13 13:00 | Virtual Event
The following webinars provide application guidance on this grant program:

October 23, 3:00 pm ET: Standard Forms
October 30, 4:00 pm ET: Registration, Entity Type
November 13, 2:00 pm ET: Project Narrative
November 21, 2:00 pm ET: Consolidated Budget Form
December 11, 3:00 pm ET: Additional Funding & Other Certifications

CANCELED | USET Infectious Disease ECHO
2024-11-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
UPDATE: USET’s Infectious Disease ECHO is canceled for November and December. We look forward to seeing you next year.

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

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

November’s ECHO will focus on Respiratory Illnesses.
Who should attend? Tribal Nation health directors, clinic staff, physicians, nurses, Tribal Epidemiology Center staff, and anyone supporting Tribal Nation citizens through the health sector are welcome to join.
Registration: Register in advance for the session. You ONLY need to register ONCE for the series. Once you register, you can download the reminder to your calendar with the Zoom information.
Continuing Education: This activity will offer CE credits for a variety of professionals. More information will be provided at a later date.

For questions, please contact Bryan Hendrix, Public Health Data Improvement Manager, at bhendrix@usetinc.org.

HRSA Virtual Tribal Consultation on the Uniform Data System
2024-11-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
November 13 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Join Zoom link
HRSA encourages all Tribal Leaders to participate in this timely discussion to help ensure valuable input representing American Indians and Alaska Natives. If you are unable to attend, you are encouraged to send any written testimony or comments to tribalconsultation@hrsa.gov by December 13, 2024.

HRSA Tribal Consultation on the Uniform Data System Modernization Initiative (UDS+):
2024-11-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
November 13 at 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern
Register
HRSA encourages all Tribal leaders to participate in this timely discussion to help ensure valuable input representing American Indians and Alaska Natives. Those unable to attend are encouraged to send written comments to tribalconsultation@hrsa.gov by December 13.

USDA Forest Service Information Session on Interactive Old Growth Tribal Priorities
2024-11-14 09:00 | Virtual Event
November 14 at 10:00 am – 11:00 am Eastern
MS Teams join link
Old Growth Ecosystems have long been considered in the Southern Region; however, the past year has provided new and emerging initiatives. The USDA Forest Service would like to provide space to discuss the regional and national efforts related to Mature and Old Growth ecosystems and hear from Tribal representatives.
Specifically, they plan to discuss three topics:

The revision of their “Guidance for Conserving and Restoring Old-Growth Forest Communities on National Forests in the Southern Region” which was originally developed in 1997.
Southeast Old Growth Science Synthesis Book led by the USFS Southern Research Station.
The National Old Growth Amendment and it’s potential impacts to the Southeast.

For questions, contact Chelsea Leitz at chelsea.leitz@usda.gov.

Social Security Administration Virtual Tribal Consultation
2024-11-14 12:00 - 14:00 | Virtual Event
November 14 at 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern
Please RSVP to AIAN.EC@ssa.gov and you will receive the Agenda and Framing Questions with your calendar invite.
This consultation will focus on the draft Tribal Action Plan for SSA including consultations, listening sessions, enhancing video connectivity, providing guides and training on SSA policy, recognition efforts for Native Languages and more.

IHS Virtual Tribal Consultation on Proposed Reorganization of DDIGA Offices
2024-11-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Virtual Event
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
DRAFT IHS Headquarters Office of the Director Organizational Chart
November 14 at 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern
Register
A key component of the proposed reorganization is the initiative of One IHS, which aims to improve effectiveness and efficiency across the Agency through greater coordination and collaboration. There are five primary objectives of the proposed reorganization, which adopts a One IHS model that: 1) strengthens our relationship with Indian Tribes and UIOs by streamlining operations and enhancing communications; 2) enhances the business relationships with Indian Tribes through self-determination and self-governance; 3) amplifies the work of the Agency with all partners by cultivating intergovernmental partnerships and furthering external relationships; 4) modernizes the way the Agency supports Tribes pursuing ISDEAA opportunities by supporting ISDEAA negotiation teams across the Agency working under a One ISDEAA model; and 5) fosters education and training throughout the entire IHS system on how ISDEAA interfaces with our everyday work.

International Association of Emergency Managers Annual Conference
2024-11-15 - 2024-11-21
https://www.iaem.org/usconf

HHS Traditional Healing Summit 2024
2024-11-18 - 2024-11-19 | Virtual Event
Link to stream the HHS Culture is Medicine Traditional Healing Summit
HHS, in coordination with the White House Council on Native American Affairs, is hosting the 2nd Annual Traditional Healing Summit on November 18-19, 2024, in Washington, DC. The Summit will focus on traditional healing practices to address health challenges in Tribal communities. The Summit will highlight successful models of integrated healthcare with traditional healing in prevention, intervention, and treatment methods across behavioral health and primary care. The Summit will be attended by Tribal leaders, traditional health practitioners, and federal policy makers. The goal of the Summit is to further recognize an array of traditional knowledges and practices that contribute to the overall health and well-being of Tribes.
