The U.S. Department of Energy is investing a substantial $38 Million in this endeavor, which promises to usher in a new era of sustainable energy solutions for Native communities.
To learn more about this groundbreaking initiative and its impact, click on the article link below.
Vice President Harris traveled to Arizona this week to meet with the Gila River Indian Community. During the interview, VP Harris reviews issues such as MMIWP, partnering with Tribal Leaders, and Small Business Credit Initiative awards to support Tribal small businesses.
Over 40 Tribes, Tribal organizations, Alaska Native Corporations, and Tribal businesses submitted written comments and/or participated in the virtual consultations DoD officials hosted in April. Drawing on the input received, DoD staff crafted a plan that outlines how DoD policies, training, consultation, and outreach will help DoD meet its federal trust responsibilities to Tribes and protect Tribal lands, rights, and resources from impacts related to ongoing and proposed military operations. The 10-page DoD Plan of Action details steps to update policy, refine and improve program guidance, expand cultural communications and consultation training (online and in-person, if conditions permit) for DoD leaders and staff, and reinvigorate outreach initiatives to inform and engage Tribal leaders.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy is hosting a free webinar on the Tribal Solar Development Policy Initiative tomorrow, August 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mountain Time.
With support from DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA) have embarked on a 3-year initiative to address regulatory challenges to tribal solar deployment. The goal of this initiative is to articulate key barriers to tribal solar and solar-plus-storage adoption at all scales and to ready stakeholders to implement options to address these challenges. This webinar will share some early findings from the initiative and explain how others can get involved.
Speakers include:
Regards,
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
1000 Independence Ave. SW | Washington DC 20585
For more information on the Office of Indian Energy, visit our website.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) webinars taking place during the week of Sept 13-17, 2021 regarding African Swine Fever hosted by APHIS.
African Swine Fever (ASF) Action Week is to focus attention on the importance of preparedness and our ongoing, collaborative efforts to keep this disease out of the United States.
The attached flier includes the ASF Action Week webinar schedule and provides information on how to register.
To received daily updates during the Action Week including resources you can print, post and share and APHIS swine health program activities , please visit the flier to subscribe.
Please post and share this information.
If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to myself (goldlin.h.wall@usda.gov), Dr. Terry Clark (terry.w.clark@usda.gov) Director Office of National Tribal Liaison, and Hallie Zimmers (hallie.zimmers@usda.gov) Adviser for State and Stakeholder Relations for any additional information.
Tribal Leader Roundtable – Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 AT 10AM
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) reauthorizes and amends the Small Business Jobs Act (SBJA) of 2010, which established the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Program. SSBCI provides certain governments funding for 1) small business financing programs and 2) technical assistance to small businesses applying for SSBCI. ARPA authorized SSBCI Tribal government eligibility for the first time and provided a $500 million Tribal set aside. Treasury has conducted a Tribal consultation, hosted a Tribal information session, and engaged in Tribal engagement on this fund over the past few months. Based on the consultation, Treasury adopted a distribution methodology that allocated payments using a formula that is based on enrollment data and establishes a minimum amount ($423,000) for eligible Tribal governments. All eligible Tribal governments have been notified of their initial allocations via email. A Notice of Intent to apply for these funds is due August 16, 2021 at 5:00 EDT and applications are due December 11, 2021. Please note that the NOI does not obligate a government to participate in the program. SSBCI Resources:
Contact Information
ATNI HOSTED TREASURY MEETING TUESDAY AUGUST 10TH AT 10AMTopic: US Treasury SSBCI Time: Aug 10, 2021 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83780000561?pwd=OFZSUVNKMnVEYjU5WUptMTJCY01rQT09
Meeting ID: 837 8000 0561Passcode: 483549One tap mobile+12532158782,,83780000561#,,,,*483549# US (Tacoma)+16699006833,,83780000561#,,,,*483549# US (San Jose)
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| On Wednesday, June 16 at 2pm ET, 1pm CT, 12pm MT, 11am PT, 10am AK, and 9am HI the White House and administration agencies will be holding their second consultation call with the Pacifc and Northwest Regions. Register for the Call Here Future Dates of Consultation Here Written comments will be accepted in October for the record but if you already have statements written up, you may email them to Tracy Goodluck, Policy Advisor for Native Affairs at the White House Domestic Policy Council at Tracy.L.Goodluck@who.eop.gov |
 On March 7, 2021, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting. Among other things, it requires a Steering Group of several federal agencies to engage in meaningful and robust consultation with Tribal Nations and Native leaders, to develop recommendations for protecting voting rights for Native American communities. The Executive Order committed the Administration to promote and defend the right to vote for all Americans who are legally entitled to participate in elections and made clear that it “is our duty to ensure that registering to vote and the act of voting be made simple and easy for all those eligible to do so.” In seeking to cast meaningful ballots that will be counted, we know that many Native American voters face challenges that they may share with other underrepresented communities, and also challenges that are distinct. Experiences will naturally vary from voter to voter and election to election, but reports of systemic concerns have been all too common. Past reports have indicated that — among other problems — Native American voters frequently find information about the voting process difficult to come by; polling places and registration sites are often much too far from the voters, compounded by transportation barriers; housing insecurity and purging of the rolls prompt repeated re-registration; access to forms and ballots and information is often unavailable in the languages voters speak; voters have been prevented from asking those they trust for the help to which they are entitled at the polls; states may require identity documents that voters do not have; postal service is often irregular, including to homes that do not have platted postal addresses, making it difficult or impossible to vote by mail; and legislative districts may be drawn to minimize the voice of Native American voters, diluting the representation they are entitled to receive. We know the history behind these problems, and the history of the problems’ persistence. We want to hear about your recent voting experiences, including whether historical problems continued in 2020 or whether new difficulties emerged. And we would like your recommendations about ways that the federal government, state and local governments, and private organizations may work to break down these barriers to foster robust election participation now and in the future. Have you or citizens of your Tribe experienced difficulties voting in recent elections? What were those difficulties? Are you confident your ballot was counted? Why or why not? Have you or citizens of your Tribe experienced new difficulties in recent elections, interfering with your ability to cast a meaningful ballot? Have you or citizens of your Tribe taken any steps to address these problems, or to request assistance? If so, what were those steps and what was the result? What would you like to see happen to remedy these difficulties? Join us on Wednesday, June 16 at 2pm ET, 1pm CT, 12pm MT, 11am PT, 10am AK, and 9am HI the White House and administration agencies will be holding their second consultation call with the Pacifc and Northwest Regions. Register for the Call Here |
Position Description
Interdisciplinary Research Leaders-Team Akiak
Project Coordinator (Part-time contract)
TITLE: PROJECT COORDINATOR (Contract Position)
HOURS: Up to 20 hours per week
LOCATION: Remote within the Greater Northwest and Western Alaska
PAY RANGE: $28-30 per hour (No benefits included)
SUBMISSION DATE: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 5 PM (PT)
Job Description: PROJECT COORDINATOR
This position is open to interested contractors. Serious part-time applicants please send a cover letter, resume/CV and three references (name, title, organization, email, phone) to James Parker of ATNI at jparker@atnitribes.org by March 24, 2021 at 5 PM (PST). This is in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Project Overview
This study builds on an established community partnership between our interdisciplinary team and an Alaskan Native community. This study embodies Indigenous research methodologies including ethical tribal engagement at all stages of research design, implementation, dissemination and policy impact. Our work will yield two broad results: water quality data on local watersheds and a better understanding about how environmentally related stress experienced by the Alaska Native community is impacting their health. In addition,we will initiate extensive conversations around the topics of water and health by building a network of tribal leaders and policy makers to prioritize their local needs and to identify culturally grounded solutions.
Who are we?
This study is a community-academic partnership endeavor between ATNI, University of Washington and an Alaska Native community. Through this partnership ATNI has an outstanding opportunity for a Project Coordinator reporting to the Project Director for the environmental research project, “A Holistic Environmental Health Approach to Promoting Health, Equity and Water Security in one Alaska Native Village.”
Position Purpose
The primary purpose of this Project Coordinator position is to provide research project coordination and support for a research team across ATNI, University of Washington and an Alaska Native community to achieve the aims of the environmental health study. The Project Coordinator works under the general direction of the Project Director, and provides overall coordination.
Under the guidance of the Project Director, the Project Coordinator will be responsible for day-to-day administration of the project. This will include, but is not limited to, scheduling virtual and in-person meetings, record keeping, assisting with coordinating data collection and arranging water quality data testing in labs among partnering institutions, assuring fidelity to data collection protocols, ordering supplies, and managing travel arrangements. Additionally, he/she/they will provide logistical support for quantitative and qualitative data collection in the Pacific Northwest and Alaskan sites. He/she/they will also generate progress reports to funders and Tribal partners, create posters and other communication tools, and coordinate dissemination of research results at the community-level, as well as support the research team in publication of research results. This position requires a high degree of flexibility and tact, the ability to work with a wide range of community and academic partners, and experience developing, implementing, and monitoring research protocols.
Position Dimensions
The part-time (up to 20 hours per week) position bridges the often wide gap – real and perceived – between academia and community, especially with respect to environment health research. By building mutual trusting relationships between academia and communities, both parties will be able to address environmental health disparities to the mutual benefit of community well-being, as well as academic research.
Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities for the study include but are not limited to:
Requirements
Master’s degree in Information School, American Indian or Indigenous Studies, Environmental Science, Public Health, Psychology, Tribal Colleges and Universities or related field and 2-3 years of relevant experience to include:
Desired
Experience in tracking, completing and revising research ethics and project recruitment materials in tribal settings.
Start and End Dates
The position is open immediately, March 15, 2021, with funding guaranteed through Sep 1, 2023.
Your Opinion Needed: Assessing the Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Country
Native American and Alaska Native tribal governments and enterprises encouraged to participate in new survey
March 10, 2021Tribal nations are now one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. Having real-time data on the economic impacts of COVID-19 in Indian Country is critical to ensure public policy solutions respond to the needs of tribal communities.
Our partner, the Center for Indian Country Development (CICD), continues to assess the evolving economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tribal governments and tribal enterprises, and your feedback is critical. CICD’s fourth COVID-19 pulse survey addresses current and anticipated revenue declines and the impacts on employment and the provision of government services as a result of current or anticipated declines in revenues.
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development previously partnered with CICD for a survey on the state of Indian Country businesses. You can view the results of that survey here.
The survey should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous, and only aggregated results will be shared publicly. The deadline to complete the survey is 7:00 p.m. CDT Friday, March 12.
Feel free to share the survey link with tribal government and tribal enterprise leaders in your network.
Our 39th Annual Protecting Our Children Conference season is well underway. We are excited to announce that this year, to do our part in protecting communities, we are having a fully virtual conference. With over 1,400 attendees, and growing every year, this four-day conference has become the premier national event addressing tribal child welfare and well-being. Keynote speakers range from tribes sharing best practices and lessons learned to youth with lived experience in child welfare systems.
NICWA provides meaningful programming to conference attendees and creates a space where participants can learn about the latest developments and best practices from experts in the field and from one another. Participants represent a cross-section of experience and interests including child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice service providers; legal professionals; students; advocates for children; and tribal, state, and federal leaders.Check out our draft agenda here.
Exciting new elements to look forward to this year:
• Sweepstakes with two grand prizes
• Recorded sessions for post-conference viewing
• Virtual exhibitor booths
• Newly designed conference schedule
Participants will be able to attend from the comfort of their own homeor office. All attendees will need internet access or a phone for call-in options.Webcams are encouraged for networking activities. Please be sure to register each person individually as they will be given a unique login.
Remember! We have integrated our member discounts into our online registration software. If you are a current member, when registering online, be sure to use the email address connected to your membership to automatically receive your member discount. All others registering at the attendee rate will automatically purchase a year-long Abalone membership.
Questions? Email training@nicwa.org.