Press Release: Spirit Mountain Community Fund Selects Samuel Riding In As The 2021/22 Hatfield Fellow

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Riding In Set for Eight-Month Term in Senator Merkley’s D.C. Office

Grand Ronde, OR – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the Spirit Mountain Community Fund are pleased to announce Samuel Riding In as the 2021/22 Hatfield Fellow. Riding In grew up in Apache, Oklahoma and is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. 

Riding In is a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Indigenous & American Indian Studies. He holds a certification in behavioral health and most recently worked as a case worker/ behavioral health technician at Lutheran Indian Ministries, a nonprofit organization in Kansas. He is passionate about mental health issues, Indian education and economic development for tribal communities.  

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde established the Mark O. Hatfield Fellowship in 1998 as a living tribute to Senator Hatfield to honor his accomplishments as the Governor of Oregon and United States Senator. Each year, the Spirit Mountain Community Fund sponsors a highly motivated Native American to serve as the Hatfield Fellow and intern in an Oregon congressional office, enhancing the mutual understanding between leadership in Washington, D.C., and Indian Country. 

Riding In is the 22nd Native American to serve as a Hatfield Fellow. He will begin his fellowship in November with a month-long orientation at the American Political Science Association (APSA) in Washington, D.C. Following orientation, he will assume his congressional placement in Senator Jeff Merkley’s office. This is the Senator’s second time to host a Hatfield Fellow. 

 “I really look forward to the opportunity to be a part of the American political system, gaining first-hand experience from our leaders in Washington, and using my educational background in ways I had previously never foreseen for myself,” said Riding In. “I look forward to the opportunity to network with other fellows and staff members. Ultimately, I hope to be a part of something that is bigger than myself, with lasting positive impacts for a multitude of people who live and breathe on this land. I want to learn as much as I can throughout the course of the fellowship and I want to be a useful member of Senator Merkley’s team.”

“Senator Hatfield not only played an enormous role in making Oregon what it is today, but did so with unwavering principle and a distinctive, gracious diplomacy that helped to inspire so many Oregonians—including myself—to devote their lives to public service,” said Senator Merkley. “One of the many ways the Oregon delegation works together to honor his many accomplishments is by continuing to build a strong partnership with tribal communities through the Hatfield Fellowship program. I always look forward to hosting Hatfield Fellows, and am especially excited to welcome Sam Riding In to team Merkley, where he will bring an impressive background and an admirable passion for helping others. Especially at a time when tribal communities are facing unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more critical than ever for Congress and Tribal Governments to work together, and I look forward to seeing the important work Sam accomplishes on Capitol Hill this year.”

 “I wanted to serve as the Hatfield Fellow because historically, Native people have been left out of many conversations and legislation that ultimately affects our livelihoods as sovereign nations. Our people have overcome immense obstacles in order to keep our culture and sovereignty as distinct Tribal Nations intact, and I believe it is imperative we create a sustainable future for the survival of our political autonomy,” said Riding In. “My professional goal is to ensure our next generation of people are equipped with the knowledge to succeed and carry on our culture.”

About Spirit Mountain Community Fund

The Spirit Mountain Community Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The Tribe is committed to honoring the tribal traditions of sharing and giving back to the community. In 1997, in an effort to uphold these traditions, the tribe formed the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, dedicating six percent of all casino revenue to nonprofit organizations in an 11-county service area of northwest Oregon. Grants are awarded in the following categories: arts & culture, education, environmental preservation, health, historical preservation, problem gaming and public safety. 

Visit www.thecommunityfund.com for more information about the Hatfield Fellowship program and the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. 

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Join Secretary Granholm for a DOE Roundtable on Local Clean Energy Action

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Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 15, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm will host a virtual roundtable, Local Clean Energy Action: Building an Equitable and Sustainable Future with Communities, to launch a new initiative that reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s effort to deliver an equitable clean energy transition for communities across the country, including energy justice communities and communities with historical ties to fossil fuel industries.

Tune in to learn about DOE’s new pilot program that will directly engage and assist communities as they build more resilient economies and better the health and environment of their communities as they transition to clean energy.

Speakers Include:

  • Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary of Energy
  • Shalanda Baker, DOE Deputy Director for Energy Justice
  • Helen Chin, President, Communities First
  • Sekita Grant, Vice President of Programs, The Solutions Project
  • Tatewin Means, Executive Director, Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation
  • Michael Tubbs, Former Mayor, City of Stockton, CA
  • Stephanie Tyree, Executive Director, WV Community Development Hub.

Event takes place tomorrow, Wednesday, September 15, from 1:00–1:45 p.m. Eastern Time. 

Register now.

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.

Department of Defense Plan of Action re EO 13175

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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. 

2021-DoD-Plan-of-Action-on-Tribal-ConsultationDownload

Tribal/Interior Budget Council Meeting

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The next Tribal/Interior Budget Council meeting is scheduled to take place via ZOOM on September 21-22, 2021. A meeting agenda has not been released, but the meeting is scheduled to convene the full voting body for two days with no subcommittee meetings. A tribal caucus is scheduled for September 21, 2021, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT

Register for the September 21-22, 2021 TIBC meeting here:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArf-yrrjgrGNZbT_wKl-_4T4xyHUN3bb3y

Register for the September 21, 2021 TIBC Tribal Caucus here:https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpc-CgpzwjHtAstav06WYy2S3-ySseCW9_

·        This list of attendees will be monitored and unauthorized attendees will be removed, when approved by TIBC.

IMLS Virtual Listening Session

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Crosby Kemper, the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), invites you to attend IMLS’s virtual Listening Session, which will be held on Wednesday, October 6, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. ET. The attached letter from Director Kemper includes additional information and tentative agenda items for the session.

Please register for the session using this Zoom link. Registration will be open through the end of the session. If you have any questions or comments, or if you would like to request reasonable accommodations, please contact me at bingram@imls.gov or 202-653-4616. 

A note for Gmail users: opening the attached proxy form in Google Docs will make the form fields disappear. Please use the “download” arrow instead and open it from there.

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USDA, APHIS will be hosting a Tribal Webinar on the American Rescue Plan Strategic Framework

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Just a reminder that USDA, APHIS will be hosting a Tribal Webinar on the American Rescue Plan Strategic Framework.

Enclosed is the information on how to register for the Tribal webinar and others if you are unable to make it on Tuesday 08/31/21.

Submit Written Comments and Register for an Informational Webinar

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has developed a Strategic Framework outlining our approach to fulfill a key charge within the American Rescue Plan Act to better protect people and animals from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The Framework serves as a roadmap to build One Health capacity and strengthen APHIS’ ability to prevent, detect, investigate and respond to SARS-CoV-2 as well as other emerging and zoonotic diseases. Collectively, the key actions within the Framework will enable USDA to build an early warning system to alert public health partners to take steps sooner to potentially prevent or limit the next zoonotic disease outbreak, or the next global pandemic..

Submit Written Comments

We are interested in your feedback on the Strategic Framework and will accept written comments for 45 days via Regulations.gov from Tuesday, August 24 to Friday, October 8, 2021.

Register for an Informational Webinar

APHIS is also hosting a series of webinars to provide more information about the Strategic Framework and answer any questions you may have. Our hope is that this additional information will support your ability to submit written comments.

The format and information shared during each webinar will be identical. Certain webinars are geared toward a specific audience, but you are welcome to join any webinar that best fits your schedule. Each webinar has its own registration link and connection information. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email with additional details.

All webinars will be recorded, and the recordings will be accessible from this page.

Webinar Schedule

Tuesday, August 31
Audience: Tribal Representatives
American Rescue Plan—Overview of APHIS’ Strategic Framework
1:30 to 3:00 p.m. ET
Register Now		Wednesday, September 1
Audience: General Interest
American Rescue Plan—Overview of APHIS’ Strategic Framework
3:30 to 5:00 p.m. ET
Register Now
Wednesday, September 8
Audience: Socially Disadvantaged Producers and Related Organizations
American Rescue Plan—Overview of APHIS’ Strategic Framework
1:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET
Register Now		Wednesday, September 15
Audience: General Interest
American Rescue Plan—Overview of APHIS’ Strategic Framework
4:00 to 5:30 p.m. ET
Register Now

Tuesday, August 31: Register for DOE’s Hydrogen Shot Summit

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On Tuesday, August 31, join the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) first ever Hydrogen Shot Summit, a virtual gathering and dialogue to identify sustainable pathways to achieve Hydrogen Shot’s “1 1 1” goal of $1 for 1 kg of clean hydrogen in 1 decade. The summit will provide perspective on what is required so that clean hydrogen can achieve the scale and impact needed to tackle the climate crisis and transition to an equitable clean energy future.

Speakers include U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, Deputy Secretary David Turk, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Breakthrough Energy Founder Bill Gates.

The summit will also cover four breakout sessions on various clean hydrogen production pathways as well as deployment and financing will help identify key challenges and potential strategies to address them.

For additional information, visit the Hydrogen Shot Summit web page.

Register now.

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.

African Swine Fever Webinar hosted by APHIS

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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.

ASFActionWeek_WebinarScheduleDownload

ATNI to Host US Treasury Tribal Leader Roundtable on the RPA reauthorization of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) which contains a $500 million set aside for Tribal governments to support

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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)
Dial by your location    +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)    +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)    +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)    +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)    +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)    +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)Meeting ID: 837 8000 0561Passcode: 483549Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdLKsmX4lg

FEMA Hosts Webinar for Tribal Nations on Climate Change and Equity for Underserved Populations

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FEMA is seeking public comments on how the agency can further advance equity in underserved communities and strengthen resilience from the impacts of climate change. On April 22, FEMA posted a Request for Information to help identify areas where the agency’s programs can be modified to better align with President Biden’s Executive Orders 13985, 13990, and 14008.

The public notice contains a list of 16 questions to assist in identifying agency programs, regulations, and/or policies that may benefit from modification, streamlining, expansion, or repeal to further advance equity in underserved communities and strengthen resilience from the impacts of climate change.  FEMA encourages public comment on these questions and seeks any other data that commenters believe are relevant to the agency’s review efforts. 

In addition to written comments, FEMA will host a webinar at 3:30 ET on Wednesday, June 16 for tribal nations to collect verbal comments. Participants may indicate interest in providing a comment in the registration link. 

Participants must register and please note verbal comments will be limited to 3 minutes.

FEMA believes it is essential to continually reevaluate its programs to reduce unnecessary barriers to participation and effectiveness, to serve all communities, to increase equity, and to promote preparedness.  Make your voice count and register for the webinars.

Feedback on the executive orders is open through July 21. Any registration information provided will only be used for this event and will not be shared with any third party. Additional information is available about the Request for Information on FEMA.gov.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Office of External Affairs:

Follow Us

Follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on Twitter, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.

Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne. 

FEMA Mission

Helping people before, during, and after disasters.