The Office is responsible for implementation of the Tribal Self Governance Act of 1994, including development and implementation of regulations, policies, and guidance in support of self-governance initiatives. The staff negotiates annual funding agreements with eligible tribes and consortia, coordinates the collection of budget and performance data from self-governance tribes, and resolves issues that are identified in financial and program audits of self governance operations. The Office works with tribal governments to protect and support tribal sovereignty within a Government-to-Government partnership and to advocate for the transfer of Federal programmatic authorities and resources to tribal governments in accordance with tribal self-governance statutes and policies. Included in the Appendices is a table illustrating tribal participation in Self-Governance. The program staff work with self-governance tribes to implement and resolve issues or problems associated with self-governance agreements. Self-governance tribes represent nearly 40 percent of all federally recognized tribes nationwide. The Office provides financial management, budgeting, accounting and contracting services for an estimated $400 million in funds annually that are allocated or awarded to self-governance tribes, including reprogrammings within Operation of Indian Programs (OIP) and transfers from other Federal programs. This includes funds from Bureau of Land Management and additional manpower training funds under the Integration of Employment, Training, and Related Services Demonstration Act (Public Law 102-477).
In addition, allocation funding of $79 million from the Federal Highway Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) Program was assumed by the Office in 2007 increasing self-governance management responsibilities. The additional functions under the IRR program include new mandatory reporting requirements for Transportation Project Cost Accounting and Transportation Expenditure Processing. The office is responsible for implementing the Tribal Self-Governance Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638), and Joint Funding Simplification Act (P.L. 95-510) as the pertain to Indian Self-Determination. The Office develops and implements regulations, policies, and guidance in support of the Self-Governance initiatives; facilitate the negotiation of annual funding agreements with eligible tribes and consortia; coordinates the collection of budget and performance data from Self-Governance tribes; and resolves issues that are identified in financial and program audits of Self-Governance operations.
