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<p>Office of Public Affairs</p>
As the oldest bureau in the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs employees have experienced a long and complicated history when it comes to our federal relationship with Tribes. It involves 150 years of enforcing federal policies designed to terminate, relocate, and assimilate American Indians and tribal Nations. Collectively, these policies represented attacks on tribal sovereignty and did lasting damage to tribal communities, tribal economies, and the institutions of tribal governance. Only in the last 50 years have employees, who are tribal members themselves, been able to lift up policies designed to support tribal governance and self-determination. Today, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is proud to live out our mission to enhance the quality of life, promote economic opportunities, and to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to us to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
For over 200 years, dating back to the role it played in negotiating treaty agreements between the United States and tribes in the late 18th and 19th centuries, the BIA has embodied the trust and government-to-government relationships between the United States and federally recognized Tribes.
Over the years, the BIA has been involved in the implementation of federal laws that have directly affected all Americans. The General Allotment Act of 1887 opened tribal lands west of the Mississippi to non-Indian settlers, the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 granted American Indians and Alaska Natives U.S. citizenship and the right to vote, and the New Deal and the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 established modern tribal governments. The World War II period of relocation and the post-war termination era of the 1950s led to the activism of the 1960s and 1970s that saw the occupation of the BIA’s headquarters and resulted in the creation of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975. The Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994 along with the Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act have fundamentally changed how the federal government and the tribes conduct business with each other.
Since 1824, there have been 45 Commissioners of Indian Affairs, of whom six have been American Indian or Alaska Native:
Ely S. Parker, Seneca (1869-1871); Robert L. Bennett, Oneida (1966-1969); Louis R. Bruce, Mohawk-Oglala Sioux (1969-1973); Morris Thompson, Athabascan (1973-1976); Benjamin Reifel, Sioux (1976-1977); and William E. Hallett, Red Lake Chippewa (1979-1981).
William Hallett was the last to serve as BIA Commissioner following the establishment of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs position within the Department of the Interior in 1977. Since then, 12 individuals, all American Indians, have been confirmed by the United States Senate for the post: Forrest J. Gerard, Blackfeet (1977-1980); Thomas W. Fredericks, Mandan-Hidatsa (1981); Kenneth L. Smith, Wasco (1981-1984); Ross O. Swimmer, Cherokee Nation (1985-1989); Dr. Eddie F. Brown, Tohono O’odham-Yaqui (1989-1993); Ada E. Deer, Menominee (1993-1997); Kevin Gover, Pawnee (1997-2001); Neal A. McCaleb, Chickasaw Nation (2001-2002); David W. Anderson, Lac Courte Oreilles Chippewa-Choctaw (2004-2005); and Carl J. Artman, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin (2007-2008); Larry Echo Hawk, Pawnee (2009-2012); Kevin K. Washburn, Chickasaw Nation (2012-2016). Tara Katuk Mac Lean Sweeney, Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government/Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (2018-2021). Bryan Newland, Bay Mills Indian Community (2021-2025).
From 1981 to 2003, the title "Deputy Commissioner" denoted the head of the BIA. In 2003, after a major reorganization, the title was administratively changed to "Director," which is still in use today.
The first BIA Director was Terrance Virden, then Brian Pogue and Patrick Ragsdale (2005-2007). Jerold L. "Jerry" Gidner, Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa served from (2007-2010). Michael Black, Oglala Lakota Sioux, served as Director from 2010 to November 2016. Bruce Loudermilk, a citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana, served as Director from November 2016 to September 2017. Bryan Rice, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, was appointed in October 2017. On April 28, 2019, Darryl LaCounte was appointed. On October 30, 2024, Bryan Mercier became the 10th bureau director. He is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon.
In keeping with the authorities and responsibilities granted under the Snyder Act of 1921 and other Federal laws, regulations, and treaties, BIA employees across the country work with tribal governments in the administration of law enforcement and justice; agricultural and economic development; tribal governance; and natural resources management programs to enhance the quality of life in tribal communities.
The BIA carries out its core mission to serve 574 federally recognized Tribes through the Office of the Director, and four offices led by senior executive service leaders.
Within the Office of the Director resides three key programs. These include Emergency Management, Tiwahe, and Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights Programs.
The Office of Indian Services promotes the strength and health of American Indian communities by supporting social services like workforce development, child welfare, and tribal enrollment; uniform contract support for ISDEAA agreements, and improvement of BIA managed transportation systems.
The Office of Justice Services provides for the safety of American Indian communities by supporting protection of life and property, enforcing laws, maintaining justice and order, and by confining American Indian offenders in safe, secure, and humane environments.
The Office of Trust Services assists Tribes and allottees in managing, protecting, and developing their trust lands and natural resources, which total 56 million surface acres and 60 million acres of subsurface mineral estates. OTS aids landowners in stewardship of cultural, spiritual, and traditional resources, and helps create sustainable sources of revenue and jobs for their communities.
The Office of Field Operations delivers program services to federally recognized tribes and individual Indians and Alaska Natives, either directly or through contracts, grants or compacts. These programs are administered by 12 regional offices and 83 agencies that report to the BIA Deputy Director-Field Operations.
The BIA's responsibilities once included providing health care services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. In 1954, that function was legislatively transferred to the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, now known as the Department of Health and Human Services, where it has remained to this day as the Indian Health Service.
Staff Positions:
Division Chief
Social Science Program Specialist
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Specialist
Child Protection and Family Advocate
Housing Improvement Program Officer
Program Specialist
Call For Assistance: 202-513-7642
Contact Information:
| Alaska Reginal Office 3601 C Street, Suite 1200 MC403 Anchorage, AK 99503 | Human Services Staff Phone: 907-271-4111 |
| Contact Information Eastern Oklahoma Region Office 3100 West Peak Boulevard Muskogee, OK 74401 | Human Services Staff Phone: 918-781-4613 |
| Contact Information Eastern Regional Office 545 Marriott Drive, Suite 700 Nashville, TN 37214 | Human Services Staff Main Office: 615-564-5600 |
| Contact Information Great Plains Regional Office 115 4th Avenue SE Aberdeen, SD 57401 | Human Services Staff Office: 605-226-7351 |
| Contact Information Midwest Regional Office Norman Pointe II Building 5600 W. American Blvd, Suite 500 Bloomington, MN 55437 | Human Services Staff Contact: 612-725-4572 |
Contact Information
| Human Services Staff Regional Social Worker Individual Indian Monies Social Work Specialist Social Work Program Specialist (CPS/CW Social Worker) Office: 505.863.8215 |
| Contact Information Northwest Region 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97232 | Human Services Staff Regional Social Worker Child Welfare Social Worker Contract Social Worker Social Worker Program Specialists Office: 503-231-6785 |
| Contact Information Pacific Region 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-2820 Sacramento, CA 95825 |
Human Services Staff Office: 916-978-6000 |
Contact Information
| Human Services Staff Social Services: IA_RMRO_SOCIAL_SERVICES@bia.gov |
| Contact Information Southern Plains Region PO Box 368 Anadarko, OK 73005 | Human Services Staff Regional Social Worker Individual Indian Monies Specialist Social Worker Assistant Office: 405.247.6673 |
| Contact Information Southwest Region 1001 Indian School Road NW Albuquerque, NM 87104 | Human Services Staff Individual Indian Monies Social Worker Office: 505-563-3522 |
| Contact Information Western Region 2600 N. Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom Phoenix, AZ 85004 | Human Services Staff Regional Social Worker Child Welfare Social Worker 2 Individual Indian Monies Social Workers Domestic Violence Social Worker Social Service Representative Office: 602-379-6785 |
Search Tribal Reservations
The Tribal Assistance Coordination Group Conference brings together tribal emergency managers and program personnel, federal emergency management personnel, volunteer organization active in disasters personnel, state, local and non-government organizations involved in emergency management professionals to share the latest program information and best practices for all hazard emergencies and disasters.
We look forward to seeing you!
Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort, located at 4300 E Washington Street, Phoenix Arizona 85034
ROOM RESERVATIONS:
Reserve your Room:
Call the Resort directly at (602) 273-7778 , or reserve online through the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort Room Reservations
There is no cost to register; however, tickets are required to reserve your seat.
The Snyder Act of 1921 authorizes Indian Affairs to operate programs for the benefit and assistance of American Indians and Alaska Natives throughout the United States. The Act is one of several legislative reforms that was designed to improve the living conditions for American Indians on reservations and in government boarding schools.
Born out of necessity after significant coordination and communication issues during response and recovery efforts during Hurricane Katrina (2005), the BIA, the Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) formed the Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G). Its initial focus was to help insure close and consistent coordination and communication between these three critical partners assisting Tribes impacted by emergencies and disasters.
The TAC-G is led and managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Emergency Management (BIA EM) Program to provide an environment where all appropriate federal department and agencies can fulfill their respective trust responsibilities.
The TAC-G hosts monthly information conference calls the first Thursday of each month at 1:00pm EST with the exception of holidays and/or ongoing real-world incidents. The calls have a pre-determined agenda but also leaves time for participants to share key information. It also conducts an annual workshop that provides a highly collaborative learning environment with no cost for attendance (travel costs are the participants responsibility).
To request a meeting invitation or would like more information, please contact tacginfo@bia.gov.
There are numerous federal, state, and county resources that have federal trust responsibilities to support Tribes when emergencies occur. The following entities are frequently requested resources.
As a coordinating body, the TAC-G reaches out to all appropriate partners for available capabilities for unmet needs that can be provided under a variety of authorities. The TAC-G attempts to locate the geographically closest capabilities and also understands and respects the uniqueness and sovereignty of Tribal Governments.
A Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT) can be requested from the TAC-G to help specifically identify unmet needs and what capabilities are required for the necessary assistance. This can be a single person or small team of three to five subject matter experts to evaluate the entire incident including public health, engineering, environmental natural cultural and historic assessments, or other Tribal emergency needs.
The TAC-G uses a capability-based request for assistance whenever possible. As an example, instead of requesting a specific piece of equipment such as a bulldozer or grader, the request would be to repair 200 feet of a gravel road, acting as a dam. This allows individual partners and agencies to survey their capabilities which may meet the need with different equipment more expeditiously. In extreme situations, the assigned RNAT can assist with the formulation of the emergency capabilities request.
Assistance that has been provided previously includes:
The TAC-G does not operate under a specific authority and therefore does not use a formal process to make requests for support; however, should a Tribe need assistance, an initial request can be sent from the Tribal emergency manager or other designated public safety official (police, fire, EMS, public works, etc.) via phone or email.
OEM will then host a brief scoping call to determine the current situation and unmet needs.
A written request (email, etc.) from Tribal leadership providing a brief overview of the situation and describes the request discussed on the scoping call is then provided to the TAG-C which will then begin to coordinate assistance.
The TAC-G 24/7 emergency contact numbers are 202-297-9817 or 202-577-5918
The Indian Affairs Emergency Management Council provides executive oversight and performance accountability and ensures wide strategies and initiatives are developed collaboratively and implemented consistently across bureaus and programs within Indian Affairs. It is responsible for supporting Bureaus with the resources necessary to prepare for and respond to mission continuity and emergency response activities.
Membership of the Council consists of the following positions:
The Council:
Chair Responsibilities
The IAEMC is chaired by the Director, Office of Emergency Management (OEM). The Chair is responsible for:
Member Responsibilities
All members identified including the Chair, perform the following roles:
The IAEMC is chaired by the Director, Office of Emergency Management (OEM) who is responsible for:
The IAEMC Chair will use the following principles in guiding IAEMC decision making:
Administration
The IAEMC will convene on a quarterly basis to discuss general business and resolve issues. The IAEMC may convene for special topic meetings during incidents, to discuss other time sensitive issues, or as otherwise requested by the Director, OEM.
If further exploration of an issue is required, IAEMC will provide the tasking to OEM for development of a recommendation, product, or solution.
May 19, 2023
Schurz, NV - The Sierra-Nevada Mountains along the California/Nevada border received very high snowpacks this winter and is now expecting record-breaking runoff and resulting flood events that only occurs once in five hundred years in the Walker River basin from mid-May to mid-July.
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