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Indian Affairs Announces Funding for Living Languages Grants

For Immediate Release:
December 03, 2021

The Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development announced today it is soliciting applications for its Living Languages Grant Program. Funds provided through the LLGP enable federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal entities, as listed in 86 FR 7554, to support Tribal programs that document Native languages or build Tribal capacity to create or expand language preservation programs.

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Ensures rights of Native youth who enter juvenile justice system are respected and protected

Media Contact: Nedra Darling, OPA-IA Phone: 202-219-4152
For Immediate Release: October 20, 2016
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WASHINGTON – Furthering President Obama’s Generation Indigenous (“Gen-I”) and Tiwahe initiatives that support American Indian and Alaska Native families and strengthen tribal communities, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Lawrence S. Roberts today announced that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has published the final updated version of its 2016 Model Indian Juvenile Code, which was originally issued in 1988 – almost 30 years ago.

“I am very pleased to announce the publication of the BIA’s updated Model Indian Juvenile Code, which has been a long time in coming,” Roberts said. “Supporting Native youth and their families has been among the Obama Administration’s top priorities in helping to build strong tribal communities. The 2016Model Indian Juvenile Code is key to ensuring that the rights of Native youth who enter the juvenile justice system and their families are respected and protected. I want to express my deep appreciation to our federal partners who joined with us to update the code, and to all of the tribes, juvenile justice professionals, and others who provided their insights, comments, recommendations and encouragement that have led us to this moment.”

The Model Indian Juvenile Code helps federally recognized tribes create their own codes that focus on juvenile matters and specifically address issues affecting American Indian youth arrested for alcohol- and/or drug-related offenses in Indian Country. The effort to update the 1988 original complements the Gen-I and Tiwahe initiatives. Tiwahe, which means “family” in the Lakota language, promotes a comprehensive, integrated and community-based approach to support child welfare, family stability and strengthening tribal communities as a whole.

The 2016 Model Indian Juvenile Code is comprehensive and flexible, encouraging the use of alternatives to standard juvenile delinquency, truancy, and child-in-need services. It reflects a core commitment to providing tribes with examples of juvenile statutes designed to assure the fundamental rights of children and their parents, guardians and custodians, and a focus on allowing the opportunity for restorative diversion at each decision point in the juvenile process.

The updated Code focuses on three areas: Juvenile Delinquency, Truancy and At-Risk Youth. Based on consultation with tribal governments, the Code also focuses on other areas:

  • The ability to divert out of formal process at each decision point;
  • Embedding the right to counsel for juveniles in delinquency/truancy;
  • Restricting the use of detention;
  • Commentary on choices made in the Code and discussion of options for implementation, including diversion examples;
  • Distinguishing between delinquent acts and need for services (for delinquent acts, focus on supervision, treatment and rehabilitation);
  • Ensuring the rights of parties; and
  • The coordination of services.

Since 2012, the BIA’s Office of Justice Services Tribal Justice Support Directorate and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention have worked to update the Bureau’s 1988 Model Indian Juvenile Code. That code was published following passage of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.) and pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 2454, the law directing the Secretary of the Interior to develop a model Indian juvenile code that included provisions on the disposition of cases involving Indian youth arrested or detained by BIA or tribal law enforcement for alcohol- or drug-related offenses.

In April 2015 the Interior and Justice Departments jointly announced their intent to update the 1988 code and issue for tribal comment a discussion draft of an updated model code. This was followed by an extensive information-gathering effort from December 2014 throughout 2015, consisting of tribal consultation and listening sessions, webinars, conference calls and workshops. In February 2016 the two Departments, joined by Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, announced the publication of a draft revised code for tribal and public comment.

The 2016 Model Indian Juvenile Code also reflects changes in the field of juvenile justice since 1988, particularly the enactment in 2010 of the Tribal Law and Order Act (P. L. 111-211) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P. L. 111-148), and complies with a provision in a 2011 Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Memorandum of Agreement between Interior and Justice to develop such a code in accordance with 25 U.S.C. 2454.

The annotated 2016 Model Indian Juvenile Code can be downloaded from the Indian Affairs website. A Microsoft Word version for tribal use also can be found on the Indian Affairs website.

The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs oversees the BIA, which is headed by a director who is responsible for managing day-to-day operations through four offices – Indian Services, Justice Services, Trust Services, and Field Operations. These offices directly administer or fund tribally based infrastructure, economic development, law enforcement and justice, social services (including child welfare), tribal governance, and trust land and natural and energy resources management programs for the nation’s federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes through 12 regional offices and 81 agencies.

The OJS TJSD furthers the development, operation, and enhancement of tribal justice systems by providing guidance, technical support, and advisory services to tribal courts and Courts of Indian Offenses (also known as CFR courts). For more information, visit http://indianaffairs.gov/WhoWeAre/BIA/OJS/ojs-services/ojs-tjs/index.htm.

OJJDP provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. It supports states and communities in their efforts to develop and implement effective and coordinated prevention and intervention programs and to improve the juvenile justice system so that it protects public safety, holds offenders accountable, and provides treatment and rehabilitative services tailored to the needs of juveniles and their families. For more information, visit http://www.ojjdp.gov/.

SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. For more information on SAMHSA’s tribal affairs efforts, visit http://www.samhsa.gov/tribal-affairs.

-DOI-

https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/opa/online-press-release/roberts-announces-publication-final-updated-bia-model-indian
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Delivers Opening Remarks at White House Tribal Nations Conference; Highlights Trust Responsibilities, Educational Reform, Climate Adaptation

Media Contact: Nedra Darling, OPA-IA Phone: 202-219-4152
For Immediate Release: December 3, 2014
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WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today delivered opening remarks at the sixth White House Tribal Nation’s Conference, where she emphasized the Obama Administration's commitment to Indian Country, including self-determination and self-governance initiatives that are helping tribal nations to build a foundation for a successful and culturally vibrant future.

“All of the work we are undertaking in partnership with tribes – whether on education, tackling climate change, or upholding trust reforms and treaty obligations – is with an eye toward the health and prosperity of the next generation,” said Secretary Jewell, who will also participate in panel discussions with tribal leaders on education and native youth, and climate change. “The White House Tribal Nations Conference is one piece of President Obama’s commitment to make meaningful and lasting progress in support of American Indians’ and Alaska Natives’ vision for a strong and successful future.”

The conference provides leaders from the 566 federally recognized tribes the opportunity to interact directly with President Obama, members of his Cabinet and other federal policy-level officials, building on the President’s commitment to strengthen our government-to-government relationship with Indian Country and to improve the livelihood of Native Americans. President Obama held the first-ever conference and has ensured that it will be an enduring, annual conference by Executive Order.

During this year’s conference, Jewell will discuss some of the progress made by the White House Council on Native American Affairs in advancing initiatives on educational reform, energy and economic development and climate change.

The Council, which is chaired by Secretary Jewell and includes the heads of more than 20 federal departments and agencies, has convened four times since its inception in June 2013 and works to improve interagency coordination and expand efforts to leverage federal programs and resources available to tribal communities.

Under a Council initiative, Secretary Jewell and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, after consultation with tribal leaders, issued a Blueprint for Reform in June 2014 to redesign the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Building on the Blueprint’s recommendations, Jewell issued a Secretarial Order to begin restructuring BIE from solely a provider of education to a capacity-builder and education service-provider to tribes. The goal of this transformation is to give tribes the ability themselves to provide an academically rigorous and culturally appropriate education to their students, according to their needs.

“The heart of the matter is that no one cares more, or knows more about what’s right for young people, than their parents and their community,” said Jewell, who noted that the BIE recently awarded $1.2 million to tribes to promote tribal control of BIE-funded schools on their reservations.

Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn also participated in today’s Tribal Nation’s Conference where he joined panel sessions and reaffirmed the Obama Administration’s sacred duty to uphold federal trust responsibilities and help restore tribal homelands.

“Each of the Administration's successes is progress for tribes because tribal self-determination and self-governance animate each of our programs,” said Assistant Secretary Washburn. “Our programs cannot fully succeed unless Indian tribal governments also succeed.”

He noted Jewell's second Secretarial Order focused on Indian Country and the Department’s tribal trust responsibilities – underscoring Interior’s commitment to a new chapter in government-to-government relations. The Order reaffirmed the Department’s unique, historic responsibilities and provided guidance for each of Interior agencies to carry out trust obligations to tribes and individual Indian beneficiaries.

Assistant Secretary Washburn also discussed the status of proposed changes to the Department’s federal acknowledgment regulations to improve efficiency and fairness in that process.

Jewell underscored historic settlements and progress in restoring tribal homelands through land-into-trust and the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations. In addition to the historic $3.4 billion Cobell settlement, the Administration has resolved more than 80 individual tribal trust management lawsuits for a total of $2.5 billion. The most recent settlement was announced in September and provided $554 million in settlement of long-standing trust disputes with the Navajo Nation, with some claims dating back more than 50 years.

“Resolution of historic tribal trust cases and the Cobell litigation has allowed the Department to work with Indian country on rebuilding the trust relationship in a collaborative manner, outside the adversarial atmosphere of litigation,” noted Interior Solicitor Hilary Tompkins, who also participated in the conference.

In ongoing efforts to help restore tribal homelands, Interior has completed 282 cases so far this year, taking 40,339 acres into trust for Tribes. Since 2009, more than 280,408 acres have been taken into trust on behalf of tribes, more than half way toward the Department’s goal of 500,000 acres before the end of the President’s term. Indian Affairs has also been working on regulations that would allow the Department to take land into trust in Alaska.

In addition, Interior has been carrying out the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations a program designed to buy highly fractionated land interests from willing American Indian sellers at fair market value and transfer consolidated titles to tribal governments for the beneficial use of their communities. In the last 12 months, the Program has made $754 million in offers to more than 44,000 individual landowners and restored the equivalent of more than 475,000 acres to tribes. The Department recently announced 21 additional locations where the Program will begin implementation, bringing the total number of locations actively engaged in the Buy-Back Program to 42. That total represents 83 percent of all outstanding fractionated ownership interests.

Since assuming her role at Interior, Secretary Jewell has visited more than 20 tribal communities and half a dozen Bureau of Indian Education schools. Jewell also joined President Obama and the First lady on their historic visit to Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation earlier this year.

https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/opa/online-press-release/secretary-jewell-stresses-self-governance-empowerment-foundation
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Media Contact: Nedra Darling, OPA-IA Phone: 202-219-4152
For Immediate Release: August 31, 2016
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WASHINGTON – Lawrence S. Roberts, who is leading the Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, announced today that the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) has extended its deadline for nominations of qualified individuals to serve on a negotiated rulemaking committee (NRC) that will recommend revisions to its school accountability system. Nominees are being sought from federally recognized tribes whose students attend BIE-funded schools.

The new deadline for nominations, a notice of which was published this month in the Federal Register, is on or before October 3, 2016. The BIE initially published its announcement for nominations last November with a deadline of December 24, 2015. That deadline was later extended to May 31, 2016.

“The BIE is seeking invested, energetic and knowledgeable persons for its Accountability Negotiated Rulemaking Committee who will have the opportunity to help the Bureau in developing new standards, assessments and an accountability system for all BIE-funded schools, as mandated under the Every Student Succeeds Act,”Roberts said. “I urge tribes with children in BIE-funded schools to submit nominations, particularly of individuals who have strong backgrounds in Indian education, are knowledgeable about the BIE school system, and understand what is needed for our schools to better serve their students and communities.”

Section 8007(2) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorizes and amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, directs the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to use the NRC process to develop regulations that define standards, assessments and an accountability system for BIE-funded schools on a national, regional or tribal basis. The regulations must be consistent with Section 1111 of the ESSA, which requires them to be developed in a manner that considers the unique circumstances and needs of the schools and their students, and be implemented no later than the 2017-2018 academic year.

Because the ESSA preserves the right of the schools and tribes to seek a waiver from being subject to the Interior Department’s accountability system, the Accountability NRC’s regulations will not affect the ability of individual schools and tribes to develop account ability systems that best meet their academic and cultural needs.

For example, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians has successfully developed its own accountability system and the Navajo Nation is in the process of doing so. Their approved accountability systems will be exempt from the BIE’s single accountability system. The remainder of BIE-funded schools, however, will be subject to the NRC-developed standards, assessments and accountability system.

Nominations must include the following information for each Accountability NRC nominee:

  • A letter of support from the tribe for an individual’s nomination to serve on the NRC as a tribal representative;
  • A resume reflecting the nominee’s qualifications and experience in Indian education that includes the person’s name, tribal affiliation, job title, major job duties, employer, business address, business telephone and fax numbers (and business email address, if applicable);
  • The tribal interest(s) to be represented by the nominee [see Section IV, Part F, of the BIE’s Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2015] and whether the nominee will represent other interest(s) related to this rulemaking, as the tribe may designate;
  • A brief description of how the nominee will represent tribal views, communicate with tribal constituents, and have a clear means of reaching agreement on behalf of the tribe(s) he or she represents; and
  • A statement on whether the nominee is only representing one tribe’s views or whether the expectation is that he or she represents a specific group of tribes.

Although the deadline for nominations is October 3, 2016, the BIE will still consider individuals whose nominations were submitted by the December 24, 2015 or May 31, 2016 deadlines.

Send nominations to: Ms. Jackie Cheek, Bureau of Indian Education, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., MS-3642-MIB, Washington, DC 20240, phone: (202) 208–6983.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs oversees the Bureau of Indian Education, which implements federal Indian education programs and funds 183 elementary and secondary day and boarding schools (of which two-thirds are tribally operated) located on 64 reservations in 23 states and peripheral dormitories serving over 40,000 students. BIE also operates two post-secondary schools, and administers grants for 28 tribally controlled colleges and universities and two tribal technical colleges, and provides higher education scholarships to Native youth. For more information, visit www.bie.edu.

-DOI-

https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/opa/online-press-release/roberts-announces-extension-submission-date-bie-accountability-nrc
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DOI decision is first under its revised rules for taking land in trust for federally recognized tribes in Alaska

Media Contact: Nedra Darling, OPA-IA Phone: 202-219-4152
For Immediate Release: January 13, 2017
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WASHINGTON - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Lawrence S. Roberts, who leads the Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, today announced the Department’s decision to place a 1.08-acre land parcel owned by the Craig Tribal Association, a federally recognized tribe headquartered in the City of Craig, Alaska, into federal Indian trust status. The decision is the first under the Department’s revised rule for taking tribal land into trust in Alaska.

“The journey to this decision has been a long one. Today, the federally recognized tribes in Alaska have the same opportunity as those in the Lower 48 states to maintain a permanent homeland for themselves,” Roberts said. “The decision to place the Craig Tribal Association’s land into trust reflects the policies of tribal self-determination and self-governance through the restoration of tribal homelands that will benefit its current and future generations of tribal members. I congratulate the Craig Tribal Association leadership on their achievement. I also commend the State of Alaska and the City of Craig for their comments on the land-into-trust application. Their approach, much like other state and local governments, is another important example of tribes, states and local governments working together in a government-to-government relationship to address concerns so that they may better serves their collective communities.”

Congress amended the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) in 1936 so that, among other things, tribes in Alaska would be treated similarly to tribes in the Lower 48 states. For decades afterward, the Department accepted lands into trust for a few Alaska tribes. However, in 1980 the Department changed course and did not allow Alaska tribes to submit applications – a regulatory prohibition that became known as the “Alaska exception” to the Department’s land-into-trust regulations. That misguided approach was corrected under the Obama Administration with the promulgation of a revised rule that removed the Alaska exception.

“The elimination of the ‘Alaska exception’ to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ land-into-trust regulations has rectified an error that has for far too long treated Alaska tribes differently in the restoration of tribal homelands,” said BIA Director Weldon “Bruce” Loudermilk. “I want to thank the Office of Trust Services staff in the BIA’s Alaska Regional Office and the staff across the Department for their hard work on this complex matter. I also want to add my congratulations to the Craig Tribal Association leaders on the restoration of a small part of their homeland.”

Craig Tribal Association is organized under the IRA with a constitution and by-laws approved by the Secretary of the Interior on July 13, 1938 and ratified by its members on October 8, 1938. The Association is included on the Federal Register notice of Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, the official list of all federally recognized tribes published annually by the BIA.

Craig Tribal Association members and their ancestors, who are primarily Tlingit Shangukeidi and Haida Kaigani, have utilized the areas in and around what is now the City of Craig as their traditional homeland since time immemorial. Craig, or Shaanseet as it is known by the tribe, was historically a seasonal herring roe and fish camp site for the Tlingit Shangukeidi and Haida Kaigani. In 1908, a cannery and cold storage facility was established in present day Craig with help from the local Haida people.

After purchasing the property from an individual landowner in 1996, the Association began development and construction of its community building. Prior to the tribe’s ownership, the property was undeveloped forested land with no permanent structures. It now uses the property for government offices, and leases space that generates funds to support tribal services.

Although the property can still be used by the tribe for its government offices, community service programs, and other tribal needs, the land-into-trust decision does not make the parcel eligible for gaming under federal law. And, while providing the community with another partner in the form of the BIA to promote safety and law enforcement, the land’s new status does not in any way impact the State of Alaska’s law enforcement authority under Public Law 280. The decision also does not impact valid existing rights-of-way or easements on the property, nor does it impact the subsurface mineral owner’s rights.

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized by the IRA to acquire land into trust for federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. Lands held in federal Indian trust status, which cannot be sold, alienated or transferred to non-Indians or non-Natives, benefit their tribal owners who are eligible for federal program assistance for business development, housing, and environmental and cultural protection. Typical uses of trust land include governmental operations, cultural activities, agricultural/forestry projects, housing, economic development, social and community services, and health care and educational facilities.

The Obama Administration is committed to the restoration of tribal homelands. When Secretary Jewell took office, she set a goal to restore at least 500,000 acres of land into trust for tribes by the end of the Administration. As of today, Indian Affairs has processed more than 2,265 individual trust applications and restored more than 570,799 acres of land into trust since 2009.

The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs oversees the BIA, whose offices directly administer or fund tribally based infrastructure, economic development, law enforcement and justice, social services (including child welfare), tribal governance, and trust land and natural and energy resources management programs for the nation’s federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. The Bureau carries out its responsibilities in the management of federal Indian trust lands, which includes the land-into-trust process, through the Office of Trust Services.

https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/opa/online-press-release/interior-approves-craig-tribal-associations-land-trust-application

Interior Department Announces the Establishment of the PROGRESS Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee

For Immediate Release:
November 22, 2021

The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs today announced proposed membership for the Practical Reforms and Other Goals To Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination for Indian Tribes Act of 2019 (PROGRESS Act) Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, which will negotiate and advise the Secretary of the Interior on the implementation of the PROGRESS Act.

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1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240
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USDA: ReConnect Program

From USDA.Gov's ReConnect Program website:

The Broadband ReConnect Program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.

For Tribal Governments and Socially Vulnerable Communities

Up to $350M Available

Potential awardees must meet a 100 Mbps symmetrical minimum service requirement in all proposed service areas. The maximum award amount is $35M, and no match is required. The applications are evaluated in a competitive process.

Application Deadlines

The application window for the third round of funding will open on November 24, 2021.

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Learn More about the ReConnect Program on USDA.Gov

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USDA.Gov
askusda@usda.gov

Treasury: Capital Projects Fund Opportunity

From Treasury.Gov's Capital Projects Fund website:

The Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (Capital Projects Fund) will address many challenges laid bare by the pandemic, especially in rural America, Tribal communities, and low- and moderate-income communities, helping to ensure that all communities have access to the high-quality modern infrastructure, including broadband, needed to access critical services.

Deadline to Request Funding

The deadline to request funding for Tribal Governments is June 1, 2022.

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Learn How to Apply for the Capital Projects Fund @ Treasury.Gov

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For General Inquiries
CapitalProjectsFund@treasury.gov

Secretary Haaland Creates New Missing & Murdered Unit to Pursue Justice for Missing or Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives

For Immediate Release:
April 01, 2021

New unit will coordinate interagency collaboration and strengthen existing law enforcement resources

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