Tiwahe Initiative Demonstration Project Webinar
June 21, 2023 @ 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT | View Event Details | Webinar Video
Tiwahe (ti-wah-hay) means family in the Lakota language and symbolizes the interconnectedness of all living things and one’s personal responsibility to protect family, community, and the environment. In an effort to empower federally recognized Tribes to realize this potential, Indian Affairs (IA) launched the Tiwahe Initiative in fiscal year (FY) 2015 as appropriated by the Congress. The Initiative is made up of several components, which work together to protect and promote the development of prosperous and resilient Tribal communities. This phase is commonly referred to as the Tiwahe Demonstration Project.
Tiwahe is an extensive and bold approach to furthering Indian self determination and self governance. It allows flexibility in the administration of key Tribal programs, supports Tribal economic self-sufficiency, and strengthens Tribal cultural connections. Tiwahe fosters systemic change in the delivery of services to children and families through the integration of Tribal practices, customs, values, and traditions.
There were six (6) pilot Tribal sites chosen as participants in the five year demonstration project, representing a total of 61 Federally recognized Tribes and Alaska Native villages:
- Association of Village Council Presidents (comprised of 56 Alaska Native villages)
- Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana
- Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona
- Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Minnesota
- Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota
- Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
The pilot sites joined together to publish a final Tribal report to show each of their accomplishments in the initial years of implementation.
The final Tiwahe Report to the Congress, December 2021, was transmitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on December 28, 2021. The final report encompasses the Tribal reports as submitted to IA.
In FY 2022, IA is seeking to continue funding for the Tiwahe Initiative and plans to hold Tribal consultation on further implementation as to additional Tribal participation and other criteria relative to this expansion of participants.
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