U.S Interior Department To Begin Consultations With U.S Native Tribal Leaders

U.S Interior Department To Begin Consultations With U.S Native Tribal Leaders

By Aaron Miller-

The US Interior Department will start consultations with Native American tribal leaders next month on Covid-19, economic security, racial justice and climate change.

The move is part of efforts by President Joe Biden to get more tribal input in federal policy deliberations.

It follows an executive order on 26 January aimed at strengthening relations between the federal government and Native American tribes

The  Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships o requires each federal agency to develop a plan of action on how it proposes to engage in regular, meaningful and robust consultation with Tribal Nations.

Following the Memorandum, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) sent a Dear Tribal Leader letter that requested input on the formation of its action plan. Comments must be submitted to DoD on or before March 8, 2021.

In the letter, dated Feb. 8, 2021, DoD specifically requested input on a number of items, including how to enhance its consultation efforts to identify procedures to ensure that consultation is regular, meaningful and robust

Among its goals, is to build awareness among tribal leaders of DoD polices on consultation to enhance the capacity of military installation leaders and staff to engage effectively with tribes, and foster stronger nation-to-nation relationships.

Its objectives also includes the seeking to protect tribal lands, rights and resources from the impacts related to the ongoing operations of military installations and training activities, measure the progress of its ongoing efforts to consult and coordinate with tribes, promote the success of DoD-tribal partnerships and collaborative efforts.

It also seeks  to address legacy pollution of tribal lands due to past DoD activity recognize the service and sacrifice of Native American veterans
communicate with tribes and tribal-owned businesses about opportunities to work with DoD.

Determination

Biden is determined to be the polar opposite of his predecessor, Donald Trump, and play his role in addressing race relation in the U.S. The U.S president has vowed to fire on the spot, anyone in his administration, he catches discriminating against people on the basis of race.

The Interior Department, which oversees the country’s tribal and federal lands, will be led by New Mexico Representative Deb Haaland, who would become the first Native American to head a cabinet-level agency if she is confirmed by Congress..

Reuters, who first reported the announcement today, also made reference to a 2019 Government Accountability Office report found serious lapses in outreach to tribes, especially on infrastructure projects.

Under Trump tribes received $8 billion in coronavirus aid, but only after major delays caused by a legal dispute.

The consultations will take place by video in the week of March 8.

“Meaningful consultations ensure we center Tribal voices as we address the health, economic, racial justice and climate crises – all of which disproportionately impact American Indian and Alaska Natives,” said Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes, the department’s designated Tribal Governance Officer and Deputy Solicitor for Indian Affairs.

 

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