Tribal News and Links

Federal Preservation Officers

National Park Service Director Fran Mainella has approved four additional tribes to assume SHPO duties on tribal lands. Each of the newly approved tribes has assumed responsibility for the Section 106 consultation process.

The new tribes are:

Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma Telephone: 405 656-2901
P. O. Box 487 Fax: 405-656-2386
Binger, Oklahoma 73009
THPO: Robert Cast

Table Bluff Reservation - Wiyot Tribe Telephone: 707 733-5055
1000 Wiyot Drive Fax: 707-733-5601
Loleta, California 95551
THPO: Marnie Atkins

Passamaquoddy Tribe Telephone: 207 796-0822
P. O. Box 102 Fax: 207-796-5256
Princeton, Maine 04668
THPO: Donald Soctomah

Oneida Nation of Wisconsin Telephone: 920 490-2096
P. O. Box 365 Fax: 920 490-2099
Oneida, Wisconsin 54155
THPO: Corina Williams

These four new tribes bring the total number of THPOs to 35. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at bryan_mitchell@nps.gov or David Banks at david_banks@nps.gov.

Bryan Mitchell
Chief, Heritage Preservation Services Division

FEMA Tribal Pilot Projects Update

FEMA provided $490,000 in grant funds in an effort to implement and refine the agency's Tribal Policy and is now working with 8 Tribal Governments as pilot projects. Tribes receiving the pilot project grants include: The St. Regis Mohawk, Prairie Island Indian Community, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, the Keewenaw Bay Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, Lummi Indian Nation, Unalakleet Village and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. The specific scopes of work for these Tribal Pilots are still under discussion between FEMA and the respective Tribes.

Tribes receiving Pilot Project grants:

• St. Regis Mohawk (New York State)
• Prairie Island Indian Community (Minnesota) http://www.prairieisland.org/index.html
• Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indian (Minnesota) http://indy4.fdl.cc.mn.us/~isk/maps/mn/millelac.htm
• Menominee Nation (Wisconsin)
• Gila River Indian Community (Arizona) http://www.gilanet.net/aboutgric.html
• Lummi Indian Nation (Washington State)
• Unalakleet Village (Alaska)
• Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (Oregon)

FEMA Works to Integrate Tribes into the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REP)

As part of the Strategic Review Initiative of its REP program, FEMA launched an effort to integrate Tribal Governments into the REP Program. To accomplish this endeavor, FEMA designated a working group comprised of representatives from the Federal, State and Tribal Governments, as well as a representative from the nuclear utility industry. The Tribal working group was tasked with conducting an analysis of the existing REP Program and developing a recommendation paper detailing specific areas for incorporating Tribal Governments.

The Tribal Tiger Team's efforts to finalize this recommendation paper came to fruition on August 15, 2000, when the REP Oversight Working Group approved the proposed paper. The 13-page document includes a detailed analysis of the existing REP Program and proposes ways to incorporate American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments more fully into the program. The paper was distributed to all 557 Federally Recognized Tribes and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Area Offices for review and comment prior to finalization. In total 6 responses were received and addressed prior to the final posting on the REP website. The Prairie Island Indian Community in Welch, Minnesota, will serve as a pilot to implement the recommendations cited in the paper and refine a model for incorporating other Tribal Governments with interests located within an emergency-planning zone into the REP Program. To view a copy of the Recommendation Paper for Integrating Tribes into the REP Program, click the link listed below.

Recommendations For Tribal Integration Into The Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program -- 62 KB

Eastern Band of Cherokee Project Impact Signing Ceremony

On September 22, 2000, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee will officially become the first Tribal Government to be selected as a Project Impact community. Since it's inception in October 1997, FEMA has provided technical assistance and a small amount of seed money to Project Impact communities to give them the tools to support actions to make themselves disaster resistant. The Region IV Tribal Liaison has been coordinating with representatives of the Eastern Band of the Cherokees on the upcoming Project Impact signing ceremony to be held on the 22nd of September in Cherokee, North Carolina. To learn more information about the Eastern Band of the Cherokee or Project Impact.

FEMA Sleep Safe Program Kicks Off Another Year

FEMA's United States Fire Administration has been working in partnership with the Indian Health Service since 1992 to improve fire safety in Tribal Nations. This is an important project as the Native American fire death rate is about twice the national average. In the north and west regions of the country however the fire death rate for Native Americans is even higher at four times the national average.

To address the disturbing fire death and injury rate in Indian Country, USFA has been working with IHS through an Interagency Agreement to improve fire safety for Native Americans. Some projects that are part of this initiative include installation and maintenance of smoke detectors, home fire safety surveys and fire safety education for children.

Fire safety education for children is particularly important. In 1999, Indian Health Service data indicated that the leading cause of accidental death among Native American children under the age of five is fire and burns. This group is particularly hard to reach with fire safety messages because they cannot read, do not attend conventional schools, and have limited communications skills. USFA is addressing this challenge by working with the Head Start Program to teach fire safety to children in this age group and their caregivers. This project includes home visits to ensure there are working smoke detectors in each child's room.

During FY 1999 child fire safety programs were initiated on two reservations. This year, during 2000, 13 more reservations will be added to the program. To view a Manual of Fire Prevention Strategies for Reducing Fire Deaths in Indian Country, select the link listed below.

Designing and Implementing Fire Prevention Strategies in American Indian Communities: A Resource Manual -- 2.53 MB