May 21, 2024

Dear USET/USET SPF Family,

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Dear Tribal Leader Letter announcing Tribal consultations on, “Expanding Tribal Self-Determination Policies at USDA.” USDA has scheduled these Tribal consultations in response to recent advocacy efforts by Tribal Nations, inter-Tribal organizations (including USET SPF), Tribal associations, and Members of Congress to include the expansion of Tribal P.L. 93-638 compacting and contracting to all USDA programs in the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization. Details regarding these upcoming consultations are as follows—

Hybrid In-Person and Virtual Tribal Consultations

*Location for In-Person: National Congress of American Indians Mid-Year Conference at the Harrah’s Cherokee Convention Center, Room 112, in Cherokee, NC

Topic: Forestry Consultation

• Date/Time: Monday, June 3, 2024 at 1:00pm to 4:00pm ET
• Click Here to Register

Topic: Meat Inspections Consultation

• Date/Time: Monday, June 3, 2024 at 4:30pm to 7:30pm ET
• Click Here to Register

Topic: Food and Nutrition Programs Consultation

• Date/Time: Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 1:00pm to 4:00pm Eastern
• Click Here to Register

We highly recommend that Tribal Leaders from the USET SPF region register for the hybrid in-person/virtual Tribal consultations on USDA expansion of self-determination policies. These will be formal Tribal consultations, so Tribal Leaders and nominated proxies will have the floor in a nation-to-nation consultation. Tribal Leaders may formally designate proxies to attend and speak on their behalf, and/or may call on subject matter experts to speak on their behalf during the consultation. Nominated proxies may submit their proxy forms to tribal.relations@usda.gov.

We have also learned that the Indigenous Food & Agriculture Initiative will also be hosting a Tribal caucus this Thursday, May 23, 2024 in advance of the Tribal consultations. Details regarding this Tribal caucus is as follows—

• Meat Inspection-Related Topic from 2:00pm to 3:00pm ET
• Food and Nutrition Program-Related Topics from 3:00pm to 4:00pm ET
• Forestry-Related Topics from 4:00pm to 5:00pm ET
• Click Here to Register for the Tribal Caucus

On April 5^th, USET SPF submitted a letter to USDA and the congressional committees of jurisdiction urging support for the expansion of P.L. 93-638 contracting and compacting authority throughout all USDA programs. USET SPF strongly urged USDA to uphold its trust and treaty obligations to promote the sovereignty and self-determination of Tribal Nations, as well as comply with Executive Order 14112 to usher in a new era of self-determination by supporting the expansion of 638 contracting and compacting for all USDA programs. 

For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.

Established in 2014, the USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization advocating on behalf of thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET SPF is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the inherent sovereign rights and authorities of Tribal Nations and in assisting its membership in dealing effectively with public policy issues.