November 28, 2022

Dear USET/USET SPF Family,

The U.S Department Homeland Security (DHS) will be hosting a Listening Session with Tribal Nations and Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) on the handling of sacred, ceremonial, or cultural items. This Listening Session is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, November 29, 2022. Participating DHS agencies include, but may not be limited to, the Customs and Border Protection, Transportation, Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Details regarding this Listening Session are as follows—

• Date/Time: Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 29, 2022 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm ET
• Click Here to Register
• *Note: Registrants May Choose to Participate Virtually, or In-Person at DHS’s Offices Located at 301 7^th St. SW, Washington, DC 20407

USET SPF plans to submit comments in response to this Listening Session to stress the importance of utilizing careful and respectful handling of Tribal Nation sacred, ceremonial, and cultural items. We will also stress the importance of recognizing the diplomatic, Nation-to-Nation relationship between DHS and sovereign Tribal Nations, and that ANCs do not possess sovereign governmental status.

Written comments are due Friday, December 30, 2022, and can be submitted to tribal.affairs@hq.dhs.gov. To view Framing Questions for this Listening Session, please visit USET/USET SPF’s website by clicking here. Questions can be directed to Laurel Iron Cloud, Acting Director of Tribal Government Affairs, DHS Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at Laurel.Ironcloud@hq.dhs.gov, or by calling (202) 279-1486.

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.