Final Tribal Consultation Underway Today in Anchorage

Native News Network Staff in Native Brief. Discussion »

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – After a long series of consultations held around the country, the final government to government tribal consultation regarding the draft report on Indian Affairs Administrative Organizational Assessment and Bureau of Indian Affairs/Bureau of Indian Education streamlining plans will take place today. The consultation will take place at the Dimond Center Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska.

The goal is to support a consolidated organization
while improving Interior Department responsiveness to all Tribal needs.

The consultation is the final of seven that have taken place around the country in Arizona, Florida, South Dakota, Washington, Oklahoma and California. The first was held in Miami on April 12 and 13.

Tribal leaders have said that organizational changes are needed in the administration of Indian Affairs programs and services to better meet the needs of the federally recognized tribes throughout Indian Country. The Department of the Interior's Indian Affairs officials have heeded these concerns and undertaken an extensive review of the organization of the Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education.

The culmination of this review will be a draft Administrative Organizational Assessment Report compiled by an independent, third-party contractor. The draft report identifies several ways to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of delivering services to Indian Country. The goal is to support a consolidated organization while improving Interior responsiveness to all Tribal needs.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education are seeking tribal input on ways to streamline their respective organizations to meet budgetary constraints and increase efficiency.

WHAT:   Final Regional Tribal Consultation on the Indian Affairs Administrative Organizational Assessment Draft Report
and BIA & BIE Streamlining Plans.

WHO:  
Kallie Hanley, Senior Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior;
Bryan Rice, Deputy Bureau Director of Trust Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior;
Janie Bedwell, Education Specialist, Bureau of Indian Education;
Tribal Leaders from the Alaska Region and other regions

WHEN:  Wednesday, May 23
Registration will begin at 7:00 am
Consultation will begin at 8:00 am

WHERE:  Dimond Center Hotel
700 East Dimond Boulevard
Anchorage, Alaska 99515

posted May 23, 2012 6:20 am edt