In December 2020, NCAI President Fawn Sharp created the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force (Task Force) to address: (1) tribal COVID-19 relief needs; (2) tribal COVID-19 recovery needs; and (3) the chronic conditions that created the public health and economic circumstances making Tribal Nations and citizens vulnerable to this crisis. This Task Force is chaired by Chairman Larry Wright Jr. of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska.

It is important that the Task Force and its members hear from all tribal nations on how COVID-19 has impacted their communities and the needs that tribal leaders have to respond and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and we have scheduled this regional online convening to gather tribal leader input in a town hall like setting. We sincerely hope you can attend.

Share the resources they require to address immediate COVID-19 relief and recovery;

The status of vaccine distribution within their tribal nation; and

Other related items in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and new administration.

COVID-19 Region Convening - Pacific

Dear Friends and Members of the Campus Community:

The American Indian Studies Department is excited to announce our 16th Annual Southeast Indian Studies Conference, which will take place virtually on Thursday and Friday, March 18-19, from 1:00-6:00 p.m. each day. The conference will showcase presentations by scholars and community members on topics including Indigenous medical perspectives, education, history, food sovereignty, and other subjects involving Southeast Native peoples.

Our keynote speaker this year is Dr. Devon Mihesuah, an enrolled citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Cora Lee Beers Price Professor in the Humanities Program at the University of Kansas. In her address, "The Indigenous Food Sovereignty Movement in 2021," Dr. Mihesuah will discuss the meaning and importance of food sovereignty for Native peoples in the United States. Despite the growing enthusiasm for Indigenous food and initiatives designed to empower tribes across the country to control their own food production, she asks whether and how food sovereignty can truly be achieved and sustained.

The Southeast Indian Studies Conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required to receive a Zoom link to the event. Find more information, a full schedule, and a registration link to the conference at 

. For questions and more information, please contact Dr. Mary Ann Jacobs at 

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

16th Annual Southeast Indian Studies Conference

COVID-19 Region Convening - Southern Plains & Eastern Oklahoma

The NCAI COVID-19 Task Force knows that when Indian Country comes together with a unified voice, we can accomplish great things. The Task Force also recognizes that we must hear from tribal leaders from all parts of Indian Country to ensure that we being as inclusive as possible.That is why during our regional convening meetings, to gather information directly from tribal leaders on their needs and struggles in combating this pandemic.

COVID-19 Region Convening - South and Eastern Tribes

 is the Summit to attend for those looking for high caliber networking, winning teaming opportunities, business development sessions, one-on-one conuslting, all centered around the American Indian Enterprise.

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is moving forward with 

 for American Indian enterprises. The event features tribal leaders, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, state and local officials and top CEO's on a national platform.

he Reservation Economic Summit held by The National Center For American Indian Enterprise Development features unparalleled access to respected tribal leaders, members of congress, federal agency representatives, state and local elected officials and top executives on a national platform. This year’s event is being held at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino March 15th-18th, 2021.

Full 3 days of access to general sessions and select breakout sessions

Full 3 days of access to Summit activities

Discounted hotel rate at the host hotel, Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino

Res 2021 Reservation Economic Summit

Thursdays through Aug. 26, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. ET. 30 mins

https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/student-programs/virtual-field-trips/

Native Americans created and used many shapes, designs, colors and materials as an expression of their cultures and identities. Native art designs became a way to communicate tribal and family traditions and individual artistic skill and expression. These art forms have adapted over time and ensure that future generations continue traditions and reinforce tribal identity.

In this live and interactive program led by a museum educator, children will explore art forms based on region or tribal nation. By examining and looking closer at one art form, students will better understand how diverse Native cultures are.

How do animals appear in art traditions throughout American Indian cultures? Native nations along the North Pacific Coast have long used animals in their living stories and to represent their clans. One way these nations, such as the Tsimshian, incorporate animals into their art is with totem poles. Totem poles are tall, wooden sculptures carved with images of animals and symbols. They serve to record history and tell stories. Movement is part of this program.

Summer Virtual Field Trip: Native Expression - The Art of Totem Poles

? In December 2020, NCAI President Fawn Sharp created the COVID-19 Task Force to address: (1) tribal COVID-19 relief needs; (2) tribal COVID-19 recovery needs; and (3) the chronic conditions that created the public health and economic conditions that made tribal nations and citizens vulnerable to this crisis.

? The current membership of the COVID-19 Task Force is intended to have representation from all parts of Indian Country because we know that while some of our issues are similar, this pandemic has impacted us all in unique ways.

? The membership also includes critical organizations that are subject matter experts in their respected space. Organizations like:

The Native American Finance Officers Association;

The National Council of Urban Indian Health; and

Coordination Contact: Bernida Humetewa, Director of Tribal Outreach,

Northwest Regional COVID-19 Convening

Arizona State University, Sandra Day O'Conner Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs

. Here is the link to the Event's Webpage: 

http://events.asucollegeoflaw.com/trends-in-indian-gaming/


                       Welcome
                       David Bean, NIGA Vice President and Puyallup Tribal           Councilman

Views from the Room Where It Happens: Casino General Managers Share Insights on Current Trends.
Moderated by ASU Law Professor Larry Roberts
Peter Arceo, San Manuel Casino General Manager
Lousie Cornelius, Oneida Nation Casino General Manager
Kara Fox, Ilani General Manager
Mary Ketterling, General Manager, We·Ko·Pa Casino Resort

It’s a New Day: Indian Gaming, the Biden Administration and the 117th Congress.
Moderated by ASU Law Professor Stacy Leeds
Danielle Her Many Horses, General Counsel, National Indian Gaming Association
Michael Hoenig, General Counsel, National Indian Gaming Commission
TBD, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior (invited) 


Welcome
Rebecca Crooks-Stratton, NCAI Midwest Regional Vice President and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Secretary/ Treasurer

Evolving Gaming Compacts: Tribal and State Approaches As Online Gaming and Sports Betting Become More Common.
Moderated by ASU Law Professor Larry Roberts
Glenn Feldman, Of Counsel, Procopio
Anni Foster, General Counsel to Arizona Governor Ducey
Stephen Greetham, Senior Counsel, Chickasaw Nation
Paula Hart, Director of the Office of Indian Gaming, Department of the Interior

Register once and attend all/any of the sessions.
Conference and CLE materials will be available by electronic download

For further information or questions, please contact Theresa Beaulieu via email to: 

Trends in Indian Gaming

Alaska Regional COVID-19 Convening

Funding Year (FY) 2021 Application Filing Window

 opened on January 15, 2021 and will close on March 25, 2021. February 25, 2021 is the latest date that you can certify an FCC Form 470 for FY2021 and still have time to wait the required 28 days and certify your FCC Form 471 before the window closes on March 25 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. 
Join us on February 9, 2021 and March 9, 2021 for a two-part webinar series for Tribal applicants to walk through the FCC Form 470 and FCC Form 471. Each event will include a question and answer session with E-rate Program staff.

Throughout the FY2021 filing window, USAC will conduct additional webinars to help participants file their applications. Information on upcoming events is provided below in the more resources section.

All sessions will be recorded and closed to the press. No cost is associated with attendance at this virtual series or any USAC E-rate training. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about the event. Session 1: FCC Form 470 Walkthrough Demo



Join us for the first webinar in the series designed to walk applicants through the steps for filing an FY2021 FCC Form 470. The webinar will include a step-by-step demonstration of filing the form and will be followed by a Q&A session.

Recommended for: Tribal E-rate Applicants

To prepare for the webinar, we recommend that you review the 

Review the steps in the application process:

Follow the step-by-step guides offered in the 

instructional video series for FCC Form 470

 to the weekly Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program News Brief. It provides tips to help you through the application process and other timely information. 

Join us for the second webinar in the series designed to walk applicants through an FY2020 FCC Form 471. It will include a step-by-step demonstration of filing the form and a Q&A session.

instructional video series for FCC Form 471

During the FY2021 application filing window, USAC will conduct a series of office hour webinars that will focus on E-rate topics related to FCC Forms 470 and 471.


Below is the schedule of webinars for January and February showing the topic, the time, the recommended audience, the recommended E-rate experience level, and the specific materials that attendees should review in advance of the webinar. Note that two different Eligible Services webinars, one for advanced users and one for beginners, are being held on the same day.

USAC offers more resources to help you navigate through the application process. The full list of recordings for this year’s E-rate fall training series is available on the 

. Below is a selected list of relevant webinars.

 Join us for a walkthrough of the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC), the account and application management portal for the E-rate Program.

 During this webinar, we discuss the E-rate Pre-Commitment Process (getting started, competitive bidding, applying for discounts, and Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review).

 During this webinar, we discuss C2 budgets. We provide an overview of C2 budgets and C2 budget guidance for FY2021.

 During this webinar, we discuss the E-rate Post-Commitment Process and other post-commitment activities, including starting services, the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), service substitutions, appeals, and more.

Post-Training FAQ Session for Tribal Applicants:

 During this session, USAC answered the questions and concerns generated from the nine-part E-rate Training Series.

Webinar Series for Tribal Applicants - FCC Forms 470 & 471

For more information, please click here: 

This Summit will be rescheduled. Watch for future information or contact: Shanti Gomez, ETC Program Marketing Coordinator - 

2021 Tribal Border Summit - RESCHEDULED

Free training session on federal COVID-19 data. We will cover long-term-care and race & ethnicity datasets.

Briefings for learning how to use COVID-19 data by the COVID Tracking Project.

COVID Tracking Project Briefing

This year, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which administers the Lifeline program on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission, will host Lifeline quarterly interactive webinars for Tribal stakeholders (e.g., Tribal governments and government agencies and nonprofits serving Tribal communities). During these webinar sessions, our subject-matter experts will discuss relevant program changes and provide updates to ensure Tribal partners remain informed and have the tools and information they need to more effectively help eligible Tribal consumers apply for the Lifeline program. Attendees can participate in a live Q&A session built into each webinar.

Below, you can find the dates for each virtual, free event and a link to register. Please feel free to share this invitation with your colleagues and Tribal networks. Although the host’s email address is listed on the registration page, please contact Kraynal Alfred, USAC’s Tribal Liaison, at 

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET

We hope that you are able to attend. We look forward to our continued partnership with Tribal communities in 2021 and beyond.

Lifeline offers a monthly benefit of up to $9.25 toward phone or Internet services for eligible consumers and up to $34.25 for those living on 

. Additionally, certain residents of Tribal lands can receive reimbursement for the full cost of starting service with certain phone or Internet companies at their primary residence, up to $100, through Lifeline’s Tribal Link Up program.

Review Lifeline’s Tribal Toolkit, Tribal Flyer, and a copy of the most recent Tribal Advocate Training on the 

Lifeline Quarterly Webinars for Tribal Partners in 2021

HUD/NAIHC Training

An important virtual event hosted by the 

Native American Business Association [NABA]

Please join Scott Moore y Medina, Founder and President of Blue Star Integrative Studio, and Steve VandenBussche, Vice President of Practice at Seven Generations Architecture + Engineering, for a webinar on Feb. 18th discussing the fundamentals of preplanning as well as native-owned business leadership. Moore y Medina and VandenBussche frequently collaborate on indigenous building endeavors, and they will lead a discussion on initiating and planning projects from new construction and renovation to site development, master planning, and engineering work.

We would also be happy to schedule an interview with Scott, Steve, and/or NABA

Tribal + Indigenous Projects

Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium Advisory Committee Meetings

MIT Solve kicks off the 2021 Indigenous Communities Fellowship application cycle with the Virtual Indigenous Innovators Summit. On February 10 and 11, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Solve initiative is hosting a Virtual Indigenous Innovators Summit to highlight their Indigenous Fellowship program that has supported 21 Native American innovators from across the country since 2018.

Over the course of the two-day summit, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the leaders of a number of prominent Native organizations, as well as participate in panels that will cover important issues of today such as COVID-19, Native Wealth, and a screening of the film 

Additionally, prospective applicants to Solve’s 2021 Indigenous Communities Fellowship will have the opportunity to learn about the application process, and hear from past Fellows about their experiences. Learn more about the Summit here: https://

solve.mit.edu/events/indigenous-innovators-summit-2021

 Be sure to check out @SolveMIT’s Virtual Indigenous Innovators Summit this week! It’s the perfect chance to learn about their 2021 Indigenous Communities Fellowship and the amazing work of the Solve community! Request invite here: 

Virtual Indigenous Innovators Summit

1:10 p.m. Congressional Remarks on the Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act

1:30 p.m. Advocating for the Tribal Border Crossing Parity Act in the Biden Administration

o Rob Porter, Capitol Hill Consulting Group, LLC

2:30 p.m. Crossing the U.S.-Canadian Border During the COVID Pandemic Panel A

o Billy Barquin, Attorney General, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

o Chairman Gary Aitken, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho

o Chief Eric Thompson, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

o Grand Chief Abram Benedict, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne

o Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke

o Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians

3:30 p.m. Crossing the U.S.-Canadian Border During the COVID Pandemic Panel B

o Kayla Gebeck Carroll, Holland & Knight LLP

o David Munro, Director of Tribal Affairs, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Homeland Security

4:00 p.m. U.S. Customs Border Control DNA-Sample Collection

1:10 p.m. Remarks from Canadian Government Official (TBD)

1:30 p.m. Advocating for an Indigenous Right of Crossing into Canada Panel A

o Richard Peterson, President of Central Council Tlingit & Haida Tribes

2:45 p.m. Advocating for an Indigenous Right of Crossing into Canada Panel B

Jay Treaty Border Alliance [JTBA] Virtual Meeting

Thursday, January 21, 2021
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST

During Inauguration week, Indian Country will be introduced to two new federal partners: the 117th Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration. In the 116th Congress, tribal priorities were included in a range of bills and Indian Country collectively secured over 13 billion in tribal relief in two COVID-19 relief packages. Tribal nations, again, seek to rigorously advocate for tribal needs in Congress’ early legislative work. In support of this effort, this webinar will provide an overview of the early legislative priorities of the 117th Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration and educate attendees on how they can strategically advance tribal priorities in anticipated fast moving legislation.

Aurene M. Martin
Managing Partner, Spirit Rock Consulting LLC

John Harte
Partner, Mapetsi Policy Group LLC

Sarah A. Walters
Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP

Josh Clause
Principal, Clause Law P.L.L.C.

NCAI Presidential Transition Series: 117th Congress and Administration Early Legislative Priorities

Did you know Real ID DOES NOT apply to tribes?

? The differences between Real ID and ETC

? The types of agreements with the Department of Homeland Security and Customs Border Protection

? Program policy and technical requirements

? The current partnerships that Sacred Path has established and maintained at the federal level

? The specialized expertise and continued support Sacred Path provides to tribal nations and communities in the development and implementation of ETC

Enhanced Tribal Card Informational Webinar - Sacred Path

*MUST BE A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE TO PARTICPATE

Sacred Path is a newly formed enterprise of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, and the first in the Nation to develop an ETC. We provide the highest quality of specialized consulting services, developing for tribal nations a Turn-Key Solution and customized ETC Program. Since 2013, Sacred Path has been consulting with tribal nation that has also included the outsourcing of ETC card production.

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