The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a five-day consultation series, “USDA Tribal Consultations on Barriers/Equity: Annual Progress Report & Feedback for Next Steps,” virtually April 24-May 1, 2023. This is the third annual USDA consultation held in response to President Biden’s Presidential Memo on Tribal Consultations and his Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities.
Tribal leaders have requested USDA affirm how staff are incorporating tribal input on barriers to effectively accessing programs. During the meeting, USDA consulting officials will report out on progress made since last year’s consultation and seek tribal input on outstanding barriers.
Since the first consultation on equity and barriers in March 2021, USDA agencies have implemented changes to remove barriers to service for tribal nations and producers. Some of the improvements made in 2022 include:
- Indigenous Animals Eligibility: The Farm Service Agency (FSA) ensured that bovine tuberculosis (M. bovis) in bison was eligible for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).
- Indigenous Foods Inclusion: The Food and Nutrition Service published a proposed rule to allow indigenous starchy vegetables - like timpsila (prairie turnips) – to substitute for grains in child nutrition programs.
- Trust Lands Eligibility: The U.S. Forest Service clarified that tribal trust lands are eligible to serve as base property in order to qualify for Forest and National Grasslands grazing permits.
- Tribal Government Consent Requirements: Rural Development is clarifying that the permits and approvals for large infrastructure projects - like broadband - are required before financing includes tribal government approvals when building on tribal lands (often through a tribal resolution of support).
- Tribal Owned Entities Eligibility: Rural Development drafted a proposed rule for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program to clarify tribal-owned entities (arms and instrumentalities) eligibility and better recognize how tribes structure themselves.
Each day of the consultations will focus on different themes that are key priority areas for the Biden-Harris Administration. Senior USDA consulting officials from each agency will listen to concerns from official representatives from among the 574 federally recognized tribal nations. Before each consultation, tribal organizations will facilitate caucuses to have tribal leaders to meet prior to the consultation without federal staff present to organize among themselves and discuss the issues.
Economic Development
Date: Monday, April 24, 2023
Time: 2:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET Tribal Caucus (Indian Country only/No federal)
3:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET Tribal Consultation & Listening Session
Food, Safety, and Trade
Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Time: 2:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET - Tribal Caucus (Indian Country only/No federal)
3:00 -5:30 p.m. ET - Tribal Consultation & Listening Session
Farming, Ranching, and Conservation
Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023
Time: 2:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET - Tribal Caucus (Indian Country only/No federal)
3:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET - Tribal Consultation & Listening Session
Forests and Public Lands
Date: Friday, April 28, 2023
Time: 2:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET - Tribal Caucus (Indian Country only/No federal)
3:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET - Tribal Consultation & Listening Session
Education and Research
Date: Monday, May 1, 2022
Time: 2:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET - Tribal Caucus (Indian Country only/No federal)
3:00 - 5:30 p.m. ET - Tribal Consultation & Listening Session
On March 29, 2023, the USDA Office of Tribal Relations distributed “Dear Tribal Leader” letters announcing these consultation sessions to Indian Country. These tribal consultations are formal, government-to-government meetings between USDA officials and tribal nations. Tribal organizations, tribal citizens, and tribal nation staff are welcome to attend. Elected tribal leaders, proxy representatives with authority to speak on behalf of a tribal nation, and USDA consulting officials have speaking roles at these events. USDA agencies and offices host consultations throughout the year to hear from tribal nations about how USDA policies and programs can be developed to better support tribal nation interests. To view framing papers for these consultations or further details, visit www.usda.gov/tribalrelations/tribal-consultations.
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