2021 Tribal Consultations
On January 26, 2021, President Biden issued a Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening the Nation-to-Nation Relationships that requires the Department of Education to submit within 90 days a detailed plan for implementing Executive Order 13175, which charges all executive departments and agencies to engage in regular, meaningful, and robust consultation with Tribal officials in the development of federal policies that have Tribal implications.
The United States has a unique political and legal relationship with the 574 federally recognized Indian tribes, as set forth in the Constitution of the United States, treaties, Executive Orders (EOs), and court decisions. The Federal Government’s relationship with Tribes has been guided by a long-standing trust responsibility to protect the unique rights well-being of Tribes, while respecting sovereignty.
On November 4, 2015, the Department released a revised Tribal Consultation Policy. It lays out the Department’s commitment to consult with elected officials of Tribal nations and Tribal officials. The current Department of Education Tribal Consultation Policy is available at: Tribal Consultation Policy.
April 19, 2021 Tribal Consultation Meeting Transcript PDF
Notice of Tribal Consultation: Virtual Public Meeting
On April 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department’s) Office of Indian Education (OIE) will conduct Tribal Consultation for two discretionary grant programs with tribal implications. The purpose of the consultation will be to receive meaningful tribal input on the State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) discretionary grant program and the program for Tribal Education Agencies (TEAs) authorized in Section 11006(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The ARP provides $20 million for “awards for Tribal education agencies for activities authorized under section 6121(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.”
In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education’s commitment to engage in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with Indian Tribes and Indian education stakeholders, a combined Tribal Consultation will be conducted by the Office of Indian Education in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) and the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education (WHIAIANE).
Consistent with the Department’s trust responsibility to Tribes and our Tribal Consultation Policy, the OIE will consult with elected officials of federally recognized Tribes to ensure that their views inform the Department’s policy decisions related to aspects of the competitions such as the definitions, priorities, selection criteria, and requirements of future competitions under these statutory authorities.
ARP-TEA Meeting Transcript PDF (235K)
STEP Meeting Transcript PDF (211K)
