Tribal Consultations and Engagement Sessions

Click here to access the Tribal Consultation Toolkit, developed by the National Comprehensive Center with input from Tribal and community leaders to guide effective, inclusive, and culturally responsive consultation that respects Tribal sovereignty and can advance critical conversations related to education.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education FY 2025 Budget Development Tribal Consultation, May 23, 2023 On May 23, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) held a Tribal Consultation on developing priorities for the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2025 Budget Request for the Department. The purpose of this consultation was to receive meaningful input from American Indian and Alaska Native communities to ensure that Tribal leader views inform the FY 2025 budget development process. This consultation will advance the Department’s commitment to upholding the federal trust responsibility described in Executive Order 13175. Read the transcript of this session.
Tribal Consultation on U.S. Department of Education’s FY 2024 Comprehensive Center Grant Competition and FY 2023 Teacher Retention Initiative Competition (January 24, 2023).  On January 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) conducted a multi-topic Tribal Consultation to inform the development of (1) the Department’s FY 2024 Comprehensive Center grant competition; and (2) the development of a FY 2023 Teacher Retention Initiative grant competition. The purpose of this consultation was to receive meaningful input from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities to ensure that Tribal leader views are addressed. Read the Tribal Consultation transcript.
Tribal Consultation on U.S. Department of Education Planning for a National Native American Language Resource Center (January 10, 2023) On January 10, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) conducted a Tribal Consultation to inform the development of a National Native American Language Resource Center. The purpose of this consultation was to receive meaningful input from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities to ensure that Tribal leader views drive future planning. The consultation advanced the Department’s commitment to uphold the federal trust responsibility as described in Executive Order 13175. Read the Tribal Consultation transcript.
Federal Data Sovereignty and Traditional Knowledge Listening Session, February 28, 2024

 

This listening session aimed to identify Tribal data priorities and traditional knowledge in education. High-quality, culturally relevant data collection is critical to serving the educational needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (Native) students. Native Nations maintain a sovereign right to collect, use, manage, and access their data.  

Participating agencies included U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans (ANA), the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), the U.S. Department of Education Office of Indian Education (OIE), and the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHI-NATCU).  

The listed agencies sought input on perspectives from Native Nations regarding the collection, development, protection, and application of sovereign data (e.g., cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and Native languages).

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education, Indigenous Educators State Leadership Network Engagement Session, September 5, 2023
The purpose of this engagement session was to discuss Indian education advisory committees. Participants were asked to respond to an existing landscape scan, identify what elements should exist in a highly engaged Indian education advisory committee, and provide insight and additional information to help OIE consider next steps for encouraging greater engagement and collaboration between states and Tribes. A summary of the discussion is available here.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Indian Education Formula (Title VI-A) Program Indian Parent Committee Approval (IPCA) Engagement Session, January 12, 2023 The purpose of this engagement session is to have an open dialogue regarding Title VI Indian Parent Committee (IPC) roles and responsibilities, and the various types of applications available to Indian communities, such as the application requirements for (1) local educational agency (LEA), (2) school-wide, (3) and/or consortium(s) applying in lieu of an LEA. This presentation covered which entities are required to establish an IPC and strategies for IPCs to address a wide variety of concerns with key stakeholders in collaboration with the OIE.
Helping Native Youth Succeed Through Family and Community Engagement (March 15, 2023) The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities (WHITCU), along with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor, is hosting a virtual four-part dialogue series that addresses multiple topics that impact employment for American Indians and Alaska Natives. This virtual dialogue, the second in the series, provides perspectives from Native individuals (including youth) on the values of community-driven solutions in supporting Native students with disabilities. According to the 2019 National Indian Education Study (NIES), 17% of Native American fourth and eighth graders identified as students with disabilities. In less thana decade, most of these students will matriculate into secondary and post-secondary educational and career environments. We’re all invested in the effort to support Native students with disabilities and to ensure they have access to gainful employment opportunities across all levels of the tribal, federal, state, and local workforce. Speakers from various tribal nations will explore culturally informed strategies that help address the lack of community-driven approaches that often fall short in addressing the needs of Native youth.
Tribal Consultation on the Alaska Native Education Program and the Build America, Buy America Act (August 23, 2022) On August 23, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) conducted Tribal Consultation on two different topics. The first topic examined questions and solicited responses on how to offer renewed support for the Department’s Alaska Native Education program (ANE). The purpose of this portion of the consultation was to receive meaningful input on the Department’s administration of the ANE program. The second topic for discussion was to engage with Tribal authorities for the purpose of obtaining their perspectives regarding the Department’s implementation of Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA) requirements. This consultation advanced the Department’s commitment to uphold the federal trust responsibility as described in Executive Order 13175. Read the Tribal Consultation transcript.

Understanding Educational Technology Needs: Realities and Opportunities (March 16, 2022)

 

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education’s commitment to engage in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with American Indian Tribes, the Department’s Office of Indian Education (OIE) and Office of Educational Technology (OET) co-facilitated a virtual Listening Session on Understanding Educational Technology Needs: Realities and Opportunities, to listen and learn how the U.S. Department of Education (ED) can better support the Indian Education community in leveraging the power of technology. This session advances the Department’s Secretarial Supplemental Priority #1 – to increase the effective use of technology to advance evidence-based practices. The Listening Session was held virtually on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. The Department’s Julian Guerrero Jr., Director, Office Indian Education, and Ji Soo Song, Broadband Advisor, Office of Educational Technology, presided. The Listening Session was open to the public and available as a teleconference and online webinar. Click here to download the transcript.


Advancing the Interagency Memorandum of Agreement on Native Languages: Promising Practices & Persistent Barriers (March 17, 2022)

 

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education’s commitment to engage in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with American Indian Tribes, the Department’s Office of Indian Education (OIE) and the following agency partners: White House Council on Native American Affairs; Department of Health and Human Services; Department of the Interior; Department of Transportation; The National Endowment for the Humanities; The National Endowment of Arts; The Library of Congress and The Institute of Museum and Library Services co-facilitated a virtual Listening Session on Advancing the Memorandum of Agreement on Native Languages: Promising Practices & Persistent Barriers, to listen and learn how the Interagency Native American Languages Working Group can better support the Indian Education community by working together and encouraging programs and projects to include instruction in and the preservation of Native languages. The Listening Session was open to the public and available as a teleconference and online webinar. Click here to download the transcript.


Identifying Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs: Realities and Needs (March 21, 2022)

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education’s commitment to engage in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with American Indian Tribes, the Department’s Office of Indian Education (OIE) and Office of the Secretary (OS) co-facilitated a virtual Listening Session on Identifying Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Needs: Realities and Needs, to listen and learn how the U.S. Department of Education can better identify and support the social, emotional, and mental health needs of Native students. The Listening Session was held virtually on Monday, March 21, 2022. The Department’s Julian Guerrero Jr., Director, Office of Indian Education with Amy Loyd and Hollie Mackey, Senior Advisors of the Office of the Secretary, presided. The Listening Session was open to the public and available as a teleconference and online webinar. Click here to download the transcript.


Aligning Indian Parent Committee Needs To Efficient and Effective Supports: Learning from Vetted Practices to Resolve Barriers (March 22, 2022)

 

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education’s commitment to engage in regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with American Indian Tribes, the Department’s Office of Indian Education (OIE) facilitated a virtual Listening Session on Aligning IPC Needs to Efficient and Effective Supports: Learning from Vetted Practices to Resolve Barriers, to listen and learn how the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education Formula Team can support the role of Indian Parent Committees. This session advances Secretary Priority #6 (a) and (b) which are to increase parent and family engagement. The Listening Session was held virtually on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. The Department’s Julian Guerrero Jr., Director, Dr. Crystal Moore, ED. D., Supervisory, Group Leader, Formula Team, Annabelle Toledo, Education Specialist, Wanda Lee, M. ED., Education Program Specialist, Tawanda Avery, M. ED-SPED, Education Program Specialist and Gregory Hindsley, M.A, Education Program Specialist, of the Office of Indian Education, presided. The Listening Session was open to the public and available as a teleconference and online webinar.  Click here to download the transcript.