WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today announced that tribal consultation will be held regarding the Interior Department’s Fiscal Year 2011-2016 Strategic Plan in a series of meetings across Indian Country from September 15 through October 7, 2010. The Plan is a roadmap for the Department for the next six years, and a means of communicating its goals and specific commitments to the federally recognized tribes, DOI employees and other stakeholders. The Assistant Secretary notified tribal leaders of the upcoming consultation in a letter dated September 8, 2010.
“One of my top priorities is ensuring an Indian Affairs organization that efficiently serves Indian Country. The input of tribal leaders is vital in prioritizing the needs of Indian Country and identifying measures and milestones that can gauge our progress as we work to meet those needs,” Echo Hawk said. “I urge all tribal leaders to participate in this consultation through attendance at these meetings and through the submission of comments to ensure all tribal concerns and recommendations are heard.”
Also announced today is the schedule for the tribal consultation meetings (all times are local):
Alaska Region
Date: Wednesday, September 15
Times: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Hilton Hotel, 500 W. 3rd Ave., Anchorage, Alaska; 907-272-7411.
Northwest Region
Date: Thursday, September 16
Times: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Red Lion SeaTac Airport, 18220 International Blvd., Seattle, Wash.; 206-246-5535.
Eastern Oklahoma and Southern Plains Regions
Date: Thursday, September 23 Times: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Four Points Hotel, 6300 Terminal Dr., Oklahoma City, Okla.; 405-681-3500.
Eastern Region
Date: Tuesday, September 28 Times: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Location: Crowne Plaza Hotel Providence-Warwick Airport 801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick, R.I.; 401-732-6029.
Great Plains and Midwest Regions
Date: Thursday, September 30 Times: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Best Western Ramkota, 2111 N. Lacrosse St., Rapid City, S.D.; 605-343-8550.
Pacific Region
Date: Tuesday, October 5 Times: 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Red Lion Hotel at Arden Village, 1401 Arden Way, Sacramento, Calif.; 916-922-8041.
Navajo, Rocky Mountain, Southwest and Western Regions
Date: Thursday, October 7 Times: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: MGM Grand Las Vegas, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nev.; 877-880-0880.
Comments and recommendations may be submitted during the meetings, by email at consultation@bia.gov, or by U.S. Postal Service, overnight carrier or hand-delivery to: Indian Affairs Office of Planning and Performance Management, Ely S. Parker Building, Room 245, 2051 Mercator Drive, Reston, Va., 20191-3413. The submission deadline is no later than October 8, 2010.
To view the Assistant Secretary’s September 8 letter to tribal leaders, visit the Indian Affairs website at http://www.indianaffairs.gov/WhoWeAre/AS-IA/Consultation/index.htm.
