News by Year

Funding will support “all-of-community” Native language immersion programs. Date: 12/21/23

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced a $27 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to protect Tribal communities by repairing and upgrading clean water systems and replacing failing dams. Date: 12/19/23

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs announced the distribution of over $1.4 billion in contracts to Indian Economic Enterprises in Fiscal Year 2023 across the Department, which includes $1.03 billion awarded to Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises, a historical high for the Department. Date: 12/07/23

WASHINGTON — In opening remarks at the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced that the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) is taking critical steps to improve access to capital across Indian Country, including through the launch of an online clearinghouse that will serve as a searchable repository for an up-to-date list of all federal funding opportunities, including grants and loans, available to Tribal Nations and Native businesses. Date: 12/06/23

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs today announced a final rule to update the federal regulations governing fee-to-trust, or land-into-trust, acquisitions that transfer land title to the United States to be held in trust for the benefit of a Tribe or individual Tribal citizen. Date: 12/06/23

WASHINGTON – Ahead of the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland announced that the Department of the Interior is transferring more than $300,000 to the National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education, a federally chartered charitable nonprofit corporation established by Congress to further educational opportunities for American Indian students attending schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education. Date: 12/05/23

Nearly $2 million will help stabilize American Indian and Alaska Native families and communities Date: 11/30/23

In FY23, the Timber Team added five new foresters to better assist Tribes with forestry tasks such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) ground truthing, timber sale preparation work, and forest inventories. The Timber Team traveled over 23 weeks across seven states and six BIA Regions to assist 12 different tribes. Date: 11/30/23

Haskell Indian Nations University, a Bureau of Indian Education-operated post-secondary institution in Lawrence, Kansas, is one of four Tribal colleges and universities awarded a Tribal College Small Business Achievement Grant by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Date: 11/29/23

This announcement follows the decision to designate the college as a voter registration agency under the National Voter Registration Act. Date: 09/28/23

Resources will support Tribal fishing rights and economic development Date: 09/27/23

$5 million in funding will further goals of Department’s Grasslands Keystone Initiative Date: 09/07/23

BIA aviation contracts sensor enhanced air attack aircraft for technologically advanced fire and range management objectives. Date: 08/22/23

Students & faculty win Indigenous Journalists Association awards Date: 08/15/23

Investment from Inflation Reduction Act will help Tribes electrify homes, expand availability of clean energy in Indian Country Date: 08/15/23

Revisions to allow faster decision-making and review Date: 08/09/23

Tribal Climate Resilience Program announces largest annual funding opportunity to date as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Date: 07/19/23

The national week of remembrance, June 30 – July 6, not only honors those who have tragically died battling wildfires, but provides an opportunity to remember, reflect and learn from the tragic incidents that have taken the lives of wildland firefighters. The June 30, 2023, 10th anniversary memorial services recognized the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshot crewmembers lost in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013: Andrew Ashcraft, age 29; Robert Caldwell, age 23; Travis Carter, age 31; Dustin Deford, age 24; Christopher MacKenzie, age 30; Eric Marsh, age 43; Grant McKee, age 21; Sean Misner, age 26; Scott Norris, age 28; Wade Parker, age 22; John Percin, age 24; Anthony Rose, age 23; Jesse Steed, age 36; Joe Thurston, age 32; Travis Turbyfill, age 27; William Warneke, age 25; Clayton Whitted, age 28, Kevin Woyjeck, age 21; and Garret Zuppiger, age 27. Date: 06/30/23

Bureau of Indian Education schools will receive virtual counseling and on-site crisis services Date: 06/29/23

In late May, wildland fire responders including helitack staff, smokejumpers, fire engine operators and technicians attended a 40-hour Medical Incident Technician (MIT) training at the Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center Boise, Idaho, to gain the skills necessary to help their fellow crew members in an emergency. Date: 06/28/23

Milestone reached with approval of Pueblo of Santa Clara’s leasing ordinance Date: 05/31/23

Grants to help shrink the digital divide in Indian Country Date: 05/24/23

Dr. Francis Arpan, a citizen of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, will serve as the new president of Haskell Indian Nations University. Date: 05/23/23

Following a tour of the Hopi Tribe’s Keams Canyon Water Project, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a $48 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to repair and revitalize Tribal water sanitation systems, upgrade irrigation and power projects and invest in the safety of dams in Tribal communities. Date: 05/22/23

Program updates include larger grant amounts and multi-year projects Date: 05/17/23

12 Tribes receive funding for family programs to promote resilient Tribal communities Date: 03/29/23

The Hualapai (People of the Tall Pine) Tribe is in northwest Arizona with a land base that encompasses over a million acres. The land has four primary fuel types: timber – Ponderosa Pine, woodland – Pinyon and Juniper, grassland – sage, and riparian – Cottonwood and Salt Cedar. In FY2022, $1,898,187 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding, amounting to approximately $1.85 per acre, was granted to the Tribe for a 5-year project called Jump Start. The project is using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to capture 3D imagery of the Tribe’s vegetation, infrastructure, watersheds, and overall land to help the Tribe with numerous current and future land management and use projects. Date: 03/20/23

In support of the Department’s efforts to restore the American Bison species and integrate Indigenous Knowledge into our shared stewardship goals, BIA Division of Wildland Fire management will continue its work to replenish natural grasslands and shelter to support bison populations. Date: 03/20/23

30 Tribes and organizations receive funding to support economic development. Date: 03/16/23

Budget maintains strong support for Tribal communities. Date: 03/09/23

Joint celebration held with Tohono O’odham Nation Date: 03/07/23

WASHINGTON – Tamarah Pfeiffer, Ph.D., a member of the Navajo Nation, has been appointed as the president of Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI). Date: 03/01/23

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs today announced new policy guidance to clarify the criteria and procedures for evaluating petitions for organization under the Alaska Indian Reorganization Act. Date: 02/10/23

$2.5 million awarded to Tribes and organizations Date: 02/02/23

WASHINGTON – The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs today announced proposed revisions to the federal regulations at 25 C.F.R. Part 226 regarding leasing of the Osage Mineral Estate for oil and gas mining. Date: 01/12/23