Laserfiche WebLink
<br />" <br /> <br />,>-"""- <br />~ ';;>':;.."~':~ <br />~{ti~~ <br /> <br />PROGRAM NOTEBOOK FOR NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES <br /> <br />On AptIl29, 1994, President William Clinton issued a Memorandum reconfirming the responsibility <br />of the United States Government to maintain a government-to-government relationship with Federally- <br />recognized Native American tribes. The Memorandum specifically direcls each executive department and <br />agency to consult with such tribes prior to undertaking any actions that affect the tribes. The complete <br />Memorandum fonows this page. <br /> <br />-. (~:~~9 <br /> <br />The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works bas further endorsed President Clinton's <br />directive and as an agency UIIder the Department ofDeteme, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responding <br />with an effort to meet tile spirit and inlent of that directive. As a Federal Agency, the Corps of Engineers bas <br />a trust responsibility in the atImini<l:ration of ils regulatory program under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, <br />in the opemtion ofit's projecls, and in all of it's other programs, activities and actions. Actions under .these <br />responsibilities may impact l1'USt assels. In addition, it has responsibilities for specific activities under the <br />Native American Graves PrOtection and Repatriation Act, Section 106 of the Archaeological and Historic <br />Preservation Act. Several Corps cost shared programs may also benefit tribes as they deal with their water <br />resourCes needs. <br /> <br />The U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, is seeking to establish more effective day-to-day working <br />relationships with Federally-recognized Native American tribal governmenls through a vliriety of means. As <br />a first step, the Corps will meet with those tribes during a series of workshops to be held nationwide. It is the <br />purpose of the workshops to help the Corps and the tribes identify the roadblocks to effective communication, <br />areas ofagreement and disagreement, the IIlelqIS to overcome roadblocks, and the wsys the Corps can build <br />and sustain successful working relationships that are respectful of tribal sovereignty.. These workshops. are <br />not meant to take the place of the communication ne~ed on individual. Tribe specific issues. . It is the intent <br />that all participanls will better understand concerns and poinls of view and that this will be the beginning of <br />effective cooperation between governmental bodies. <br /> <br />PURPOSE OF THE NOTEBOOK <br /> <br />. This notebook is offered in advance of the workshops to assist the tribes in unde1'Sttlnding the Corps' <br />programs that may impactor support Native American interests and concerns. It is hoped the notebook will <br />continue to serve as a quick reference once the initial workshops have been completed. <br /> <br />As Corps programs or their requiremenls change, the program description will be updated, and <br />revised information or a new notebook will be mailed to you. By reviewing the program description and <br />discussing issues with the poin1s of contact, it should be possible to determine quickly if the Corps may be able <br />to provide assistance. <br />