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Working in Indian Country

Working in Indian Country. Experiences, successes and challenges April 29, 2014. Overview. Introduction A brief history Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission Historical Context Demographics Challenges

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Working in Indian Country

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  1. Working in Indian Country Experiences, successes and challenges April 29, 2014

  2. Overview • Introduction • A brief history • Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission • Historical Context • Demographics • Challenges • Suggestions for working with Tribal Nations

  3. Introduction • A little about me. • Experience in Indian Country • Indian Health Service • Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada • Emergency Management • SD Presidential declarations • Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission (ITERC) • Tribal NIMS Project

  4. What is the ITERC? Department of the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) Emergency Management ITERC staff provides Preparedness, Response, Recovery, Mitigation, and Protection technical assistance and project delivery to all 27 Tribal Nations in Nevada. Guided by ITCN and the ITERC Board ITERC Board is an advisory Board comprised of all Tribal Emergency Managers, as designated by each Tribe. Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission (ITERC)

  5. ITERC Projects • Current: • Tribal NIMS (SHSP) • Tribal THIRA (SHSP) • Tribal Clinic NIMS (CDC) • Program Administration (EMPG) • Tribal Emergency Management Assistance Compact (TEMAC) • Past: • Disaster Communications Box (Combination) • Tribal Rural Interoperability (Complete)

  6. ITERC Successes • Regular support and participation from Tribal EMs. • Technical assistance and coordination on a number of fires, public health and a flood event. • Delivery of EMI’s Tribal Curricula and numerous other trainings in Nevada. • 12 exercises (drill, TTX, Functional, and Full-scale) • Coordinated and hosted a number of conferences, meetings and workshops.

  7. ITERC Challenges • Sustainability (i.e. Funding). • SAA grant challenges. • Tribal Leadership support for EM efforts. • Commitment • Turnover (Councils and Tribal staff) • Information-sharing/retention. • EM responsibilities are secondary to other regular, full-time activities.

  8. How do we function? • We start by introducing our projects by presenting to each Council: in-person, face-to-face consultation. • Direct, regular contact and communication with the Tribes we serve. • Board meetings every other month. • Regularly assess gaps, needs, priorities (grant-motivated). • Collaboration with Tribes, local, state and regional partners: whole community effort. • EMI Training, AZ TTO Program, RIX Technical Assistance.

  9. The People Past Present Historical Context

  10. At least 25,000 years living in North America Diverse: Appearance Culture Language Sovereign nations Part of the past as well as the future The People

  11. The Past • Pre-Columbus Era: • 25,000 years ago • 115 million people lived in Americas • 1800 distinct languages were spoken • American Indian/Alaskan Natives as diverse as Europeans.

  12. The Past • Colonial Period (1492-1828) • Removal and Relocation Period (1828-1871) • Allotment and Attempted Assimilation Period (1871-1928)

  13. The Past • Reorganization Period (1928-1945) • Termination and Relocation Period (1945-1965) • Self-Determination Period (1965 to present)

  14. Timeline of Indian Policies • Colonial Period (1492-1828) • Removal and Relocation Period (1828-1871) • Allotment and Attempted Assimilation Period (1871-1928) • Reorganization Period (1928-1945) • Termination and Relocation period (1945-1965) • Self-Determination Period (1965 to present)

  15. The Result of Colonization • Christianity was forced upon Tribes as a weapon to destroy traditional beliefs and practices. • Ceremonial practices were outlawed and punishable by death. • First Peoples were removed from sacred homelands and hunting grounds to further disrupt their way of life. • The traditional roles of men and women were changed.

  16. The Present

  17. Demographics • 4.3 million Americans identify themselves as American Indian/Alaskan Native (1.5 % of the population) • 566 Federally recognized tribal entities • 1/3 of the native population live on Indian lands/villages

  18. Demographics • 32% of native population under 18 compared to 24% in general population. • 5% of native population over 65 years of age compared to 12.4% in the general population. • Median age is 29 years old compared to 35 years old in general populations. • 65 years old is the average life expectancy of the native population. • 73% of natives live in family households

  19. Demographics • Death from alcoholism is 5 times greater for the native population than in the general population. • Indian youth have the highest rate of suicide amount all ethnic groups in the US and is the second-leading cause of death for Native youth aged 15-24.

  20. Common Beliefs • Connecting the past, the present, the future. • Land is sacred • Follow and respect the natural order of nature. • People are caretakers of the Earth. • The power of the world works in circles: • Earth is round, the seasons occur in circles, the life of a man is circular as is all things.

  21. Challenges • Often Tribal Governments: • Are developing. • Have many priorities. • Have rapid turn-over. • Are understaffed • Have little or no resources: • May have no single POC or many POCs. • May be no warning/notification system. • Few or little mutual aid agreements.

  22. Challenges • Assistance may be seen as interfering with tribal culture/norms • Tribe takes care of own (ability to adapt and survive) • Lack of Trust: • Federal Government • Outsiders • Sense of disempowerment: • Reluctant to reach out to ask for help • Reluctant to take action • Tribal folks may not distinguish between federal agencies • Planning verses preparing

  23. Suggestions • Remember: • Tribes are sovereign. • Tribal executives are leaders of nations and should be treated as such. • Each Tribe is unique in every way: culturally, socially, economically, politically, etc. • Listen. • Keep an open mind and remove any assumptions. • If you have been to ONE Reservation, you have been to ONE Reservation.

  24. Suggestions • Understand the past and its impact on the present and the future. • Learn about each tribe you serve individually. • Respect : • Leaders/Tribal Council or tribally recognized government officials • Elders (women and men) • Children (may be present at meetings, including infants) • Land • Ceremonies – may or may not be open for public • If you have questions – ask! Ignorance is easily forgiven, assumptions are not.

  25. Thank you! Regina Marotto MPH Emergency Management & Homeland Security Director 775.355.0600 xt.154 775.445.9132 gina@itcn.org

  26. End of presentation

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