National Rural Development Partnership

Seeking Tribal Representation

USDA recognizes tribes as sovereign nations, and the principles of Executive Order 13175 guide the formulation of USDA policies that have tribal implications. In light of E.O. 13175, as well as authorizing legislation for the National Rural Development Partnership (NRDP), USDA Rural Development encourages State Rural Development Councils (SRDCs) to actively seek representation from tribal governments in their states.

Because USDA cannot require tribes to participate in SRDCs, it cannot require SRDCs to have tribal representatives. Nonetheless, because authorizing legislation calls for tribal representation on the SRDC, each SRDC must make a “good-faith effort” to gain and maintain the participation of federally recognized tribal governments in its state.

A good-faith effort to engage representatives of tribal government is defined by the following:

1. Making presentations about the SRDC to all federally-recognized tribes in the state. Presentations to a tribal assembly provide an opportunity to reach a broad, representative audience. Presentations should be made at Tribal Council meetings so as to allow the collective voice of the tribe to be heard (e.g., questions and comments from tribal members about involvement with the SRDC).
   Presentations at Tribal Council meetings allow a person to describe, in depth, the work and organization of the SRDC. They also provide an opportunity to explore how involvement with the SRDC might benefit the tribe. Discussions solely with individual tribal members are not sufficient, since they do not ensure the will of the tribe has been heard or respected.
   SRDCs might also make presentations to associations of tribes within their states. This is often an effective way to introduce a program to several tribes simultaneously. However, consulting with an association of tribes does not excuse SRDCs from consulting on an individual basis with tribes not represented by the association.
2. Engaging in NRDP tribal representation technical assistance activities. When SRDCs struggle to gain strong and active representation from tribal governments, the Office of Community Development may make arrangements for direct technical assistance for the SRDCs. Such assistance may be provided in person or through phone or e-mail, as well as by SRDC colleagues, USDA-Rural Development staff, or other NRDP partners. As needed, the Office of Community Development will arrange sessions at future training conferences and workshops on the subject of improving partnerships with tribal governments.

On an annual basis (first deadline: June 30, 2004), SRDCs that have federally recognized tribes in the state but do not have tribal representation on the SRDC must document their good-faith efforts to involve representatives of tribal governments. In a letter to the Office of Community Development, the following questions must be answered:

1. With which tribal officials and assemblies did you discuss the work of the SRDC?
2. Where and when did you make presentations at Tribal Council meetings?
3. What responses did you receive after presentations to the Tribal Councils?
4. What are your next steps?