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

Working in Indian CountryExperiences, successes and challenges

April 29, 2014

Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014

Overview Introduction

A brief history

Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission

Historical Context

Demographics

Challenges

Suggestions for working with Tribal Nations

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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

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Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission (ITERC) 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.

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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)

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ITERC Successes

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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.


ITERC Challenges

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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.


How do we function?

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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.


Historical Context

The People

Past

Present

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The People At least 25,000 years living in North America

Diverse:

Appearance

Culture

Language

Sovereign nations

Part of the past as well as the future

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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.

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The Past Colonial Period (1492-1828)

Removal and Relocation Period (1828-1871)

Allotment and Attempted Assimilation Period (1871-1928)

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The Past Reorganization Period (1928-1945)

Termination and Relocation Period (1945-1965)

Self-Determination Period (1965 to present)

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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)

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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.

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The Present

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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Challenges

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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.


Challenges

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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


Suggestions

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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.


Suggestions

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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.


Thank you!

Regina Marotto MPHEmergency Management & Homeland Security Director

775.355.0600 xt.154775.445.9132 [email protected]

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

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