98-3863. Draft American Indian and Alaska Native Policy  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 7793-7794]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-3863]
    
    
    =======================================================================
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
    
    
    Draft American Indian and Alaska Native Policy
    
    AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
    
    ACTION: Notice, with request for comments.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed a 
    draft American Indian and Alaska Native Policy that reflects the 
    Agency's commitment to a government-to-government relationship. The 
    draft policy reinforces the importance of partnership between and among 
    all levels of government on issues related to disaster preparedness, 
    mitigation, response and recovery. Contained within this draft policy 
    are guiding principles for FEMA's interactions with Tribal governments.
    
    DATES: We invite your comments on this policy and are extending the 
    comment period to March 15, 1998.
    
    ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to the Office of Policy and 
    Regional Operations, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, 
    SW., Washington, DC 20472. Comments may also be submitted via 
    facsimile, (202) 646-4215, or by e-mail to Tribal.Liaison@fema.gov.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael A. Rowland, Intergovernmental 
    Affairs, Office of Policy and Regional Operations, Federal Emergency 
    Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-
    2889.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In order to provide more time for comments 
    on this draft policy we are republishing this notice, which first 
    appeared in the Federal Register on November 17, 1997, and we are 
    extending the comment period to March 15, 1998. The draft FEMA American 
    Indian and Alaska Native Policy follows:
        The United States has historically bonded together during times of 
    disaster to provide assistance to those who have suffered the losses of 
    loved ones or personal belongings. The guiding principle of the Federal 
    Emergency Management Agency is ``people helping people.'' It is in this 
    spirit that the Federal Emergency Management Agency declares its policy 
    towards American Indians and Alaska Natives.
        The American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments hold a 
    unique status in the United States with the rights and benefits of 
    sovereign nations. This policy outlines the principles under which all 
    employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency are to operate 
    with regard to American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments. 
    This policy is based on the United States Constitution, Federal 
    treaties, policy, statutes, court decisions, and the ongoing political 
    relationship between Indian tribes and the Federal Government.
        In recognition of the historic relationship between the United 
    States, the American Indians and Alaska Native tribal governments, the 
    Federal Emergency Management Agency supports a government-to-government 
    relationship between the Federal Government and American Indian and 
    Alaska Native tribes.
        This policy pertains to federally recognized tribes and provides 
    guidance to employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 
    issues affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives. This policy does 
    not apply to Federal Emergency Management Agency interactions with 
    State-recognized tribes, Indians, or Alaska Natives who are not members 
    of tribes with respect to matters provided for by Federal statute or 
    regulation.
        This partnership is intended to be flexible and dynamic to provide 
    for the evolution of the partnerships between the Federal Emergency 
    Management Agency and American Indian governments. Working 
    relationships between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the 
    American Indian governments will be generally consistent nationwide; 
    however, they will vary according to the legal basis and management 
    requirements for each relationship.
        This policy is adopted pursuant to and consistent with existing law 
    and does not preempt or modify the authorities of the Federal Emergency 
    Management Agency or other Federal departments and agencies. Nor does 
    the policy suggest recognition of tribal authority that does not 
    currently exist. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency need 
    not wait for judicial recognition over emergency management programs 
    when such authority is already supported by law. This policy is for 
    internal management only and shall not be construed to grant or vest 
    any right to any party in respect to any Federal action not otherwise 
    granted or vested by existing law or regulations.
    
    Definitions
    
        Indian Tribe: Any tribe, band, nation, Pueblo, or other organized 
    group or community, including any Alaska Native Village (as defined in, 
    or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 
    U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)), that is acknowledged by the Federal Government 
    to constitute a tribe with a government-to-government relationship with 
    the United States and eligible for the programs, services, and other 
    relationships established by the United States for Indians because of 
    their status as Indians and tribes.
        Tribal Government: The recognized government of an Indian tribe and 
    any affiliated or component Band government of such tribe that has been 
    determined eligible for specific services by Congress or officially 
    recognized by inclusion in 61 Fed. Reg. 58211, November 13, 1996, 
    ``Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the 
    United States Bureau of Indian Affairs.''
    
    Policy Principles
    
        The following policy statements provide general guidance to Federal 
    Emergency Management Agency
    
    [[Page 7794]]
    
    employees for responsibilities associated with interactions with 
    American Indian and Alaska Native governments.
        1. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes and commits 
    to a government-to-government relationship with American Indian and 
    Alaska Native tribal governments. The Federal Emergency Management 
    Agency recognizes that the tribal right of self-government flows from 
    the inherent sovereignty of Indian tribes and Indian nations and that 
    Federally recognized tribes have a unique and direct relationship with 
    the Federal Government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency further 
    recognizes the rights of each tribal government to set its own 
    priorities and goals for the welfare of its membership and that the 
    Federal Emergency Management Agency will deal with each tribal 
    government, when appropriate as determined by FEMA, to meet that 
    tribe's needs.
        2. The Federal Emergency Management Agency acknowledges the policy 
    commitments of the U.S. Congress and the Chief Executive as precedents. 
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes House Concurrent 
    Resolution #331, passed in 1988, which declares the policy ``To 
    Acknowledge the Contribution of the Iroquois Confederacy of Nations to 
    Reaffirm the Continuing Government-to-Government Relationship between 
    Indian Tribes and the United States Established in the Constitution.'' 
    In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency incorporates the 
    Policy Memorandum of the White House, issued April 29, 1994, herein, as 
    it guides the Executive Departments and Agencies in the ``Government-
    to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal Governments.''
        3. The Federal Emergency Management Agency acknowledges the trust 
    relationship between the Federal Government and American Indian and 
    Alaska Native tribes as established by specific statutes, treaties, 
    court decisions, executive orders, regulations, and policies. The 
    Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes its fiduciary 
    relationship and recognizes its trust responsibility. Where appropriate 
    as determined by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will 
    consult and work with tribal governments prior to implementing certain 
    actions when developing legislation, regulations, or policies that will 
    affect the sovereignty of tribal governments, their development efforts 
    and their lands and resources.
        4. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will, where appropriate 
    as determined by FEMA, consult and work with tribal governments before 
    making decisions or implementing policy, rules or programs that may 
    affect tribes to ensure that tribal rights and concerns are addressed. 
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency recognizes that, as a sovereign 
    government, the tribe is responsible for the welfare and rights of its 
    membership. FEMA will, where appropriate as determined by FEMA, involve 
    Indian tribes and seek tribal input at the appropriate level on 
    policies, rules, programs and issues that may affect a tribe's 
    sovereignty.
        5. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will encourage 
    cooperation and partnership among Tribal, State, and local governments 
    to resolve issues of mutual concern relating to emergency management. 
    Effective emergency management requires the cooperation, partnership, 
    and mutual consideration of neighboring governments, whether those 
    governments are neighboring tribes, States, local governments, or 
    Indian nations. Accordingly, the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
    will encourage early communication and partnership among tribes, 
    States, local governments, and Indian nations. This is not intended to 
    lend Federal support to any one party to the jeopardy of the interests 
    of the other. Instead, it recognizes that, in the field of emergency 
    management, problems are often shared and the principle of partnership 
    between equals and neighbors often serves the best interests of both.
        6. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will identify and take 
    appropriate steps to remove any impediments that diminish working 
    directly and effectively with tribal governments. The Federal Emergency 
    Management Agency recognizes that there may be legal, procedural, 
    organizational or other impediments that affect its working 
    relationships with Indian tribes. The Federal Emergency Management 
    Agency will apply the requirements of Executive Order 12875 
    (``Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership'') to design solutions 
    and tailor Federal programs, when appropriate as determined by FEMA, to 
    address specific or unique needs of tribal communities. The Federal 
    Emergency Management Agency will also use the National Performance 
    Review and government reorganization to implement effective means for 
    direct cooperation with tribal governments on issues that directly 
    affect them.
        7. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will work cooperatively 
    with other Federal Departments and agencies, where appropriate as 
    determined by FEMA, to further the goals of this policy. The Federal 
    Emergency Management Agency recognizes the importance of and is fully 
    committed to the fulfillment of interagency partnership and will 
    encourage communication, coordination and cooperation among all 
    governmental agencies to ensure that the rights of tribal governments 
    are fully represented and upheld.
        8. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will internalize this 
    policy to the extent possible so that it will be incorporated into 
    ongoing and long-term planning and management processes, as well as 
    day-to-day operations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will to 
    the extent possible effectively and fully incorporate all of the 
    principles of this policy into all operations and basic tenets of its 
    mission. The Agency will identify the office or individual to 
    coordinate this policy and act as a liaison with American Indian and 
    Alaska Native Tribes in implementing and working with the policy and 
    principles.
        9. The effective date of this policy is upon signature by the 
    Federal Emergency Management Agency after coordination and consultation 
    with tribal governments. As Director of the Federal Emergency 
    Management Agency, I am designating Intergovernmental Affairs, Office 
    of Policy and Regional Operations, as the focal point for coordination 
    and implementation of this Interim Policy. I am further appointing a 
    task force of representatives of the various program and support 
    elements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to define those 
    ways in which the Agency can, when appropriate as determined by FEMA, 
    fulfill the terms of this Interim Policy.
        Therefore, as Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
    I hereby direct all Agency components to implement this policy by 
    incorporating all of the above principles in their planning and 
    management activities, their legislative initiatives, as well as their 
    policy development.
    
        Dated: January 30, 1998.
    James L. Witt,
    Director.
    [FR Doc. 98-3863 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6718-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/17/1998
Department:
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice, with request for comments.
Document Number:
98-3863
Dates:
We invite your comments on this policy and are extending the comment period to March 15, 1998.
Pages:
7793-7794 (2 pages)
PDF File:
98-3863.pdf