October was a very busy month in Indian Country with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Annual Conference capping off everything. The American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) participated in this and other events.  We hosted our own event, the ever-popular Tribal Financial Managers Certificate (TFMC) Executive Training, which we host twice a year with our partners at the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA). We also played an integral part in the Arizona State University’s (ASU) Indigenous Sustainability Conference, the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest’s (ATNI) Taking Smoke Signals Digital Conference, and NCAI.

On October14-17, 2014, AIPI hosted the Tribal Financial Manager Certificate Program with our partners the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA).  This training is always well attended and Octobers’ training was no exception. We had a full house with 40 enrollees completing the program from a variety of communities including, Hopi, Gila River Indian Community, Seneca, and as far away as Alaska!  This executive education program for Tribal government financial management professionals is the only one of its kind in Indian Country.  This program is vital for financial management staff. It teaches them the principles of federal Indian law and the effects on tribal financial management; federal accounting standards and principles; compliance with specific attention paid to Office of Management and budgeted (OMB) circulars; development and use of financial and programmatic controls; government fund accounting systems; effects of taxation on tribal financial management; and more.  Additionally, Continuing Professional Education or CPE credits were awarded through NAFOA.  AIPI hosts this training twice a year for tribes. Please save the date for next year’s trainings, May 19-21 and November 4-6, 2015.

On October 6^th and 7^th, 2014, the ASU President’s Office of American Indian Initiatives hosted the Indigenous Sustainability Conference 2014: Implications for the Future of Indigenous People and Sustainability.  The Conference was a two-day dialogue that brought leading experts and tribal leaders together in examining and discussing historic and modern practices for a better tomorrow. The conference also explored potential partnerships, between ASU and Indigenous scholars and sustainability scientists to foster collaboration on research and publications that acknowledge and value American Indian and Indigenous models of sustainability.  The Conference included noted guest speaker Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Professor of Education and Maori Development and Pro-Vice Chancellor Maori at the University of Waikato, and Dr. Gregory Cajete, Professor of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico. Several of AIPI’s staff were involved in the planning of this event, and Dr. Fonda Walters moderated a panel on Entrepreneurship and Economic Sustainability.  We encourage you to view the agenda for this inspiring event.

AIPI was a co-sponsor, along with the Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest, Washington OneNet, Washington Broadband, and the law firm of Garvey Shubert Barer, of the Taking Smoke Signals Digital Telecom Conference on October 15-16, 2014 held in Tulalip, Washington. Aimed at Tribal leaders, the conference provided an opportunity to learn how to build the infrastructure needed to go digital by doing it themselves or by developing partnerships with larger broadband carriers. Further, the conference addressed the challenges to broadband and taught tribes how to get funding. The conference also presented success stories of tribes who have built their own communications infrastructure that improved the tribal economy, public safety, education and health care. Attendees included tribal leaders, telecommunications carriers, the federal government, IT and industry professionals.  Dr. Traci Morris, AIPI Director, spoke on a panel discussion with Matthew Rantanen of the Tribal Digital Village and Brian Howard, NCAI’s Legislative Associate about the role of Tribal sovereignty and how to address cultural issues while going digital.

This year’s NCAI Annual Convention and Marketplace was the 71^st  and was held in Atlanta, GA on October 26-31, 2014 and specifically focused on tribal Governance for the Next Generation. There were four specific themes to the Convention including strengthening governance, protecting cultural legacy, investing in youth, and preparing for the future.  Additionally, there were Federal –Tribal Consultations, Federal agency listening sessions, NCAI listening sessions to obtain topics for the White House Conference of Tribal Leaders, and NCAI listening sessions to begin preparing for the Transition Document for the next President of the United States.

Dr. Traci Morris, AIPI Director, participated in the Telecommunications subcommittee meetings where 3 resolutions were passed; the Technology Task Force where Dr. Morris presented on her recent study on Digital Inclusion in Native Communities; and, a working session with Tribal leaders that began to identify Indian Country’s Agenda for the next 5 years; there will be more of these listening events in the future.

The Telecommunications Subcommittee considered and unanimously passed 3 resolutions speaking to the issues of support the FCC Office of Native Affairs and Policy, supporting the FCC High Cost Loop Support for the Universal Service Fund, and urging government-to-government consulting between FirstNet Authority and Tribal Nations.  Each of these resolutions was then presented to the full committee for consideration and passed; now all are fully implemented.

While at NCAI, Dr. Morris also participated in the Technology Task Force meetings.  Co-Chaired by the Honorable Joe Garcia and Matthew Rantanen, the meeting highlighted all technology related issues with regard to Tribal nations.  Presenters included, Dr. Traci Morris on the study she co-authored, Digital Inclusion in Native Communities: The Role of Tribal Libraries; NCAI’s Peter Morris spoke about NCAI’s work with Google, and Joe Garcia spoke about a new health care treatment technology.