NACD Tribal Outreach and Partnership

Resource Policy Group (RPG)

Conference Call

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Meeting Notes

Attendees

The NACD Tribal Outreach and Partnership (TOP) RPG held a conference call October 3, 2017 beginning at 11:00 am EST. Present were RPG members representing fiveregions (from states Alabama, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Washington and Wisconsin). The attending RPG state participants were:

Greg Baneck, Outagamie County Land Conservation Department, WI (NC)

Patty Lambrecht, Elmore Soil and Water Conservation District, AL (SE)

Sadie Lister, Central Little Colorado River Soil and Water Conservation District, AZ (SW)

Tomas Mendez, Otero Soil and Water Conservation District, NM (SW)

Ross Racine, Intertribal Agriculture Council, MT (NP)

TannaEngdahl, Clark Conservation District, WA,Vice-Chair(Pacific)

Michael Crowder, Benton Conservation District, WA, Chair(Pacific)

In addition to state members, partner members were represented by the following:

Trey Lam, NASCA,Oklahoma Conservation Commission

Roylene Rides-at-the-Door, NRCS, Washington State Conservationist

Chair Crowder noted that Tom Salzer (OR) has been added to the representation for NCDEA, and will be included in future calls and meetings.

Also present was NACD staff Jeff Burwell and NACD Advisor David Vogel.

Roll record indicated that a quorum was present for the conference call.

Agenda Items (see attached agenda; items not numbered identically)

  1. Chair Michael Crowder recapped the September 12, 2017 RPG meeting and SW/PAC Region Meeting in Tucson, describing the RPG meeting’s success in proposing future direction for the RPG. Michael noted his appreciation for the work of Sadie Lister (AZ), Steve Barker (AACD) and Bill Dunn (AACD) in bringing local tribal representatives to participate in the RPG, through scholarships provided by grant funding. Michael also noted that the RPG determined that the time is right for RPG outreach to tribal associations and organizations, and requested help from RPG members in identifying those opportunities.
  1. Chair Crowder and Jeff Burwell reported that NACD and NRCS have entered into a new 2018 agreement to continue support for work of the Tribal RPG. Funds remaining, together with new funding for 2018, will allow for continued work, including expenses for travel and other RPG functions.
  1. Chair Michael Crowder moved that the September 12, 2017 Tucson Meeting Notes be approved by consensus. No objections. Motion passed.
  1. RPG members and staff discussed the points reported (in meeting notes) from the Tucson meeting, and considered whether changes or additions are needed to these points and the associated Meeting Discussion Guide for these documents to serve as a plan of action for the RPG. This discussion was to allow RPG members who were not present at Tucson to voice their thoughts and suggestions about what was recorded in Tucson. No corrections were proposed, but Vice-Chair TannaEngdahl restated her suggestion for development of a website for the RPG and asked that this be made an action item. Tanna further suggested that future calendar dates for important tribal and related meetings and events (e.g., see item 8 below) be placed on the website for RPG planning purposes.
  1. David Vogel introduced the idea of inviting a RC&D representative to participate in the RPG. This suggestion grew out of a discussion at the SE Region Meeting, where a local RC&D has expressed interest in being included in outreach between the Swain SWCD and Cherokee Tribe in North Carolina. RC&Ds conduct activities in conservation with an economic development component that may be of interest when developing tribal partnerships. In SE, Alabama and North Carolina have important connections between RC&D and tribes that might serve as an example of the benefits of inclusion.

After discussion, the RPG assigned as an action item David Vogel and Jeff Burwell to contact the national RC&D representative(Mark Hughes, interim) and inquire as to interest on their part about participating.

  1. Trey Lam provideda report on his briefing to NASCA at its national meeting in September, 2017. NASCA members responded favorably to reported RPG work efforts, and offered to develop with the RPG potential success storiesin their states about partnerships between conservation districts and tribes.
  2. Chair Crowder updated the RPG on the status of his request to NRCS Regional Conservationists enlisting their assistance in the RPG engaging NRCS Tribal Liaisons directly in the work of the RPG. Roylene rides-at-the-Door (NRCS) reported that NRCS is updating (via state conservationists) their list of Tribal Liaisons to share with the RPG. Roylene is also working with Ross Racine (IAC) to coordinate a presentation by Chair Crowder at the annual IAC meeting in Las Vegas in December, 2017, a meeting at which NRCS Tribal Liaisons will be in attendance.
  1. Chair Crowder again emphasized that now is the time for the RPG to engage with tribal associations and organizations. The RPG discussed opportunities for doing this, including consideration of national or regional tribal associations’ events and meetings. The IAC event (see #7 above) provides an opportunity also for the RPG to address Indian agricultural interests. Staff will contact Ed Mouss (OK) about future event opportunities with INCA. Other venues exist and will be considered, such as the SE American Indian Work Group, and the Arizona Association of Tribal Conservation Districts meeting in March, 2018.

Ross Racine suggested that RPG presentations include basic information about conservation districts, the locally-led approach, and their relationship to NRCS. Ross also indicated that regional tribal organization meetings provide an opportunity to reach more local tribal interests. Several regional opportunities were discussed, including the NW Affiliated Indian Tribes meeting in Portland, OR, next January, and the Southwest Indian Association and Arizona Association of Tribal Conservation Districts. TannaEngdahl suggested a RPG booth and brochure be developed where there might not be sufficient time for a full presentation.

  1. David Vogel described status of ongoing efforts to prepare success story articles for publication. David reported that several contacts from regional meetings had not (yet?) responded to e-mails sent in September. David and Patty Lambrecht (AL) have each contacted Mary Thompson (Cherokee Tribe of NC) about an opportunity in NC. Trey Lam outlined a potential future success story about outreach in OK to underserved Native American, African American and Asian American customers via local conservation districts. David Vogel is collaborating with Sadie Lister (AZ) and Brooke Phelps (AACD) to prepare an article for The Resource about the Arizona meeting.
  1. Jeff Burwell described the new agreement between NRCS and NACD for developing Technical Assistance Capacity. This agreement provides $10 million for the development of additional technical capacity in conservation districts, through awards directly to conservation districts, or, where needed, indirectly to districts through state associations or state agencies. The agreement provides funding for one year, and will provide for hiring of new conservation district employees (or shifting work of existing employees) to carry out technical work in high priority EQIP implementation areas, and in areas with a high workload for conservation planning, as determined by the respective State Partnership.

This initiative represents a good opportunity for tribes and tribal conservation districts to participate in the identification of these high workload areas for EQIP implementation and conservation planning, and, hence, for funding for new conservation district employees. Tribal conservation districts are eligible to receive funding – provided they are in high workload areas identified by the State Partnership. Tribes should contact their State Partnership representatives and make sure that they have an opportunity to participate in the process at the state level. Several options were offered by RPG members as to how the RPG may assist in informing and guiding tribes in this initiative, including:

  • Bring to attention of NRCS Tribal Liaisons, who can serve to inform and guide tribal conservation districts and tribes;
  • RPG and NACD including information on web page(s);
  • NACD announcement e-mail to tribal conservation districts (recorder’s note - however, the NACD grant announcement will be sent to state conservation partnerships via state association contacts);
  • Send information via an updated NRCS tribal conservation district directory;
  • Informing state tribal technical advisory committees (through state conservationists);
  • Contacting state conservationists to ensure that tribal interests are represented in the process to identify high priority EQIP implementation areas and areas with a high workload for conservation planning.

It was recalled (from the September 12, 2017 meeting) that electronic e-mail transmissions are difficult for many tribal sites, and that it is recommended that mail be utilized for updates and news about such conservation opportunities.

It was noted that NACD is securing contractor services to assist NACD staff in implementing the Technical Assistance Capacity agreement. These include David Vogel in SE, Ray Ledgerwood in West, and Mike Beacom in NE and Central regions.

  1. Open Discussion – None further.
  1. Next conference call. Michael Crowder indicated that Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at 11:00 am Eastern would be the next scheduled RPG conference call. Hearing no objections, the call was set for that date and time.

The teleconference adjourned at 12:17 pm Eastern. Chair Michael Crowder again thanked RPG members for their valuable time and effort in this important initiative.

NACD Tribal Outreach and Partnership RPG

Teleconference Call

October 3, 2017

11:00 am Eastern

Teleconference number: 1-888-537-7715

Access code: 1339708#

AGENDA

  1. Introductions/Roll
  1. Recap of TOP RPG meeting and SW/PAC Region meeting in Tucson, AZ
  1. Report on NRCS/NACD Outreach Agreement Continuation for RPG
  1. Action Items
  2. September 12, 2017 RPG Meeting Notes Draft*
  3. Consideration of discussion points from September 12, 2017 RPG meeting as a Plan of Action*
  4. Consideration of inviting RC&D to participate in the RPG as an additional partner representative
  1. Status of RPG request to NRCS to engage NRCS Tribal Liaisons
  1. Engaging with tribal organizations and associations
  1. Status of Success Stories Solicitation and Contacts from RPG Members
  1. Discussion about new NRCS Technical Assistance Capacity agreement
  1. Open Discussion
  1. Determine Schedule for Next RPG Conference Call

* Note: These documents were provided to RPG members with the meeting agenda.

NACD Tribal Outreach and Partnership RPG

RPG Approved November 7, 2017Page 1