Tribal Government Relationships

Updated September 2, 2009

Introduction

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides conservation programs and technical services to American Indians, Alaska Natives and Tribal governments.  This is done through 45 full-time and 30 part-time field offices on Indian lands and through numerous other field offices located off of Indian lands.  Working with the Intertribal Agricultural Council (IAC) and Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA) NRCS has assisted with the establishment of 33 Tribal Conservation Districts. 

Documents in the grey boxes on this page require Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)  Microsoft Excel (.XLS) Microsoft Word Document Viewer (DOC).

Fact Sheets

NRCS Tribal Fact Sheet (DOC, 29KB)

2008 Farm Bill Conservation Opportunities for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes Fact Sheet  (PDF, 46KB)

2008 Farm Bill Conservation Opportunities for Socially Disadvantaged, Beginning and Limited Resource Farmers Fact Sheet (PDF, 48KB)

Policy and Regulations

General Manual Title 410 Rural Development Part 405 - Tribal Government Policy

Departmental Regulation DR 1340-007, Policies on American Indians and Alaska Natives
Departmental Regulation DR 1350-001, Tribal Consultation

Commodity Credit Corporation Final Rule (PDF, 1.3MB)

NRCS Key Tribal Policies, Procedures, and Partnerships, A Reference Guide (PDF, 13KB)
 

Memoranda of Understanding

MOU Between NRCS and NASS Relative to the Interchange of Data and Statistical Information and Coordination of Outreach Strategies (PDF, 125KB)

MOU Among BIA,  NRCS, FSA Relative To Planning and Implementing Department of Agriculture Conservation Programs On Indian Lands (PDF, 295KB)

Mutual Agreement template (DOC, 29KB) -  specifies cooperation among USDA, Tribal governments and Tribal Conservation Districts. updated August 2009

Resources

Directories

Tribal Leaders Directory Winter 2009 (PDF, 950KB)

BIA List of Federally Recognized Tribes, 2008 (PDF, 59KB)

2007 Tribal Conservation Districts (XLS, 66KB)

Guides

Soil and Water Conservation Districts (PDF, 414KB)

RC&D Workbook for Understanding and Improving Partnerships with Native Americans and Alaska Natives (PDF, 379KB)
American Indians and Alaska Natives - A Guide to USDA Programs (PDF, 5MB)

Tribal Consultation - A Guide for NRCS Employees (PDF, 97KB)

National Agricultural Library Community Development Resources
 

National Tribal Organizations

American Indian/ Alaska Native Employees Association (AIANEA)

APHIS Native American Working Group (ANAWG)

Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA)

Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC)

United South and Eastern Tribes (USET)

National Congress of American Indians (NACI)

American Indian Science & Engineering Society  (AISES)

Tribal Participation In NRCS Conservation Programs

Contracts on Tribal Lands

Fiscal Year 2008

Fiscal Year 2007

Fiscal Year 2006

Fiscal Year 2005

Contracts with American Indian and Alaska Native Producers

Contracts On Tribally Designated Statistical Areas

Program Contact

Edith Morigeau, Tribal Government Relations Coordinator (202) 690-2152