Virginia Tribal Summit
NRCS and tribal nations share a strong commitment to stewardship and preservation of history and heritage for the next generation. Virginia's 2022 tribal summit for federally recognized tribes helped open the door for closer collaboration and strengthening of government-to-government relationships.
Virginia Tribal Summit
March 16-17, 2022
Day One
Session One Recording: Facilitator Welcome, Tribal Prayer, Opening Remarks, Virginia Tribal Panel Discussion
Session Two Recording: Successful Tribal Collaborations Across the Country (presentations provided below)
- Oklahoma Spotlight (pdf, 4 MB), Gary O'Neill, Oklahoma NRC State Conservationist
- Multi-State Spotlight (pdf, 14 MB), Edwin Martinez Martinez, PhD, Virginia State Conservationist
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (pdf, 8 MB), Mike LaVoie, EBCI Natural Resources Department
- Catawba Indian Nation (pdf, 13.1 MB), Marvin Bouknight, EPA/Natural Resources Program Manager
Session Three Recording: The True Costs of Invasive Species, Re-establishing Native Plants on Tribal Lands
- Plant ID and Control Measures (pdf, 2.6 MB), Laurie J. Fox, PhD, Virginia Tech
- VDACS' Work and Resources (pdf, 3 MB), David Gianino, Office of Plant Industry Services
- Introduction to the Plant Materials Program (pdf, 2.3 MB), David Kidwell-Slak, Beltsville Plant Materials Center
- USDA Technical Assistance for Native Plant Establishment (pdf, 4.5 MB), Bob Glennon, NRCS
Session Four Recording: Shoreline Erosion Protection and Growing Freshwater Mussels for Improved Water Quality
- Shoreline Erosion Protection (pdf, 9.9 MB), Aaron Wendt, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery (pdf, 12.2 MB), Rachel Mair, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Restoring Aquatic Habitat: Freshwater Mussels (pdf, 3.2 MB), Morgan Harris, Virginia Tech Conservation Management Institute
Day Two
Session One Recording: Welcome, Day One Recap and Tribal Prayer, USDA Resources for Tribal Members and Governments
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations - FDPIR (pdf, 1.3 MB), Chris Hennelly, Food and Nutrition Service
- Introduction to Rural Development Tribal Programs (pdf, 6.9 MB), Anne Herring, RD
- Beginning Farmer Loans, April Faircloth, Farm Service Agency
Session Two Recording: DCR Land Conservation Resources for Tribal Members and Governments, Forest Management - Land of Many Uses
- Land Grant Conservation Programs (pdf, 1.4 MB), Suzan Bulbulkaya, Land Conservation Manager – DCR Grant Programs
- Natural Heritage Data Explorer (pdf, 3.4 MB), Tyler Meader, Natural Heritage Locality Liaison
- U.S. Forest Service and Tribal Partnerships (pdf, 14.4 MB), Elizabeth LeMaster, U.S. Forest Service
- Protecting Virginia Tribal Lands and Heritage (pdf, 1.6 MB), Joel Koci, Virginia State University
Session Three Recording: Potential Opportunities for Bringing Broadband to Tribal Lands
- Broadband Resources for Tribal Nations (650 KB), Chandler Vaughan, VHCD
- Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program (pdf, 1.3 MB), Richard Jenkins, RD
- Nez Perce Broadband: Overcoming Adversity (pdf, 109 KB), Danae Wilson, Nez Perce Tribe: Potential Opportunities for Bringing Broadband to Tribal Lands
Session Four Recording: (presentations provided below)
- Dam Safety and Floodplain Management: A Focus on Equity and Resilience (pdf, 2.7 MB), Wendy Howard-Cooper, DCR
- Soil Health and Climate Resilience (pdf, 8.7 MB), Mary Sketch-Bryant, Virginia Soil Health Coalition
- OPPE 2501 Grant Program & 1994 USDA Scholars Program (pdf, 808 KB), Travis Johnson, OPPE
- Looking to the Future: Nation-to-Nation Communication and Closing Prayer
Tribal Summit Resource Guide (pdf, 6.3 MB)