Call for Subject Matter Experts Participation: Training Development Assistance to Protect Indian Sacred Sites
November 2014
Federal land managing agencies hold in public trust a great diversity of landscapes and sites, including many culturally important sites held sacred by Indian tribes. Recognizing a common goal and obligation to consider the impacts of agency actions on historic properties of traditional cultural and religious importance to tribes, on December 5, 2012, the Departments of Defense, the Interior, Agriculture, Energy, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to improve the protection of and Indian access to sacred sites through interagency coordination and collaboration.
As part of this effort, we are soliciting volunteer Subject Matter Experts from the federal government, academia, tribes and tribal NGOs to assist in the development of a training module. This training would improve knowledge among federal employees on the legal, regulatory and policy requirements of federal agencies pertaining to management of federal lands with tribal sacred sites, places and landscapes.
We plan to identify potential Subject Matter Experts in January 2015 and work creating the training will begin immediately. The completed product will be presented at the 2015 White House Tribal Nations Conference later in the year.
If you have experience working with issues or knowledge related to the identification, protection and/or management of Indian sacred sites or places and would like more information, or to be considered to serve as a volunteer Subject Matter Expert, please submit your name, contact information, and federal or state agency, tribal or professional affiliation to:
http://www.denix.osd.mil/na/TribalConsultation.cfm
(***At the above address, please click “Contact Native American Affairs” from the menu on the left)
Inquiries should be submitted no later than December 31, 2014
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