From Administrator Fugate:

"FEMA has strong, long-standing relationships with Tribal governments, and they are essential members of the emergency management team.  On January 29, President Obama strengthened that relationship by signing the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 into law.  The Act includes a provision that amends the Stafford Act to allow federally recognized Tribal governments the option to seek a Federal emergency or major disaster declaration directly from the President of the United States.  We commend the efforts of Members of Congress, Tribal leadership and their organizations, the Department of Homeland Security, and the President who have made this change a reality.  This amendment to the Stafford Act follows on the President's commitments to Indian Country and strengthens the government to government relationship between FEMA and Federally recognized tribes, and will enhance the way FEMA supports Tribal communities before, during, and after disasters."

FEMA Tribal Affairs

Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Tribal Affairs is within the Intergovernmental Affairs Division and is the designated lead for tribal relations and consultation at FEMA.  Intergovernmental Affairs serves as the main point of contact between the Administrator and tribal leaders across the country, working with our intergovernmental partners across the Agency to coordinate engagement of elected officials, or their designees. The Tribal Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs team continue to work to improve our relationship with all 566 Federally-recognized tribal governments.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.  Tribal governments are essential partners in building resilient communities.

The U.S. Government has a unique government-to-government relationship with Federally-recognized tribal governments based on the Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, executive orders, and judicial decisions.  This relationship was reaffirmed by FEMA Administrator Fugate when he signed the new FEMA Tribal Policy on June 29, 2010.  FEMA’s current authorities under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (Stafford Act), however, severely limit the agency’s ability to build the necessary relationships with our tribal government partners to support our tribal communities, members and first responders.

Tribal Affairs and Presidential Directives

FEMA abides by and supports the directive that Federal agencies work with tribal governments in a government-to-government relationship.  The directive details that Federal agencies must develop a detailed plan of action that the agency will take to implement the policies and directives of Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments. In short, our agency is taking steps to ensure the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the FEMA Tribal Policy and will engage tribes in policy and program developments through tribal consultation.

Resources

• FEMA Tribal Policy
  Final Agency Policy for Government-to-Government Relations with American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments.
   
• Ready Indian Country
  The goal of Ready Indian Country is to collaborate with tribal governments to build emergency management capability and partnerships to ensure continued survival of Tribal nations and communities.
   
• Grant Information
  Grant information and resources for tribal governments and their representatives
   
• Training Information
  Training resources for tribal governments and their representatives
   
• Letters in Support of Tribal Sovereignty
  • Administrator Fugate Letter to Congress
  • American Red Cross - Tribal Letter of Support
  • Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Letter of Support
  • Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation
  • Hopland Band of Pomo Indians
  • Hopland Band of Pomo Indians
  • Hopland Band of Pomo Indians
  • Inter Tribal Council of Nevada
  • Inter Tribal Emergency Response Commission
  • Inter Tribal Long Term Recovery Foundation
  • Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes
  • National Congress for Indian Americans
  • Pueblo of Acoma
  • Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of The Duck Valley Indians Reservation
  • Snoqualmie Indian Tribe
  • Southern California Tribal Chairmen Association
  • Southern Ute Indian Tribe
  • State of Oregon Governor Kitzhaber to FEMA Administrator
  • Susanville Indian Rancheria
  • The Navajo Nation
  • Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
  • Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Letter of Support to Amend Stafford Act
  • Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Letter of Support to Amend the Stafford Act
  • Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians
  • United South and Eastern Tribes
  • United South and Eastern Tribes Resolution
• U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
   
• U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (OHSES)
   
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Tribal Affairs