On August 18th, 2022, FEMA released an unprecedented document that acknowledges the underserved and inaccessible aspects of FEMA for federally recognized Tribal Nations. The Biden-Harris administration has emphasized inclusion in a variety of actions and initiatives, the 2022-2026 FEMA National Tribal Strategy being one of them. In an article on Native News Online, Neely Bardwell writes:
For the first time in its 43-year history, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released a national strategy to address its responsibilities when preparing for and responding to disasters on tribal lands.
Developed with extensive input from tribal nations, the strategy calls for FEMA to initiate a national study on tribal emergency management capacity and capabilities, expand communications and training with tribal nations, and develop tribal-specific technical assistance resources. The strategy reflects the voices of 135 representatives from 78 tribal nations who contributed critical feedback during tribal consultation in 2022, according to the strategy document.
As part of the effort, FEMA has set aside $50 million specifically for its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program that tribes can apply for.
The newly released Tribal Strategy builds on FEMA’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan and its efforts to advance equity in emergency management in order to increase climate resilience and prepare the nation for disasters.
Deanne Criswell, the 12th and current Administrator for FEMA, stated,
“We understand that many of our tribal nations have very small emergency management offices and oftentimes it's (alongside) other duties as assigned. It's not their sole position. And so we want to make sure that we're providing the right level of support,” Criswell said. “A lot of it is starting with our regional offices and our original tribal liaisons. So they have their own engagement strategies, and we're looking to increase that engagement.”
The 574 Tribal Nations will continue negotiations with FEMA to establish clear guidance and more direct access to FEMA emergency capabilities and funding options. Terry Tang wrote an AP article highlighting what some communities have been faced with. She interviewed the Executive Director for the National Tribal Emergency Management Council, Lynda Zambrano, who described one of many reasons the new strategy is better late than never:
“The way that I equate it to people is that they built the highway, but they never created the on ramps,” Zambrano said. “If FEMA is just now getting around to building the ramps, well, that’d be a good thing. But there needs to be very clear policy and procedure and direction—and it has to be consistent.”
Tribes without federal recognition still face uncertainty. The Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, for example, is hoping there will be an avenue for addressing challenges their status poses, in addition to their land and areas that aren’t clearly encompassed by FEMA maps.
FEMA’s new strategy to engage Native tribes seems specifically aimed at those with federal recognition. That would seem to leave out tribes that only have state recognition or no recognition. In a place like Louisiana that nuance could leave out many Native Americans most affected by climate change.
When Hurricane Ida came ashore in 2021, it devastated a large swath of southeast Louisiana that has been home to Native Americans for centuries. With climate change, hurricanes are expected to get stronger and wetter. But the tribes most affected by Ida say not having federal recognition has stymied their ability to prepare for and recover from storms.
Cherie Matherne is the cultural heritage and resiliency coordinator for the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe. Upon hearing about FEMA’s announcement, she said she wished the changes would also be applied to tribes without federal recognition like hers.
Hopefully, this formal step in the right direction will bring equity and equality to fruition as dialogue progresses between Tribal Nations and FEMA.
Additional Links: Tribal Affairs FEMA , HSDL 2022-2026 FEMA National Tribal Strategy, Updates Domestic Preparedness
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