Nominations for 2017 Military Meritorious Service Awards

SAIGE is now accepting nominations for its annual Military Meritorious Service Awards to be awarded on June 8 at the We Ko Pa Resort and Conference Center in Scottsdale, AZ as part of the National Training Program. The SAIGE Meritorious Service Awards honors military members, Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees and military veterans in government service, who have supported the DoD or their agency’s mission, whose attributes best epitomized the qualities and core values of their respective military service or DoD component. Please see information link below and direct any questions to Mr. Danny Garceau, SAIGE Warrior Society Director at danny.garceau@saige.org

Nomination form for SAIGE Military Meritorious Service Awards

Joint Tribal Consultation Report issued by DOJ, DOI and Army

From Turtle Talk, Indigenous Law and Policy Center blog, Michigan State University College of Law:

Report: Improving Tribal Consultation and Tribal Involvement in Federal Infrastructure Decisions – January 2017

A short excerpt from the report:

“Tribes stated that many Federal leaders and staff dealing with infrastructure matters lack an understanding of the trust and treaty responsibilities, how to work with Tribes effectively, Tribal histories and cultures, and Federal agency policies—all of which, in turn, affect their daily execution of agency missions. Accordingly, Tribes emphasized the need to educate Federal agency leaders and staff dealing with infrastructure matters on basic principles of the Federal Government’s responsibilities to Tribes and the history of the United States’ relationship with Tribes.”

https://turtletalk.wordpress.com/

Election Instructions

Members- you should have received an email from our Chair with the ballot for the SAIGE elections. Only Lifetime Members and student or full members in good standing may vote in the election.

SAIGE Board Election Schedule and Instructions

There are three Officer and five Board Directors to be elected this year. It is with great appreciation that we list the individuals who have accepted their nomination and are willing to serve if elected. Bios and photos of each candidate can be viewed at www.saige.org under the menu item Board Member/Board Elections. Please take your time to review all the bios prior to voting. Voting will be open from December 4th until December 16th, 2016.

The Officer positions will be filled by the person who is listed on the ballot. Director positions will be filled by the nominees who receive the most votes in the Director category until all vacant Director positions are filled. No write-in candidates will be accepted.

All Lifetime and student or full members in good standing may vote in this election. If you are unsure if your dues are up to date, contact Lori Windle at lwindle@saige.org. Your dues must be paid no later than midnight December 15, 2016, in order for your vote to be counted.

The voting deadline is midnight December 16, 2016. Please email your completed ballot on or before that date to elections@saige.org. If you have not received a ballot via the SAIGE Listserv, contact the election committee at elections@saige.org

To Vote: Put an X by the candidate that you wish to elect, save the file and send it to: elections@saige.org.

NOTE: It is very important to state your Location and your name when you email the ballot, if not, your ballot will not be counted. This is for verification purposes only.
The submitted ballots will be checked against the SAIGE membership list. The results will be compiled and reported to the Board. Upon the Board’s approval, the results will be reported to all members via SAIGE-L along with an announcement posted on our web site. If you have any questions or problems, please contact the Elections Committee Chair at elections@saige.org.

Please vote for only one person for each officer position and a maximum of 5 people for the board member at large positions.

Presidential Proclamation — National Native American Heritage Month, 2016

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

October 31, 2016

Presidential Proclamation — National Native American Heritage Month, 2016

NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 2016
– – – – – – –
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION
As the First Americans, Native Americans have helped shape the future of the United States through every turn of our history. Today, young American Indians and Alaska Natives embrace open-ended possibility and are determining their own destinies. During National Native American Heritage Month, we pledge to maintain the meaningful partnerships we have with tribal nations, and we renew our commitment to our nation-to-nation relationships as we seek to give all our children the future they deserve.
Over our long shared history, there have been too many unfortunate chapters of pain and tragedy, discrimination and injustice. We must acknowledge that history while recognizing that the future is still ours to write. That is why my Administration remains dedicated to strengthening our government-to-government relationships with tribal nations and working to improve the lives of all our people. Three years ago, I issued an Executive Order establishing the White House Council on Native American Affairs to help ensure the Federal Government engages in true and lasting relationships with tribes and promotes the development of prosperous and resilient tribal communities. Last month, I hosted the eighth Tribal Nations Conference and brought tribal leaders together to identify key issues we still face. We have worked to better protect sacred lands and restored many acres of tribal homelands, as well as supported greater representation of indigenous peoples before the United Nations and called for further implementation of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
And we have taken steps to strengthen tribal sovereignty in criminal justice matters, including through the Tribal Law and Order Act.
Through the Affordable Care Act and permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, we empowered more Native Americans to access the quality health care they need to live full, healthy lives. Throughout their lives, 84 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls will experience some form of violence, and in 2013, I signed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which allows tribes to prosecute non-Native individuals who commit acts of domestic violence in Indian Country. And through the North American Working Group on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls, we are strengthening regional coordination on the rights of women and girls from indigenous communities across the continent.
In recognition of the immeasurable contributions that Native Americans have made to our Nation, we continue to advocate for expanding opportunity across Indian Country. We have supported tribal colleges and universities and worked to return control of education to tribal nations — not only to prepare Native youth for the demands of future employment, but also to promote their own tribal languages and cultures. We are investing in job training and clean-energy projects, infrastructure, and high-speed internet that connects Native American communities to the broader economy. We are connecting more young people and fostering a national dialogue to empower the next generation of Native leaders through the Generation Indigenous initiative. Through www.NativeOneStop.gov, we have also worked to improve coordination and access to Federal services throughout Indian Country. Indian Country still faces many challenges, but we have made significant progress together since I took office, and we must never give up on our pursuit of the ever brighter future that lies ahead.
This month, let us celebrate the traditions, languages, and stories of Native Americans and ensure their rich histories and contributions can thrive with each passing generation. Let us continue to build on the advancements we have made, because enduring progress will depend on our dedication to honoring our trust and treaty responsibilities. With sustained effort and unwavering optimism, we can ensure a vibrant and resilient Indian Country filled with possibility and prosperity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2016 as National Native American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to commemorate this month with appropriate programs and activities, and to celebrate November 25, 2016, as Native American Heritage Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.
BARACK OBAMA

“Serving Our Nations” 2016 Native Heritage Month Theme

Each year, the theme from the SAIGE National Training Program becomes the theme for Native American Heritage Month in November.  The 2016 theme is “Serving Our Nations.”  Here is what SAIGE Chair Fredericka Joseph has said about it meaning:

” Our theme, “Serving Our Nations,” reminds us of our public service to our nation as Federal employees, serving our country in the military service, and in many cases serving our Tribal Nations. As public servants the work we do on a daily basis is important to tribes and to our country in ensuring the services we administer are available for people throughout our nation.”

We hope that you will download this year’s poster by Comanche artist Tim Nevaquaya in the previous blog post, print it out and share it widely in November.