Native Relations Training

Target Audience: 

• Positions that interact with Tribes and/or whose work directly affects Tribal Nations regardless of position or grade.
• Management and supervisory positions (GS 11-15), especially project leaders and field supervisors.
• Positions relatively new to the Service (less than three years), including “transfers”, regardless of grade and position.

Summary and Objectives:

 Native peoples have a longstanding relationship with the environment, and this connection aligns with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) mission. This regionally based Native Relations Training aims to deepen understanding of Native American cultures and foster effective engagement with Tribal communities. USFWS employees will explore ways to honor the nation-to-nation relationship and engage directly with Elders and Tribal Leaders to build trust and respect through cultural exchange. Through a combination of lectures, hands-on activities, cultural experiences, and direct engagement with Indigenous experts and community members, participants will gain valuable insights and practical skills for respectful interactions with Native American communities. Course participants will be encouraged to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and cultural perspectives as they address conservation challenges which impact federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native Organizations, and the Native Hawaiian Community.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explore Native American history to enhance understanding of their cultural and historical significance.
• Explore methods for cultivating and sustaining trustworthy relationships with Tribal Nations, promoting respectful and meaningful interactions.
• Formulate strategies for fostering collaborative research and knowledge sharing between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Tribal communities.
• Establish and implement best practices pertaining to policies associated with Tribal Trust Responsibility and Tribal Sovereignty.
• Define co-stewardship and co-management and their importance in collaborative natural resource management efforts between the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Tribal nations.

Competency Addressed: 

Communication - Basic, Interpersonal skills - Basic, Listening - Intermediate, · Partnering - Intermediate