Putting Tribal Sovereignty
Summary:
- There is still time to register for the Tuesday, Oct. 29 Tribal Governance Guide webinar developed by IFAI and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
- There are three Senate Committee meetings worth noting on Wednesday, Oct. 29, including a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing about the impacts of government shutdowns and Agency reductions in force on Native communities.
- IFAI has released its analysis of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Strategy Report here that focuses on its potential impacts to Tribally owned agricultural operations.
- DOI’s Bureau of Indian Affairs scheduled two in-person and two virtual sessions in a series of consultations from Nov. 10-19, 2025, about Secretarial Order 3443, which concerns elevating and unifying DOI’s Wildland Fire Management Program. Note, there is a venue change for the Albuquerque, NM session on Nov. 13.
- USDA will accept comments on the proposed departmental reorganization through Nov. 15 at tribal.relations@usda.gov. Read the IFAI analysis here.
Outreach Calendar
About: This series of consultations will cover the Department’s effectiveness in wildland fire response. Oral and written comments will be accepted.
- Date(s), Time, and Location:
- Nov. 10, 2025 (Monday) at 3-5 p.m. EST (Virtual) Register
- Nov. 13, 2025 (Thursday) at 1:30-3:30 p.m. MST (In-person)
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Auditorium
9169 Coors Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87121
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- Nov. 17, 2025 (Monday) at 3-5 p.m. MST (Virtual) Register
- Nov. 19, 2025 (Wednesday) at 3:15-4:45 p.m. PST (In-person)
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 82nd Annual Convention Seattle Convention Center, Arch Building
705 Pike Street Seattle, WA 98101
Congressional Hearings:
There were no hearings relevant to Indian Country Food and Agriculture last week.
Looking Back:
Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
Topic: Business meeting to consider several bills including the reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act (H.R.4550) and the Fix our Forests Act (S.1462).
Highlights: The Fix Our Forests Act (S.1462) was opened for discussion. There was no significant mention of Tribal issues apart from the amendment from Senator Bennett (D-CO), who proposed a requirement for public and Tribal consultation in emergency forest management projects. He cited that projects are more effective when Tribes and local communities are involved from the beginning. The amendment failed: 11 Yes; 12 Nos. Senator Schiff (D-CA) also proposed more funding for the implementation of the wildfire risk mitigation projects and new programs. Although not mentioned during the hearing, ongoing federal funding gaps is a persistent issue in Indian Country. This amendment also failed 11 to 12.
Looking Ahead:
Hearing: Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. EST
Topic: The purpose of the hearing is to examine the Section 106 consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act.
Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at 2 p.m. EST
Topic: Impacts of government shutdowns and Agency reductions in force on Native communities.
Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry pm Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, at 3 p.m. EST
Topic: Hearing to examine the nominations for Mindy Brashears of Texas to be Under Secretary for Food Safety, Stella Herrell of New Mexico to be an Assistant Secretary, and John Walk of Virginia to be Inspector General, all for the Department of Agriculture.
Nominations:
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultive Committee
Description: The purpose of this body is to ensure that the interests of U.S. stakeholders are considered in the development of positions and policy relative to U.S. participation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO).
Deadline: Nominations will be accepted at any time.
Regulatory/Rule Making Actions:
There are no Federal Register notices relevant to Tribal food and agriculture.