New Developments from Tribal Listening Sessions

At the Department of Justice's Tribal Nations Listening Session on October 28, 2009 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Attorney General Eric Holder engaged Tribal leaders in a frank dialogue about their needs and concerns. He emphasized that the Department of Justice is committed to a sustained partnership with Tribal governments to improve public safety in Tribal communities, to ensure the security of Native women, and to build a better future for the young people of each of your communities.

During the past several years, many Tribal leaders expressed a need at tribal consultation sessions, meetings, and through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Justice Programs Council on Native American Affairs – Tribal Justice Advisory Group (TJAG), to improve the Justice Department's grant-making process. One of the requests at the Listening Session was for the Department to simplify its grant application methods. In response to these concerns, we are combining all of the Department's Tribal specific grant programs into a single solicitation and application. This will take effect for the Fiscal Year 2010 grant award process (October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010).

Department leaders held two national tribal leader consultation conference calls on December 18 and 23, 2009 to solicit their input on how to make this change work most effectively for Tribal grant applicants. Questions or comments may be sent to Tracy Toulou, Director of the Department of Justice's Office of Tribal Justice (http://www.justice.gov/otj) at the U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001, by e-mail at Tracy.Toulou2@usdoj.gov; or by phone at 202-514-8812. Questions or comments can also be directed to Eugenia Tyner-Dawson, Senior Advisor to OJP’s Assistant Attorney General, at the Office of Justice Programs, 810 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531 by e-mail at Eugenia.Tyner-Dawson@usdoj.gov; or by phone at 202-307-5933.

The change is just a first step in improving the grant-making process and addressing the concerns raised at the Listening Session and in written comments.

Also at the Listening Session, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the creation of a Tribal Nations Leadership Council. The Council will help coordinate efforts between the Department of Justice and tribal governments. Members will be chosen by the tribes.

The Council will meet twice a year. Tribal leaders from each of the 12 regions identified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs will select one Council member.

The Council will build on the work of the TJAG, which OJP established in September 2007. The TJAG provides advice and assistance to OJP's Assistant Attorney General on Tribal-related issues. It will remain active until the new Council is established.