About Us
In collaboration with departments campuswide, Tribal Relations works to establish a comprehensive approach for Native Tribal governments and communities to facilitate a sense of belonging in higher education and continued distinctive spiritual relationship with place.
Tribal Relations provides central coordination, oversight and subject-matter expertise for university compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations related to Native American cultural, historic and graves preservation, protection and applicable repatriation. The unit also manages university requirements relating to the existing restrictive covenant and efforts to adopt a permanent conservation easement for a parcel of land commonly referred to as Puvungna, and establishes and manages all related procedures, protocols, conventions and communications related to the conservation easement manager and issues related to the parcel.
Tribal Relations serves as the university's primary point of contact with Native American tribes, federal and state agencies, and applicable consultants, and represents the university and the university's perspectives at applicable meetings and hearings with tribes, agencies and other organizations.
Tribal Relations maintains and disseminates information about national trends and initiatives related to the Native American communities to inform programmatic opportunities. Staff collaborate with applicable university colleagues in appropriate community outreach and student services that advance the institution's engagement with and curricular/co-curricular support of Native communities. Staff also identify and prepare funding proposals that would advance tribal-relations priorities.
