IS-650.B: Building Partnerships with Tribal Governments

IS-650.b, Building Partnerships with Tribal Governments, provides a basic understanding of tribal governments in the United States, the history of the relationship between the Federal Government and tribes, and general information about tribal governance and cultures that will influence emergency management practices so that effective working relationships can be formed and evolve.

This course has been updated to align with the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Identify some of the basic historical, cultural and governance attributes of tribal governments that influence effective working relationships.
• Use the information in the course to begin building effective partnerships with tribal governments to help enhance tribal community resilience.
• Work in concert with tribal governments to protect people and property against all types of hazards.

Throughout this course tribal representatives speak about their history, their culture, their way of life, and how to develop good relationships with tribal communities.

Several lessons are devoted to specific challenges that individuals may encounter in working with tribal governments to provide financial and technical assistance through disaster programs, particularly with regard to the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 which allowed federally recognized tribal governments the option to directly request emergency and major disaster declarations from FEMA and the President.