Collaboration with Tribal Nations

Published July 11, 2016
Rodney Parker, Huntington District Tribal Liaison presenting Col Philip Secrist with a Shawnee Blanket.

Rodney Parker, Huntington District Tribal Liaison presenting Col Philip Secrist with a Shawnee Blanket.

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.  The USACE’s Collaboration and Public Participation Center of Expertise (CPCX) just released its latest newsletter - a special edition focusing on the collaborative work conducted throughout the USACE with Tribal Nations.  In honor of the establishment of the Tribal Nations Technical Center of Expertise, this issue of Collaboration Corner highlights USACE’s important interaction with Tribal Nations as well as with other stakeholders including socially vulnerable populations and federal partners.  Feedback, questions and articles are always welcome. 

 Inside the newsletter:
• Jeff Collins (Jacksonville District) discusses how a Programmatic General Permit aids in Tribal Self-Determination in his work with the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida.
• Kathryn Firsching (Nashville District) talks about how the 404 Program in the southeast went from a controversial start to a collaborative outcome.
• Rodney Parker (Huntington District) highlights a collaboration with Tribal Nations to successfully re-inter ancestral remains.
• Susan Durden and Seth Cohen (Institute for Water Resources) explain a new resource for USACE on how to identify and engage socially vulnerable populations in our work.
• Seth Cohen (Collaboration and Public Participation Center of Expertise) reflects on his experiences facilitating tribal consultation meetings.
• Amanda Andraschko (Alaska District) responds to the question of why we coordinate with tribes on a government-to-government basis and how to get started.

Announcements:

• New Tribal Nations Technical Center of Expertise established at Albuquerque District to track interactions enterprise-wide.
• Collaboration and Conflict Transformation in Multi-Party Processes course offered with FWS, NPS, and BLM where USACE participants may request a tuition waiver.
• Upcoming trainings and free webinars both inside and outside the Corps. For more see the CPP CoP Calendar.

More about the USACE Collaboration and Public Participation Center of Expertise (CPCX)

In 2016 USACE’s Collaboration and Public Participation Center of Expertise (CPCX) will celebrate its eighth year of enabling Corps staff to anticipate, prevent and manage water-related conflicts through collaboration while ensuring that the interests of the public are addressed in a fair and transparent manner.  Founded in October 2008 by Major General Riley, CPCX executes its mission by building the collaborative capacity of Corps staff, by providing direct support to Districts and HQ programs to increase the success of collaborative processes, by advising Corps leadership on effective collaboration, and by building the collaboration expertise necessary to address future challenges.  

Learn More

For more information, visit the CPCX website www.iwr.usace.army.mil/cpc

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Past issues of the newsletter issues are available.