Post on 30-Dec-2015
Working in Indian CountryExperiences, successes and challenges
April 29, 2014
Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Overview Introduction
A brief history
Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission
Historical Context
Demographics
Challenges
Suggestions for working with Tribal Nations
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Introduction A little about me.
Experience in Indian Country
Indian Health Service
Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada
Emergency Management
SD Presidential declarations
Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission (ITERC)
Tribal NIMS Project
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission (ITERC) What is the ITERC?
Department of the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN)
Emergency Management
ITERC staff provides Preparedness, Response, Recovery, Mitigation, and Protection technical assistance and project delivery to all 27 Tribal Nations in Nevada.
Guided by ITCN and the ITERC Board
ITERC Board is an advisory Board comprised of all Tribal Emergency Managers, as designated by each Tribe.
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
ITERC Projects Current:
Tribal NIMS (SHSP)
Tribal THIRA (SHSP)
Tribal Clinic NIMS (CDC)
Program Administration (EMPG)
Tribal Emergency Management Assistance Compact (TEMAC)
Past:
Disaster Communications Box (Combination)
Tribal Rural Interoperability (Complete)
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
ITERC Successes
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Regular support and participation from Tribal EMs.
Technical assistance and coordination on a number of fires, public health and a flood event.
Delivery of EMI’s Tribal Curricula and numerous other trainings in Nevada.
12 exercises (drill, TTX, Functional, and Full-scale)
Coordinated and hosted a number of conferences, meetings and workshops.
Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
ITERC Challenges
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Sustainability (i.e. Funding).
SAA grant challenges.
Tribal Leadership support for EM efforts.
Commitment
Turnover (Councils and Tribal staff)
Information-sharing/retention.
EM responsibilities are secondary to other regular, full-time activities.
Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
How do we function?
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We start by introducing our projects by presenting to each Council: in-person, face-to-face consultation.
Direct, regular contact and communication with the Tribes we serve.
Board meetings every other month.
Regularly assess gaps, needs, priorities (grant-motivated).
Collaboration with Tribes, local, state and regional partners: whole community effort.
EMI Training, AZ TTO Program, RIX Technical Assistance.
Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Historical Context
The People
Past
Present
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
The People At least 25,000 years living in North America
Diverse:
Appearance
Culture
Language
Sovereign nations
Part of the past as well as the future
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
The Past Pre-Columbus Era:
25,000 years ago
115 million people lived in Americas
1800 distinct languages were spoken
American Indian/Alaskan Natives as diverse as Europeans.
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
The Past Colonial Period (1492-1828)
Removal and Relocation Period (1828-1871)
Allotment and Attempted Assimilation Period (1871-1928)
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
The Past Reorganization Period (1928-1945)
Termination and Relocation Period (1945-1965)
Self-Determination Period (1965 to present)
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Timeline of Indian Policies Colonial Period (1492-1828)
Removal and Relocation Period (1828-1871)
Allotment and Attempted Assimilation Period (1871-1928)
Reorganization Period (1928-1945)
Termination and Relocation period (1945-1965)
Self-Determination Period (1965 to present)
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
The Result of Colonization Christianity was forced upon Tribes as a weapon to destroy
traditional beliefs and practices.
Ceremonial practices were outlawed and punishable by death.
First Peoples were removed from sacred homelands and hunting grounds to further disrupt their way of life.
The traditional roles of men and women were changed.
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
The Present
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Demographics 4.3 million Americans
identify themselves as American Indian/Alaskan Native (1.5 % of the population)
566 Federally recognized tribal entities
1/3 of the native population live on Indian lands/villages
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Demographics 32% of native population under 18 compared to 24% in general
population.
5% of native population over 65 years of age compared to 12.4% in the general population.
Median age is 29 years old compared to 35 years old in general populations.
65 years old is the average life expectancy of the native population.
73% of natives live in family households
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Demographics Death from alcoholism is 5 times greater for the native
population than in the general population.
Indian youth have the highest rate of suicide amount all ethnic groups in the US and is the second-leading cause of death for Native youth aged 15-24.
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Common Beliefs Connecting the past, the present, the future.
Land is sacred
Follow and respect the natural order of nature.
People are caretakers of the Earth.
The power of the world works in circles:
Earth is round, the seasons occur in circles, the life of a man is circular as is all things.
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Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Challenges
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Often Tribal Governments:
Are developing.
Have many priorities.
Have rapid turn-over.
Are understaffed
Have little or no resources:
May have no single POC or many POCs.
May be no warning/notification system.
Few or little mutual aid agreements.
Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Challenges
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Assistance may be seen as interfering with tribal culture/norms
Tribe takes care of own (ability to adapt and survive)
Lack of Trust:
Federal Government
Outsiders
Sense of disempowerment:
Reluctant to reach out to ask for help
Reluctant to take action
Tribal folks may not distinguish between federal agencies
Planning verses preparing
Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Suggestions
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Remember:
Tribes are sovereign.
Tribal executives are leaders of nations and should be treated as such.
Each Tribe is unique in every way: culturally, socially, economically, politically, etc.
Listen.
Keep an open mind and remove any assumptions.
If you have been to ONE Reservation, you have been to ONE Reservation.
Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Suggestions
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Understand the past and its impact on the present and the future.
Learn about each tribe you serve individually.
Respect :
Leaders/Tribal Council or tribally recognized government officials
Elders (women and men)
Children (may be present at meetings, including infants)
Land
Ceremonies – may or may not be open for public
If you have questions – ask! Ignorance is easily forgiven, assumptions are not.
Regina Marotto, Director, Inter-Tribal Emergency Response Commission April 29, 2014
Thank you!
Regina Marotto MPHEmergency Management & Homeland Security Director
775.355.0600 xt.154775.445.9132 gina@itcn.org
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