Indian Self-Determination Act: Law & Administration - 22 August 9-11 

KIVA is presenting an important webinar on the Indian Self-Determination & Education Assistance Act. This webinar will cover the Law (statute) and administrative provisions (implementing regulations) of the Act. This webinar will give you the opportunity to hear directly from Indian Country’s experts about the Act.

“Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act declares that the Congress recognizes a Federal obligation to be responsive to the principle of self-determination through Indian Involvement, participation, and direction of education and services programs.”

The Indian Self-Determination Act provides tribal nations with the distinct opportunity to assume direct control and operation of programs previously provided to them by the Interior Department and the Department of Health and Human Services by implementing Self-Determination contracts or Self-Government compacts.  Even though this law was passed in 1975, many tribes, tribal organizations, and  federal government officials do not fully under understand how the Act was intended to work or how it was designed to benefit tribal nations.

By honoring tribal sovereignty and empowering tribal nations to exercise their sovereign rights, the Act allows tribal nations to assume direct control and management of programs, services, and construction projects. As part of the Act, tribal nations are given the freedom to establish how programs are designed and implemented, without excessive federal mandates and restrictions, to meet the unique needs of their communities.

This webinar will cover the benefits of the Act, including:

• The Self-Determination contracting process, from proposal, submission, and award.
• Contract declination and the federal government’s “burden of proof.”
• Overcoming declination issues.
• Funding provisions and the “full funding” requirement.
• Other important provisions of the Act
• Special presentation onSection 105 (l) of the Act, Tribal leasing of facilities to the Secretary for operation of P. L. 93-638 programs.

The special contractual relationships under the Act require tribal nations and their employees and federal oversight agencies have a full understanding of how this “government-to-government” relationship is different from other federal contractual relationships.

This webinar is highly recommended for tribal leaders, tribal program staff, tribal attorneys, federal line officers, federal awarding officials, and anyone who is involved in administering or carrying out a Self-Determination contract or Self-Governance compact.