Tribal Self-Governance

To further the goals of Tribal Self-Governance compacting for Tribes to administer a wide rage of programs with broad administrative and programmatic flexibility. The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) authorizes Tribes and Tribal organizations to be funded by the Federal government to provide services that the Federal government would otherwise be obligated to provide due to the trust responsibilities and treaty obligations of the United States. ISDEAA establishes Self-Determination contracting (Title 1) and Self-Governance compacting (Title IV) as two unique options that Tribal governments can elect to use to assume control and decision-making authority over select federal programs and resources benefiting their citizens and communities.

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Consortia of Indian Tribes. There are two types of entities who may participate in Tribal self-governance: (a) Indian Tribes; and (b) Consortia of Indian Tribes

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and their Members.
Indian Tribe or Tribe means any Indian Tribe, band, nation or other organized group or community, including pueblos, rancherias, colonies and any Alaska Native village, or regional or village corporations as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, that is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

The Tribe/Consortium may submit a request to the Director at any time, but no later than 180 days before the proposed effective date of the funding agreement (e.g., October 1, January 1, or such other date as the parties agree) The request must contain the documentation required 25 CFS Part 1000.

The application and selection process is governed by regulations contained in 25 CFR Part 1000.

To be eligible to initially participate in self-governance, an Indian Tribe shall
(1) successfully complete the planning phase
(2) request participation in self-governance by resolution or other official action by the Tribal governing body; and
(3) demonstrate, for the 3 fiscal years preceding the date on which the Indian Tribe requests participation, financial stability and financial management capability as evidenced by the Indian Tribe having no uncorrected significant and material audit exceptions in the required annual audit of its self-determination or self-governance agreements with any Federal agency.

Application information is available from the office(s) listed below under "Information Contacts."

The annual dollar value of the funding agreement is subject to negotiation between the applicant, the local Bureau agency office, the servicing Regional office, and the Office of Self-Governance. Final funding agreements are signed by the authorized tribal representative and the Director, Office of Self-Governance.

If OSG determines that a Tribe's/Consortium's request is not complete, OSG will notify the Tribe/Consortium that the request is not complete no later than 45-days after receipt of the Tribe's/Consortium's request. The correspondence will explain what the Tribe/Consortium must do to complete the request.