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Utah Division of Indian Affairs outlines outreach, cultural-preservation work and summit plans
Summary
James Toledo, deputy director of Utah’s Division of Indian Affairs, described the office’s liaison role between tribes and state agencies, community programs including voter registration and foster-care outreach, museum consultation and an August summit at UVU drawing roughly 450–500 attendees.
James Toledo, deputy director for the Division of Indian Affairs, told the Utah State Library podcast that his office serves as a liaison between tribal and state governments, provides cultural-sensitivity training for state agencies and runs community outreach programs that include voter registration and resource fairs.
“To connect tribal contact with state contact” is a primary function, Toledo said, explaining the Division helps tribes identify the appropriate state-agency counterparts and provides trainings to help liaisons “do their jobs better.” He said many in-person liaison meetings were paused during the pandemic and are planned to resume in the second quarter of 2025.
Toledo gave several concrete program examples. The Division co-hosted a two-day Navajo Nation resource fair at the State Library with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and Utah Foster Care that drew roughly 400–425 attendees and connected residents with Navajo Nation divisions providing health and social services. The Division also offers voter-registration appointments for Navajo Nation citizens living in Utah and maintains a small community-sponsorship program to support cultural events.
On cultural-preservation work, Toledo said staff are consulting with tribes about exhibits for the new state museum at the Capitol. Cultural liaison Jacob Crane is working with museum staff to ensure tribal voices are included, and the Division oversees a human-remains review program that coordinates with the State Historic Preservation Office.
Toledo described internal staffing and roles: Dustin Jansen is the division director, Jacob Crane is the cultural liaison, Rosanna Benally Sagg is the administrative assistant, and an intern, Tracy, supports communications and outreach. The Division said it typically fields the marketing and records work for social media and events.
The office also promotes and supports community programs run by partner organizations. Toledo highlighted Utah Foster Care’s efforts to recruit more Native American foster homes and named Stephanie Benally as the staff lead there; Utah Foster Care organizes the Moccasin 5K each May for National Foster Care Awareness Month to raise awareness of the need for foster placements.
Previewing a regular public event, Toledo said the Division’s largest annual gathering — the Native American summit at Utah Valley University in August — usually draws about 450–500 attendees and features a plenary session, breakout workshops and an exhibitor area intended to help the public learn about tribal issues and services.
Asked what he wanted listeners to remember, Toledo said: “The native community is here. We're here. We're not in the past anymore.” He directed listeners to the Division’s website, indian.utah.gov, and to its social-media channels for event listings and additional information.
The podcast was recorded at the Utah State Library, which noted services including a Bookmobile program, resources for people who are blind or disabled and statewide online databases and audiobooks via Libby. For more information on the Division of Indian Affairs, Toledo recommended visiting indian.utah.gov.
