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Commission says it established tribal outreach, grants for state-recognized tribes and seeks to expand funding
Summary
Dr. DeCosta described steps to repair relations with Native American communities, secured proclamations for recognized tribes, and created a $250,000 tribal grant program (recurring) that the agency now proposes increasing to $500,000 to support larger tribal projects.
Dr. DeCosta told the subcommittee she encountered strained relations with Native American tribes when she took the agency role and that some prior advisory meetings required armed security. She said she removed armed security, began one-on-one outreach to tribal chiefs and hosted a governor-led event to issue individual proclamations recognizing state-recognized tribes.
"I immediately took control of that situation, eliminated the armed security, and began building relationships with chiefs one by one," Dr. DeCosta said. She said staff now attend tribal events and interact with tribes at powwows and community events.
Dr. DeCosta said the agency added $250,000 to its budget two years ago to allow state-recognized tribes to apply for grants supporting education, tourism and projects on tribal grounds; that allocation became recurring last year. "This year we've asked to increase it to $500,000 because of the larger projects," she said, explaining requests for funding to cover headquarters, equipment and other needs.
On recognition process, presenters said a successful petition to the recognition committee results in state recognition, a certificate the tribe can carry, and eligibility to apply for the commission’s grants. Dr. DeCosta also said the commission had determined the Pine Hill group to be a splinter of an already recognized tribe; as a result, the group was offered "special interest" status that permits formation of a 501(c)(3) and access to some federal dollars but not separate state recognition.
The subcommittee asked whether vacancies on the Native American recognition committee had been filled; Dr. DeCosta said an archaeologist required by statute had been appointed and would join the board on May 18, after which the committee will select remaining members.
The subcommittee did not take any formal vote on funding at the meeting; the agency said it had requested the larger grant allocation in its current budget submission.
