Nevada Department of Transportation
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TRIBAL CONSULTATION
Tribal Transportation Consultation in Nevada
Nevada is home to 28 sovereign tribes, each playing a significant role as stakeholders in the ongoing development of the state's transportation system. Tribal members rely on these systems to access essential services, making their participation and input crucial to effective transportation planning. To address the needs of tribal travelers, it is vital to ensure meaningful consultation and coordination with the tribes throughout all phases of the state highway system, including planning, programming, design, construction, operations, and maintenance. Incorporating tribal perspectives enhances the ability to accommodate all travelers, resulting in a more inclusive transportation network. This website serves as a comprehensive source for tribal transportation resources, streamlining access and providing relevant information to support tribal involvement and engagement in Nevada's transportation system.
Vision Statement
NDOT provides for the needs of travelers of all ages and abilities in all planning, programming, design, construction, operations, and maintenance activities on the state highway system. NDOT views each transportation improvement project as an opportunity to improve safety, access, and mobility for all road users in Nevada and recognizes sovereign tribes within the state are important stakeholders in the continued development of the state’s transportation system as tribal members use the state’s transportation system to access services.
Tribal Liaison
An NDOT Tribal Liaison is available to assist NDOT staff with consultation and coordination efforts with Nevada's Tribes. The NDOT Tribal Liaison’s roles include:
▪ Assist the NDOT Director ensuring the implementation of the NDOT Tribal Best Practices
▪ Serve as a contact person who shall maintain ongoing communication between NDOT and affected indigenous tribe.
▪ Ensure that training is provided to NDOT staff pursuant to NRS 233A.270(2)
▪ NDOT’s tribal liaison shall notify the NDOT Director of any issues associated with NDOT policies, agreements, or programs that affect an indigenous tribe. The NDOT Director, or their designee, and the tribal liaison must follow the NDOT Tribal Best Practices to attempt a resolution to the issue in collaboration with the indigenous tribe.
NDOT Tribal Liaison Contact Information
Guinevere Hobdy
NDOT Multimodal Program Development Assistant Chief and Department Tribal Liaison
tribal.liaison@dot.nv.gov
775-888-7219
TRIBAL BEST PRACTICES OVERVIEW
The purpose of developing the NDOT Tribal Best Practices and Recommendations (Tribal Best Practices) is to ensure that NDOT meets the requirements set forth by State Law requiring state agencies to make an effort to collaborate with the tribes. The development and implementation of policies, agreements, and programs of NDOT directly impact the State of Nevada's 21 federally recognized tribes made up of five major indigenous groups; the Northern Paiute (Numu), the Shoshone (Newe), the Southern Paiute (Nuwuvi), the Washoe (Wa She Shu), and the Mojave (Pipa Aha Macav) and 2 communities as depicted in the map below.
Background on Best Practices
NDOT developed the NDOT Tribal Best Practices and Recommendations (Tribal Best Practices) with input from NDOT staff, the Nevada Indian Commission, various tribes within the state, and Arizona Department of Transportation and New Mexico Department of Transportation tribal liaisons. NDOT staff should follow the Tribal Best Practices documents recommendations when consulting and coordinating with Indigenous Tribes to ensure trust and strong relationships continue to be built between NDOT and the tribes.
▪ Link to NDOT Tribal Best Practices and Recommendations
Nevada Indian Tribes
State History and Demographics
Nevada’s American Indian Territory consists of the five Great Basin tribes: Washoe, Northern Paiute, Southern Paiute, Western Shoshone, and Mojave. Nevada is home to 28 sovereign, federally recognized tribes and urban native communities. The tribal land base covers more than 1.16 million acres and is home to more than 32,000 tribal members.
Grant Resources
Available grant opportunities from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are provided here. These grants are expected to be released each year during the five-year period the IIJA is in effect, beginning in 2022.
Additional information about each of the grant opportunities can be found at Grants (US Department of Transportation) and FTA Program Fact Sheets Under The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (FTA). You can also sign up to receive notifications when Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are released for each grant at Grants.gov.
Federal Grant Support Checklist
If your agency is interested in applying for a discretionary federal funding opportunity and needs to do one or more of the following, then please complete this form NDOT support checklist - Grants & Earmarks and submit it to Melissa Chandler MChandler@dot.nv.gov.
1. Earmarks: Request a signed Letter of Support from NDOT,
2. Grant: Request a signed Letter of Support from NDOT,
3. Grant: Request the Department be a Project Funding Partner, or
4. Grant: Request the Department act as the Lead Applicant.
This form should be submitted at least three weeks in advance of the grant application deadline to allow NDOT adequate time to respond.
NDOT Tribal Transportation Consultation Training
NDOT has developed a tribal training course to be completed by NDOT staff and contractors that work on tribal land. The rest of the training summary to be provided once training is finalized.
For more information on the tribal training and to sign up, please contact tribal.liaison@dot.nv.gov
RESOURCES
- Transportation Planning Metropolitan, Non-Metropolitan and Tribal Consultation and STIP Development Process (2019)
- Nevada Urban Indians https://www.nevadaurbanindians.org/
- Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) https://itcn.org/
- Nevada’s American Indian Territory https://nevadasindianterritory.com/
- United States Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) https://www.bia.gov/
- Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) https://ttap-center.org/
- Tribal Transportation Self Governance Program https://transportation.gov/self-governance
- Tribal Transportation Safety Management System Steering Committee https://tribalsafety.org/
- National Congress of American Indians https://www.ncai.org/