Challenges Faced by Smaller Tribes in Accessing Federal Funding

Introduction

Accessing federal funding remains an elusive goal for smaller tribes, hindered by bureaucratic and financial hurdles. During a recent Senate Indian Affairs Committee roundtable, Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma and other tribal leaders expressed their frustrations with the lack of progress in receiving funding for their projects.

Financial Hurdles and Tough Choices

For the Hopi tribe, federal officials offered to fund improvements to their power system, but with a catch. They required the tribe to come up with a $10 million match, which represented over half of their annual general fund budget. This left the tribe facing a difficult choice between paying the cost match or allocating funds to essential services like schools and elderly care.

A Widespread Issue

The Hopi tribe is not alone in this uphill battle. Tribal leaders from across the country shared similar frustrations during the roundtable. They highlighted the bureaucratic and financial challenges they face in accessing the funds they desperately need.

Challenges in Rural Alaska

Jasmine Boyle, the chief development officer for Rural Alaska Community Action Program, shed light on the difficulties faced by Alaskan tribes. Accessing funds from the federal government is a major challenge for the 229 Alaskan tribes she represents. The lack of broadband internet access and the absence of physical addresses hinder their ability to even apply for grants and other funding opportunities.

Connectivity Issues and Missed Opportunities

Boyle emphasized that the lack of connective tissue, such as broadband internet, severely limits the tribes’ ability to search for new opportunities, receive alerts about tribal set-asides, and have the human capacity to navigate through the complex grant application process.

Power Challenges for the Colville Reservation

The Colville Reservation Nespelem, home to the Grand Coulee Dam, faces its own set of challenges. Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson of the Colville Business Council explained that the tribe struggles to find stable power on their lands, despite promises of lower electricity rates when the dam was built. As a result, tribal members face exorbitant power bills, leaving them with a significant financial burden.

Basic Infrastructure Deficiencies

Chairman Nuvangyaoma highlighted the lack of basic infrastructure faced by tribes like the Hopi. With only 15% of homes having electricity, frequent power surges and outages lead to wasted food and financial losses. The tribe’s reliance on distant locations for groceries exacerbates the problem when power outages occur.

Unmet Expectations

The installation of a 5,000-kilovolt power line through the middle of the reservation brought hope to the Hopi tribe. However, the federal government imposed a $10 million match requirement before they could connect to the line, which the tribe could not fulfill. Their request to waive the match was denied, leaving them without the anticipated power improvements.

Addressing the Challenges

Senator Brian Schatz, chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, expressed his frustration with the bureaucratic roadblocks faced by tribes. He vowed to ensure that agencies, such as the Department of Energy, fulfill their obligations. Senator Schatz offered his personal staff as “bird dogs” to assist the tribes in navigating the funding process and advocated for a smoother experience.

A Call for Accountability

Senator Schatz reminded the agencies that it is their responsibility to disperse the funds appropriated by Congress. He emphasized that making it difficult for tribes to access funding is not within their discretion, and they should not consider it a favor to fulfill their obligations.