On December 21, 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published the attached notice in the FEDERAL REGISTER regarding the deadline for submission of applications by tribes and tribal consortia to begin participation in the tribal self-governance program in Fiscal Year 2017 or Calendar Year 2017. Applications are to be submitted to the BIA Office of Self-Governance. The deadline for submission of applications is March 1, 2016.
Tribes and tribal consortia do not need to submit an application under this announcement if they are currently involved in negotiations with the Department of Interior or are one of the 115 tribal entities with signed Self-Governance agreements.
The BIA Office of Self-Governance may select up to 50 additional tribes/tribal consortia per year to participate in the program. The BIA estimates that the negotiations for such agreements could be expected to take two months. Signed agreements are to be submitted to Congress and to each tribe at least 90 days prior to its effective date.
Please let us know if we may provide additional information or be of assistance regarding Self-Governance program applications.
