Native American Affairs Program
Program Support—Missouri Basin and Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas Gulf (Interior Regions 5 and 6)
Formerly the Great Plains Region
The Missouri Basin and Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas Gulf Regions encompasses all or part of the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. There are approximately 68 federally recognized Indian tribes in this region. Severe water quality and quantity problems exist on many reservations in the region. To address these problems requires aggressive outreach by Reclamation staff in the six Area Offices within the region. Working directly with Indian tribes and Tribal coalitions has proven to be an effective way to provide technical assistance to rural Indian communities in the region. The region's Native American Affairs Office is working toward a stronger level of participation in coordinating and funding projects designed to remediate water problems and benefit Indian communities with other Federal agencies.
The principal objective of this region's Native American Affairs Office is to help Indian tribes build their capability to become self-sufficient. Overall goals and responsibilities in this region include:
These activities are consistent with policy described in the Presidential Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies titled, "Government-to-Government Relations With Native American Tribal Governments," dated April 29, 1994.
- Providing technical assistance to Indian tribes.
- Making Reclamation's programs available to Indian tribes.
- Improving on-the-ground water infrastructure to promote Tribal economic development, and municipal and industrial water development.
- Developing and using innovative methods or systems to serve the water needs of small communities and villages.
- Assisting Indian tribes in the protection, management, and development of their water and related resources.
- Providing policy and technical support for Indian Water Rights Settlements.
- Carrying out Reclamation policies and procedures upholding the Secretary of the Interior's Indian trust responsibility.
- Making Reclamation resources available to Indian country to assist Tribal governments to protect, manage, and develop water and related resources.
- Coordinating and implementing a technical assistance program to Indian tribes in accordance with applicable sections of Reclamation's Implementation Plan.
- Supporting the Indian Self-Determination and Tribal Self-Governance programs (Public Law 93-638 Program).
- Training Reclamation employees and members of federally recognized Indian tribes in water resources related areas.
Note: This Presidential Memorandum policy can be found on the "Consultation With Indian Tribes and the Government-to-Government Relationship (Policies, Procedures, and Guidance)" webpage: (Native American Affairs Program Webpage).
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| Name, Title | Office | Telephone Number | |
| Douglas L. Davis Regional Native American Affairs Program Manager |
Regional Office PO Box 36900 Billings MT 59101-6900 |
406-247-7710 | douglasdavis@usbr.gov |
|
Evan Coldiron Planning Program Coordinator |
Dakotas Area Office PO Box 1017 Bismarck ND 58501 |
701-221-1243 | ecoldiron@usbr.gov |
|
Ryan Colloton Native American Affairs Coordinator |
Montana Area Office PO Box 30137 Billings MT 59107-0137 |
406-247-7306 | rcolloton@usbr.gov |
|
Catherine Griffin Native American Affairs Coordinator |
Nebraska-Kansas Area Office PO Box 1607 Grand Island NE 68802 |
308-345-8324 | cgriffin@usbr.gov |
| Jeremy (Trent) Parish Native American Affairs Coordinator |
Oklahoma-Texas Area Office 5316 Highway 290 West, Suite #510 Austin TX 78735 |
512-899-4157 | jparish@usbr.gov |
| Christina (Christi) Davis-Kernan Native American Affairs Coordinator |
Wyoming Area Office PO Box 1630 Mills WY 82644 |
307-261-5648 | cdaviskernan@usbr.gov |
| Tribes in the Region (Adobe PDF) | |||
