Tribal liaisons from the FEMA Region VIII External Affairs Office spent two busy days on the Flathead Indian Reservation on May 10-11 at the Montana Indian Nations Working Group. Hosted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation in Polson, Montana, the MINWG provided an opportunity for FEMA staff to meet with tribes from Montana to hear updates on their emergency management plans and concerns.
Also in attendance were representatives from the State of Montana’s Department of Emergency Management, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Montana Red Cross, BIA’s Division of Energy and Mineral Development, the Missoula Office of the National Weather Service and members of the U.S. Army Reserve stationed in Great Falls. For two days attendees discussed issues facing Montana tribes, their reservations and were provided trainings on the Missing Child Initiative and human trafficking. Emergency responders from the Fort Peck Reservation and the Blackfeet Nation attended alongside the Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
FEMA Region VIII serves as a partner to 28 tribal nations across the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. FEMA tribal liaisons are primary points of contact between FEMA Region VIII and each tribal nation, their elected governments and appointed emergency management officials.
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