Monthly Newsletter
Newsletter
The CIEA office is still physically closed until further noticed. Staff is still available via email and through out telephones.
Again, we are so happy to be able to provide you with monthly announcements about training, capacity building, Tribal Self-Advocacy and funding opportunities, as well as water related news. Readers are more than welcome to send information about upcoming events, training, or news that you think would be beneficial for other Tribal members in other regions to know to our Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, Joel Sedano at info@cieaweb.org.
The SWAMP Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program is interested in building relationships with California Native American Tribes and learning about each tribes’ interest and readiness to partner with us.
Background
The Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program works with its many partners to answer the question: Is it safe to eat fish and shellfish in California waters that the public and tribes use for consumption, subsistence, and/or cultural purposes?
The Water Board’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) evaluated its Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program and issued a Realignment Plan in December 2020. The Realignment Plan calls for a focus on incorporating Tribal perspectives and needs into its monitoring efforts and ensuring those data and information are useful and used by Californian Native American Tribes (tribes) who rely on waterbodies for traditional, cultural, and subsistence uses. The inclusion of representatives from Tribal governments and/or Tribal advocacy groups in the Realignment process is central to the success of the Program and long-term (10+ year) Realignment effort. Tribal representatives who choose to participate in a future Realignment Process will have the opportunity to highlight priorities and shape the future of the Program in their region so that it better serves their communities.
Tribal Engagement Plan
From March to November 2022, the Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program will be conducting statewide outreach and engagement with tribes that are interested in learning more about the Program or the Realignment process. The main objectives of this Tribal engagement effort are to:
Initiate introductions between Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program staff and tribes.
Explain the Program and Realignment process, and gauge Tribal interest and readiness to participate in future Realignment cycles.
Execute the engagement well in advance of the beginning of the next Regional Realignment cycle (2024) so that tribes have time to make an informed decision regarding their interest and readiness to engage with the Program and participate in future Realignment cycles.
How to Participate
Schedule an introductory meeting with Program staff. Introductory meetings can be short (~30 min) or long (one or more hours), depending on Tribal representatives’ interest and availability.
To schedule a meeting with Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program staff, please complete the Tribal Engagement Interest Form to indicate your interest in connecting with us, your availability to set up a meeting, who should be included in the meeting invitation, and their contact information. There is no deadline to complete the form. The form can be found by clicking the read more button below.
Resources below can be found on the Water Boards website.
Tribal Engagement Plan
Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program Fact Sheet
Realignment Plan Fact Sheet
Realignment Plan Executive Summary
Contact
Anna Holder, SWAMP Bioaccumulation Monitoring Program Coordinator and Realignment Lead, at anna.holder@waterboards.ca.gov (preferred) or 916-341-5096.
The APGP draft guidelines incorporate feedback received through seven public listening sessions, focus groups, and key informant interviews from Spring 2022. To understand the development of this draft, refer to this ICARP engagement summary. Feedback received by the October 28th deadline will inform a final version of the draft guidelines, which OPR will post on its website in mid-November.
Providing Public Comment: Public comments can be made submitted via email to icarp.grants@opr.ca.gov or mailed to “Office of Planning and Research, 1400 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814” no later than October 28th at 5:00p.m.
Workshops: OPR is also hosting four public Q&A workshops to gather additional feedback. Attendees are encouraged to participate based on their preference. Please register to attend on the APGP website.
Next Steps: The Final Guidelines will be published online following the public review period.
To sign up for the APGP listserv, please hit the read more button below.
The Regional Water Board is working toward a future where a person’s race or tribal affiliation does not predict their access to or quality of water and where water quality conditions are improved for all marginalized groups. We are taking the first steps to achieve this future by, in part, drafting a Racial Equity Resolution (Resolution) that will acknowledge historical and present-day racial inequities and injustices and commit to developing an Action Plan with specific actions to advance racial equity in the North Coast Region. We are reaching out to the NCRP to invite and encourage you and your members to participate in opportunities to share with us your experiences and priorities related to inequities in access to clean and safe water and comments on the draft Resolution when it is available.
The Regional Water Board will hold four engagement events to seek input on the draft Resolution from communities of interest and tribes prior to proposing the draft Resolution to our Board for adoption in February 2023. These engagement events include:
1. A hybrid (in person and virtual) Board workshop on the evening of October 5 or 6, 2022;
2. Two in-person listening sessions during the week of October 17-21, 2022; and
3. One virtual, region-wide listening session during the week of October 24-28, 2022.
The purpose of the engagement events is to:
1. Inform communities of interest, tribes, and the public about the Regional Water Board’s racial equity initiative, the draft resolution and its review period, and future Action Plan;
2. Create a space for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and other people of color to share their input, experiences, perspectives, and wisdom related to racial inequities and environmental injustices in the North Coast Region; and
3. Invite comments and conversation from Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and other people of color communities, tribes, and other members of the public related to the draft resolution, future action plan, and racial equity at large.
We encourage you and your members to attend the board workshop and/or listening sessions, but also invite you to engage in informal discussions with us in advance of and/or instead of participation in these events. We are happy to provide more details about the work we do, discuss how our work may or could intersect with the work NCRP does, discuss the contents of the draft resolution, and/or any other topics you wish to discuss.
After the Resolution is adopted, Regional Water Board staff will develop an Action Plan that will contain specific actions the Regional Water Board and its staff will take to implement the Resolution and advance racial equity. This initial invitation to informally discuss the Racial Equity Resolution is intended to mark the beginning of an ongoing discussion and relationship to inform the direction of our efforts, for not only the Resolution, but the future Action Plan as well.
Thank you for your time and we look forward to your input, should you choose to engage. For updates on the dates and locations of the listening sessions and other project-related information, please subscribe to the Racial Equity email list here: https://waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/reg1_subscribe.html. Please don’t hesitate to contact me by email at kason.grady@waterboards.ca.gov or RB1-Equity@waterboards.ca.gov or by telephone at 707-576-2682, if you would like to set up a meeting to discuss further.
Thank you and have a great day.
~Kason
The California Truth and Healing Fund is intended to provide California Native American tribes, families, communities and organizations with resources to engage in opportunities associated with the goals of the landmark California Truth & Healing Council. Grant amounts will range from $5,000 to $50,000.
Seeded with an initial $500,000 investment from Decolonizing Wealth Project’s Liberated Capital fund, The California Endowment, and Christensen Fund, and with the goal of raising more than $5 million, the fund is guided by an advisory board of California Natives.
Interested tribes and tribal organizations can find out more information and apply for funding here: https://decolonizingwealth.com/liberated-capital/cathf/. An updated FAQ document is available by hitting the read more button below.
This roundtable on Working Lands, Waters, and Biodiversity will discuss climate impacts to lands and waters that are managed to fulfill some service for society, including agriculture, timberlands, rangelands, aquaculture, fisheries, and lands used for mining, and how to respond to such impacts. To register, hit the read more button below.
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More information coming soon: www.tribalexchangenetwork.org
No registration fee! Join us online or in person!
The 2022 Tribal Exchange Network Conference (October 18-20) aims to expand tribal capacity for environmental data sharing, management, and analysis through informational, interactive sessions that offer:
o Networking opportunities and connections with other professionals
o A showcase of Exchange Network projects and technology tools
o Workshops, demonstrations, and mentoring for tribal professionals
o Discussions on resources, funding opportunities, and technical support
Connections outline
The Tribal EN Conference is now accepting proposals and requests for Presentations and Sponsors/Exhibitors! Sign up now to provide valuable information and connect with attendees.
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Submit a Session Proposal: https://bit.ly/3zGBVpS
Submit a Sponsorship Request: https://bit.ly/3oA6DuD
This event is designed for tribal staff and program managers working with environmental data, particularly those seeking to leverage technology solutions to streamline their work and enhance their data management capacity. Others who may benefit from attending include state and federal partners, collaborators, and other stakeholders working to support tribal sovereignty to address environmental concerns.
Presented by:
ITEP, TXG, EPA
The Tribal Exchange Network Conference is hosted by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) and the Tribal Exchange Network Group (TXG) and made possible by funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).
Application deadline: November 4, 2022.
Eligible applicants: Non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, projects of a non-profit fiscal sponsor, public schools or districts, government entities, Federally Recognized Tribes and other California Native American Tribes as defined by Governor’s Executive Order B-10-11.
Applicants may request any amount up to $50,000. At least 25% will be small grants up to $20,000. Approximately $2,000,000 will be distributed.
WHALE TAIL® grants focus on reaching communities that have historically received fewer marine education and stewardship opportunities. We strongly encourage applicant organizations based in and composed of the communities they are engaging. Projects throughout California are eligible.
Thank you to all the owners of WHALE TAIL® License Plates and donors to the Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund for making these grants possible. Funds were also allocated in 2021 through the California state budget allowing this year’s grants to support even more great education and stewardship projects.
A walk-through of the WHALE TAIL® Grants application will be presented on October 4 at 3:30pm, including time for questions. Register for the webinar.
Download the grant guidelines and application form at www.coastal.ca.gov/whaletailgrant.
Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions about WHALE TAIL® Grants.
The National Water Quality Monitoring Council will host its 13th National Monitoring Conference during the week of April 24–28, 2023, at either Hartford, Connecticut or Virginia Beach, Virginia, final location will be released at a future date. All federal, state, tribal and local water professionals, nonprofits, academia, water consultants and industry, and volunteer scientists are welcome at this important national forum. The conference will be offered in a hybrid format primarily in person, including a limited virtual format.
Networking and opportunities to create new relationships will abound for attendees. Whether you seek to develop new skills, learn about the latest technologies, or simply exchange information on a wide variety of topics relevant to water resources, the National Monitoring Conference is for you. Monitoring for water quality/quantity and public and ecological health in all water resources will be represented, including lakes and wetlands, rivers and streams, coastal waters and estuaries, and groundwater. The conference attracts the highest quality professional papers and posters and is a destination conference for many in the field.
Please look for the Call for Session Proposals and Call for Abstracts in Spring and Summer of 2022.
For more information, please hit the read more button to be redirected to their website.
The California Indian Environmental Alliance (CIEA) is a well-established, small-sized nonprofit that maintains relationships with a multitude of California Native Tribes, Tribal organizations, non-governmental organizations and agencies across the state.
Our mission is “to protect and restore California Indian Peoples’ cultural traditions, ancestral territories, means of subsistence, and environmental health.” CIEA operates swiftly. Our Tribal partners expect the finest support and representation, and we work hard to exceed their expectations. We are looking for you to join us in supporting Tribal self-advocacy and environmental resiliency.
CIEA is seeking an Executive Assistant with experience and a background in environmental justice. Because our organization works with Tribes in California, those with experience working within Native American communities are preferred. You will be responsible for organizing the
day-to-day activities of our organization while assisting in operational functions in support of the Executive Director (ED). You will assist, oversee, and maintain records for project reporting and deadlines for all of CIEA staff program coordinators. We are looking for someone with 5–10 years of experience who will bring innovation and ideas to enhance our operations and swiftly adapt to a dynamic environment. California Tribal members and/or other Tribal people are highly encouraged to apply. Open until filled. We look forward to meeting you!
Qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, political science, Native American Studies, social work, or a related field(s), or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience, is preferred.
2-5 years of experience in grant writing and/or grant management
Preferred candidates will have 3+ years of executive, personal assistant, or program experience.
Preferred candidates will have 2+ years of clerical/administrative experience, staff oversight and/or Human Resources experience.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities include:
self-motivated, proactive, diplomatic, tactful, confident personality with the ability to be persistent when necessary.
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Outlook, Google Drive, QuickBooks, Abode, and Zoom; Experience with HRIS and applicant tracking systems is strongly preferred.
must be extremely detail-oriented.
must operate well in a team environment, maintain a positive attitude, and be willing to work with all team members.
be able to perform job duties with little supervision.
ability to maintain a flexible working attitude while performing job duties under stressful conditions or dealing with complex communications
An excellent understanding of English, both written and verbal, is required.
excellent written and verbal communication skills.
ability to maintain confidential or sensitive information.
flexibility in scheduling, which may include working a limited number of nights and weekends
You must be a creative, high-energy, hands-on professional who can successfully multitask in a fast-paced environment and maintain excellent organizational skills.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Calendar management entails scheduling meetings, calls, and travel on a daily, monthly, and quarterly basis to align with both business and personal schedules.
Communicating with staff and assisting with project management
Managing and completing correspondence in coordination with the Executive Director
Reviewing contract agreements and staff reports
supports the HR team with additional duties and projects as needed.
Assists with receptionist duties and special projects as needed.
Support staff with project management needs.
Answer, screen, route, and initiate telephone calls and use appropriate telephone etiquette.
Prepare reports and/or special projects, which may include data collection from fellow employees, coordination, final copy preparation, distribution, etc.
responsible for filing active and inactive employee documents and files.
Support the ED in responding to phone messages in a courteous and professional
manner within 24 hours of receiving the call.
Become familiar with all CIEA daily functions in order to build them into project reports effectively and accurately.
Effectively coordinate a consistent, integrated, and comprehensive system of communications.
Other duties as assigned
Job Type: Full-time
Experience:
Executive Assistant: 3+ years (Preferred)
Human Resources: 2 years (Preferred)
Program Management: 3+ years (Preferred)
Salary: $28-$33 per hour, DEPENDENT ON EXPERIENCE.
Additional Compensation: Reimbursement for travel, hotel, and food based on state
scale as necessary.
Location: The primary work location is in El Cerrito, CA, with the possibility of some
remote work days each month.
Benefits: ARE NEGOTIABLE
Schedule: day shift, Monday through Friday, and some weekends (8-hour average
shifts, 36 to 40 hours per week)
This Job Is:
This is a good fit for applicants of all ages, including older job seekers and people with
disabilities, who are encouraged to apply. The position is open to applicants who do not
have a college diploma.
The job is open to applicants with gaps in their resume or who have been out of the
workforce for the past 6 months.
Opportunity for growth and advancement
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume/CV, and a list of professional references (minimum of 3) to info@cieaweb.org.
human health and contaminants in fish. The free virtual conference will be held as follows:
• Week 1: February 28 and March 2, 2023 (12:00 – 5:30 PM Eastern Time)
• Week 2: March 7 and 9, 2023 (12:00 – 5:30 PM Eastern Time)
Some topics likely to be covered include:
• Latest science on specific contaminants in fish and their impacts on human health (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS], mercury, PCBs, and cyanotoxins)
• Emerging science in developing fish consumption advisories
• Risk communication and public engagement strategies for fish consumption advisories
• Issuing/rescinding fish consumption advisories
• Effectiveness of fish consumption advisories
• Environmental justice: Protection of high frequency fish consumers, such as subsistence fishers and fishers in underserved communities
• Community/participatory science: Roles and practices
• Sampling and analysis: Practices and methods
Register for the Fish Forum at: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_h_jw0futQ1GjDim2P51Ubg.
If you plan to submit an abstract for consideration, please submit all materials for consideration by Wednesday, November 2, 2022. Your abstract should be no longer than 250 words.
For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/fish-tech/2023-national-fish-forum.
Berkeley, CA 94702