Hello and welcome to RD’s Tribal Relations Page!
USDA Rural Development (RD) places a high value in its relationship with Tribes, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. We collaborate and partner with Tribes to realize a brighter future for families, children, and Tribal communities. We make critical investments in infrastructure, schools, health clinics, housing, and businesses, to benefit Native families and communities across rural America.
RD also promotes external impact by connecting and collaborating with our partners at Rural.gov. The Rural Partners Network (RPN) lists the programs and resources developed exclusively for Tribes, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives.
Our RD Tribal Relations Team champions and coordinates our work with Tribes. Through consultation, coordination, and collaboration, we honor our government-to-government relationships with Tribes and enhance access to our various programs and services to Tribes, Tribal members, and Tribal organizations.
Tribal Events and Outreach
News & Announcements
This section contains information on Tribal-specific programs, programs with set-aside Tribal funding, and other useful information for Native Americans and Tribal communities.
- Native Community Development Financial Institution Relending Demonstration Program
- The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program (IAG) | Fact Sheet
- Tribal College Initiative Grants
- Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands
- Grants for Rural and Native Alaskan Villages
- Rural Business Development Grant
- Intermediary Relending Program
- ReConnect
- (July 26, 2023) Hearing on Native priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill Reauthorization
- (July 26, 2023) USDA Launches Pilot Programs to Increase Affordable Homeownership Opportunities for People on Tribal Lands
- (May 18, 2023) USDA to Increase Homeownership Opportunities for Native American Tribes, Alaska Native Communities and Native Hawaiian Communities in Rural Areas
- (Apr. 19, 2023) USDA Announces Funding Availability to Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Options for Underserved Producers and Tribal Communities
- (Dec. 16, 2022) USDA Invests $102 Million to Create Economic Opportunities, Expand Access to Water Infrastructure and Rehabilitate Homes for Underserved Rural People Across the U.S.
- (Nov. 1, 2022) USDA Rural Development Observes Native American Heritage Month
- (Oct. 5, 2022) USDA Partners with Local Groups to Increase Homeownership Opportunities for Native Americans
RD's Tribal Relations Office
The Rural Development Tribal Relations office is a part of the Innovation Center's Strategic Engagement Division, which ensures relevant programs and policies are efficient, easy to understand, accessible, and developed in consultation with the American Indians and Alaska Native constituents they impact. For inquires about Rural Development’s programs and services for Tribes email us at aian@usda.gov. To contact staff members directly, select their image below.
Tribal Relations Team
Our Commitment to Tribes
The United States Government has a unique legal and political relationship with federally-recognized Tribal governments and the citizens or members of those Tribes as defined in treaties, statutes, court decisions, Executive Orders, and Departmental Regulations. Because of this legal and judicial precedence, the U.S. government recognizes these Tribes as domestic, sovereign nations with a responsibility to develop and administer programming to the benefit of Tribes and Tribal members: continue reading