Individuals can submit nomination packages for membership on the first-ever Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council.
The advisory council will enable Tribal leaders to advise Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “on homeland security policies and practices that affect Indian Country and indigenous communities,” a Sept. 7 news release said. Advice can be given on such issues as border security, domestic terrorism, law enforcement, emergency management, cybersecurity and targeted violence.
“The inaugural Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council is a result of sustained engagement to improve nation-to-nation relationships and comes at a time of critical importance,” Mayorkas said in the release. “I look forward to building a new council that will provide timely advice and recommendations directly from Indian Country regarding how we can better work together to improve homeland security.”
The council will interact with home security offices and agencies while producing reports and recommendations for Mayorkas. The council will work on issues related to Tribal nations and indigenous populations' homeland security. Diverse backgrounds, leadership, technical expertise and geographic makeup is planned for the council.
According to the release, individuals interested in being members of the Tribal Homeland Security Advisory Council should submit nomination packages by first class mail to Colleen Silva, Office of Partnership and Engagement, MS 0385, Department of Homeland Security, 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20528-0835. Packages can be e-mailed to TribalHSAC@hq.dhs.gov. Deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. EDT Oct. 10.
