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Tribal Coordination

Tribal Coordination and Collaboration

Partnerships with Tribal Nations are essential to emergency management, planning and preparedness, and response and recovery. Building effective relationships with tribes are a natural step in communities coming together and working to build a more resilient and better prepared community.

The role of the Office of Tribal Coordination (OTC) is to improve and maintain communication and collaboration between the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and all Native American Tribes in California. Our office aims to create effective collaboration and provide relevant information, that allow for informed decision-making, where all parties can share a goal of reaching an informed decision together. OTC’s office priorities are to educate internal and external agencies and partners, to become informed about the cultural settings of California Native Americans, understand and relay their priorities for emergency management and homeland security issues, as well as provide cultural awareness and sensitivity, for the purpose of improving Cal OES’s understanding of all Native American Tribes and related issues in California.

Executive Order B-10-11 is intended to implement effective government to government consultation with California Indian Tribes on policies that affect tribal communities. As a result, Cal OES released the Cal OES Tribal Consultation Policy.

Roles and Responsibilities

Tribal Monitors, Cal OES, and partners collaborating on the impacts of the Caldor/Dixie fire.

Tribal Monitors, Cal OES, and partners collaborating on the impacts of the Caldor/Dixie fire.

During non-emergency periods, the Office of Tribal Coordination will collaborate with Tribal Nations by sharing resource information, including grant and training opportunities, as well as providing consultation and technical assistance. The OTC also coordinates Tribal Nation visits in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners to listen to Tribal issues, share successes, implement best practices, and provide resources when available to develop, foster, and strengthen Tribal relationships.

During Disasters, the OTC assists the Tribes with unmet needs, shares information on disaster assistance programs, shelters, and evacuations, as well as provides technical assistance on the recovery process. In addition, OTC attends Tribal Public Forums and coordinates in person meetings with our local, Tribal, Federal, and State partners. The OTC also develops and delivers critical tribal sovereignty and culture resource sensitivity training to Cal OES and partners.

Training Opportunities

The California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI) delivers specialized training throughout California, offering more than a hundred course titles in the areas of emergency management, criminal justice and homeland security, hazardous materials, disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, and crisis communications. (CSTI Training Information Bulletin)

Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute provides more than 200,000 titles encompass the entire gamut of natural and manmade hazards from fires and hurricanes to tornadoes and flooding, from chemical and biological to radiological and nuclear hazards. The emergency management, fire, and emergency medical services collections in particular have the greatest depth and breadth of any in the United States.

Grant Opportunities

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Grants Management oversees grants opportunities in the areas of homeland security, emergency management, public safety, and victim services programs. Click on the link below to access Cal OES grants available to Tribal Nations.

The California Grants Portal is a destination to find all grants and loans offered on a competitive or first-come basis by California state agencies.

EVENT GALLERY

2023 Native American Day- Cal OES Office of Tribal Coordination attended the 56th Native American Day Ceremony and Exhibition held in Sacramento _Capital.
The 2023 FEMA Region IX (9) Tribal Partnership Workshop was held in Arizona.

 

2023 Southern California Tribal Public Safety Conference – The Cal OES team attended the 2023 Southern California Tribal Public Safety Conference held in San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (San Bernardino County), and presented about the Cal OES Cybersecurity, Law Enforcment and Disaster Response initiatives.
The Pala Band of Mission Indians Media Event – The media event held at Pala Band of Mission Indians, to sign a formal agreement to participate in the OES Fire Engine program and the CA master mutual aid system.

TRIBAL LEADERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS

Stay updated with the latest grant opportunities, training programs, policies, and partnership offerings available to Tribal Nations.

The Office of Tribal Coordination strives to maintain effective communication and collaboration with all California Tribal Leaders and Emergency Managers; to do so, we request your help keeping your tribe’s contact information up to date.

STAY CONNECTED

Contact Us

      Helen Lopez

Helen Lopez

Assistant Director

Office (916) 845-8534
Cell: (916) 612-9009
Email: Helen.Lopez@CalOES.ca.gov

Alejandra Obregan

Alejandra Obregan

Tribal Coordinator

Cell: (916) 661-0895
Email: Alejandra.Obregon@CalOES.ca.gov

OTC Main Email for Inquiries:

OTC Main Email for Inquiries:

Email: TribalAffairs@CalOES.ca.gov

After Hours Emergency Contact:

Phone: (916) 628 7572

Gabe Kearney

Gabe Kearney

Tribal Coordinator - Coastal Region

Cell: (916) 926-9542
Email: Gabe.Kearney@CalOES.ca.gov

Alex Shariatmadari

Alex Shariatmadari

Tribal Coordinator - Southern Region

Cell: (916) 754-6942
Email: Alex.Shariatmadari@CalOES.ca.gov

Tribal Nations - Southern MAP
Devante Munoz

Devante Munoz

Tribal Coordinator - Inland Region

Cell: (916) 589-7269
Email: Devante.Munoz@CalOES.ca.gov

Tribal Nations - Inland MAP