{"id":36846,"date":"2024-05-06T09:46:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T13:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=36846"},"modified":"2024-05-06T16:34:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T20:34:15","slug":"nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-145","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/05\/06\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-145\/","title":{"rendered":"NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week"},"content":{"rendered":" \"NAFOA\"<\/a>
#NAFOA2024 was the largest gathering in our history! Over 1,000 tribal leaders, finance experts, government officials…and even a baby alligator came together. Thanks for making the 42nd Annual Conference a success! Photo courtesy NAFOA<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
5 Things You Need to Know this Week<\/div>\r\n
ICYMI: May 5 was Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives. Demand justice.<\/div>\r\n
Monday, May 6, 2024<\/div>\r\n
Source: NAFOA<\/div>\r\n
nafoa.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n

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1. NAFOA NEWS:<\/EM><\/div>\r\n
NAFOA ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 17TH ANNUAL LEADERSHIP AWARDS<\/div>\r\nThe NAFOA Leadership Awards recognize the achievements of tribal leaders, tribal executives, advocates, and financial transactions driving economic progress within Indian Country. The 17th Annual Leadership Awards were presented at the 42nd Annual Conference at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nGovernment Economic Empowerment<\/strong>
\r\nNAFOA awards Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota the Government Economic Empowerment Award for his exceptional dedication to tribal relations. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nEducation Program of the Year<\/strong>
\r\nNAFOA\u2019s Education Program of the Year Award honors a creative and effective education program that furthers knowledge and understanding of business and economic development. This year\u2019s recipient is the Turtle Mountain Community Schools (Belcourt School District #7) and their innovative Learning Loss Program.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nGovernment Impact Deal of the Year<\/strong>
\r\nNAFOA awards the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin (LCO) the Government Impact Deal of the Year for their groundbreaking financing of a new healthcare and outpatient clinic. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nBusiness Impact Deal of the Year<\/strong>
\r\nThe Business Impact Deal of the Year Award acknowledges initiatives driving significant economic growth for tribes and Indian Country. This year\u2019s recipient is the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, recognized for their shared acquisition of the Major League Soccer franchise, San Diego FC, alongside entrepreneur Mohamed Mansour. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nHonorary Leadership Award<\/strong>
\r\nNAFOA presents Dawson Her Many Horses, Managing Director and Head of Native American Banking at Wells Fargo, with an Honorary Leadership Award for his longstanding commitment to advancing tribal economic development.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nExecutive of the Year<\/strong>
\r\nNAFOA annually honors tribal leaders who demonstrate exemplary leadership and financial planning that benefits Indian Country. Misty Secena, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, is this year\u2019s recipient of the 2024 Executive of the Year Award for her role as the Tribe\u2019s Chief Financial Officer.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nTribal Leader of the Year<\/strong>
\r\nNAFOA\u2019s Tribal Leader of the Year Award celebrates leaders with exceptional foresight and resolve in advancing their tribal nations. This year, Nickolaus D. Lewis (Juts-kadim\u2019) of the Lummi Nation Tribe in Washington State is honored with this distinction. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nContinue Reading<\/a>\r\n\r\n

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2. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING:<\/EM><\/div>\r\n
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BENEFIT COORDINATOR (APPOINTED REP VS POWER OF ATTORNEY) TRAINING<\/div>\r\nThe Social Security Administration (SSA) invites you to join the monthly FREE virtual training series focused on policy topics important to Tribal communities. This information will assist Tribal Benefit Coordinators, Navigators, Social Workers, and other stakeholders who provide support to tribal members. Each two-hour training session will include a Q&A discussion with SSA experts.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nIn the May session, we will focus on the various ways to help someone apply for benefits or appeal a decision. We will discuss the difference between being an authorized representative versus having power of attorney. We will explain the role and responsibilities of a Representative Payee and discuss what forms to complete to disclose information on behalf of a claimant. We will share tips and resources for anyone assisting others and learn what a claimant must do to appoint a qualified individual to represent them in doing business with Social Security.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nSource: Social Security Administration\r\nRegister for Tuesday, May 21st at 10:00am ET<\/a>\r\n\r\n

<\/P>\r\nRegister for Wednesday, May 22nd at 1:30pm ET<\/a>\r\n\r\n

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3. MUST READ: <\/EM><\/div>\r\n
TRIBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: AN OKLAHOMA STORY<\/div>\r\nAfter breaking ground in August 2023, Cherokee Nation Businesses is nearing completion of a major expansion of its Cherokee Film Studios in Owasso, Oklahoma, just north of Tulsa.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nBy providing new jobs and creating a platform to tell the Cherokee story, Cherokee Films has emerged as a major component of the Cherokee Nation\u2019s business strategy, which also includes gaming and hospitality and Cherokee Federal, an outsourcing service to the federal government. The studio expansion is adding a second soundstage to the Owasso Campus.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cOsiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,\u201d the Cherokee Film Commission\u2019s documentary series, is being distributed by more than 250 PBS member stations as well as on FNX, an all-Native programming network. The series, says host Jennifer Loren, the commission\u2019s senior director, brings \u201cauthentic Cherokee stories into the living rooms of millions of people, many of whom have likely only known inaccurate accounts of Cherokee history. It is really incredible to see our series become nationally syndicated.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\nSource: Site Selection magazine, May 2024\r\nContinue Reading<\/a>\r\n\r\n

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4. SURVEY:<\/EM><\/div>\r\n
GASB’S PROJECT ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL ASSETS\u2014POTENTIAL DISCLOSURES<\/div>\r\nThe Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is currently considering potential disclosures regarding infrastructure assets, with more detail about the project here. In this survey, we would like to get your feedback, as a user of government financial reports, about which of these disclosures would have a meaningful effect (more than \u201cnice to know\u201d) on your analyses for making decisions or assessing accountability. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nThe survey addresses disclosures related to infrastructure assets as well as capital assets more broadly. The survey asks for your feedback on five separate groups of disclosures:\r\n

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