2024 Conference

Theme

Stories of Wisdom – Harnessing the Power of TEK

Host

The Viejas Band Of Kumeyaay Indians and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are honored to co-host the 2024 Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Annual Conference, taking place October 22-24, 2024. Under the direction of the Viejas Environmental Department and in cooperation with EPA’s Region 9 Tribal Branch, we are organizing a robust and exciting agenda of speakers, sessions, and experiences for conference attendees.

Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Why Attend

The Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Annual Conference has been the must-attend annual event for Region 9 Tribes since it began in 1993. Now in its 32nd year, the conference provides opportunities to learn from Tribal environmental professionals and U.S. EPA experts in air quality, water quality, pollution prevention, solid waste management, climate change adaptation, and more.

Starting with the fall Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) meeting on day one, the conference continues over three days with presentations, round-tables, training, panel discussions, workshops, and more.

Whether you are a seasoned Tribal environmental professional or brand new, you will find something new and exciting to learn and share at the R9 Tribal Environmental Conference. See old friends, make new connections, and strengthen Tribal sovereignty and environmental protection efforts at the Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Annual Conference.

Registration

Registration will be open through the 2024 Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Conference Accelevents Event Page. This year we are offering the conference in person in San Jose, CA, and virtually (online) via Accelevents, a virtual conferencing platform. Features such as registration, agenda management, and contact info will be administered through Accelevents.

Everyone who registers will get full access to the online conference platform through Accelevents. This versatile platform allows you to customize your personal profile, develop a customized conference agenda, engage with other attendees by private message or virtual meetings, visit the virtual exhibit hall, and of course, participate online in any of the conference sessions from plenaries to presentations.

Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Conference has provided details on registration fees, payments, registration, and refunds below. Please take a moment to read through the registration page before registering.

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Agenda

Download the 2024 Agenda

2024 Draft Agenda

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Submissions

The Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Conference is looking for dynamic, relevant, innovative, and exciting content from tribal and U.S. EPA presenters for this year’s conference Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Annual Conference.

While we welcome traditional panel presentations, we are also asking that you consider ways to make your session interactive and engaging for participants. As you develop your proposal, consider the different formats you can choose for sharing your knowledge and pick the one that you think will work best to keep your audience focused, involved, and active.

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Conner Byestewa Jr. Award Nominations

Conner Byestewa Jr. (1937-1999) was the Director of Environmental Protection and the Agriculture Regulatory Office for the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT). The Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Conference established the Conner Byestewa Jr. Award in his honor in 2000. This award highlights the achievements of Tribal environmental professionals in Region 9 who are committed to Conner’s principles of tribal self-government, improved human health, and environmental protection.

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Youth Art Contest

The work we do as Tribal environmental professionals is directly related to our commitment to ensuring a safe and healthy future for our children. In that spirit, we invite the Tribal youth of Region 9 to participate in this year’s art contest. We are featuring three age/grade categories: K-5th grade, 6th – 8th grade, and 9th – 12th grade.

Winners in each age/grade category will win a cash gift card of $100, and ALL entrants will receive gifts for participating. All entries will be featured during the Tribal EPA & U.S. EPA Region 9 Conference on the website, on the agenda, and during opening and closing ceremonies. Winners will get special acknowledgment during the opening ceremonies.

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Conner Byestewa Jr. Award 2024 Recipients

The 2024 Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference Committee is pleased to announce that we have selected three awardees for this year’s Conner Byestewa Jr. Environmental Award. All three of the awardees are being recognized for honoring Conner Byestewa Jr.’s legacy through their commitment to Tribal environmental protection. Congratulations to Brian Davidson (Inter Tribal Council of Arizona), Heidi Brow (Pala Band of Mission Indians), and Dallas Smales (South Fork Band of Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone).

About

Bio

Name: Brian Davidson
Organization: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
Title: Solid Waste and Emergency Response Coordinator

Brian’s leadership has been instrumental in guiding the ITCA’s environmental programs. Brian worked for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the US EPA, and ITCA. His expertise in many areas of the environment have been beneficial to Tribes and he has served as a resource connecting government leaders to Tribal staff, inviting former Directors from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, and Associate Administrators to the EPA to address Tribal Environmental Matters.
Brian’s work has had a significant impact on the communities he serves. His efforts to promote sustainable waste management practices have helped to protect the environment and improve public health. He has made contacts with private businesses and consultants who have been willing to do business with Tribes by conducting hazardous waste, completing emergency response plans, conducting table top exercises and bringing Hazardous Waste Operator and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), Incident Command Systems (ICS), and HAZMAT training. By building partnerships and securing funding, Brian has ensured that Tribal communities have the resources to address environmental challenges. In addition, Brian has served as the secretary and coordinator for the Indian Country Intelligence Network (ICIN) for the past five years.

About

Bio

Name: Heidi Brow
Tribe: Pala Band of Mission Indians
Title: Environmental Coordinator

Heidi Brow has worked for the Pala Band of Mission Indians (San Diego, CA) in their Environmental Department since 2005, and is now their Environmental Coordinator. She manages the tribe’s water resource program, including water quality monitoring and drinking water programs, grant management and financial tracking, developing water-related reports for the tribe, overseeing drought and flood-related projects, and designing a new waterwise demonstration garden for the community. She also regularly conducts outreach to both the tribal community and watershed-wide, works on tribal youth science programing, and a variety of other water-conservation implementation programs. Additionally, she has worked on several of the tribe’s climate change efforts, including: reports, planning, and outreach with the Climate Science Alliance.

About

Bio

Name: Dallas Smales
Tribe: South Fork Band of Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone
Title: Environmental Director

Dallas Smales is the Environmental Director for the South Fork Band of the Te- Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada, a position she has held for 15+ years as well as life experience in relation to Mother Earth, being exposed and educated from her maternal grandparents who raised Dallas and her 3 brothers on the South Fork Band Reservation. Dallas is passionate about the natural environment and is constantly focused on improving the conditions on and around the South Fork Band Reservation.
Dallas has brought federal, state, county, Tribal, and local agencies as well as mining industries together to collaborate on what is in the best interests of a healthy ecosystem for all.
In her position as the Environmental Director, Dallas oversees several environmental programs that she established, with the exception of the NPS-319 Base (her nephew Jacob Tybo obtained), this includes but not limited to; GAP, CWA-106, NPS-319 Base, NPS-319 Competitive, Water Management (BIA), Rangeland Management (BIA), Invasive Weeds Program (BIA), Community Hoop House, SFB Firewood Bank, Wildlife Water Project (NAFWS) as well as collaborating with EQIP/Conservation Programs (NRCS), USDA- Efficient Agricultural Programs (FSA), in promoting healthy lifestyles for the South Fork Band assignment holders and community.
When Dallas is not in her role of Environmental Director, she is working on her cattle ranch which basically is a 24/7 job. She continues her maternal grandparent’s legacy, alongside her husband Jim until his passing December 2023, on the ranch her grandparents established in 1938, on the South Fork Band Reservation with the assistance of her son Brandon, daughters Nocona and Jessi as well as her 5 grandchildren who all help on the ranch.
Dallas’ favorite quote –
“The Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the Earth.” – Chief Seattle