Office of Self-Governance
The Office of Self-Governance (OSG) advances the Native Village of Eyak’s inherent sovereignty by strengthening Tribal authority, expanding self-determination, and ensuring that Tribal programs and services are designed, managed, and governed by NVE for the benefit of its people.
The Office serves as a central coordinating body that supports Tribal Council priorities, oversees self-governance agreements, and ensures that NVE has the systems, policies, and capacity needed to operate as a strong and responsive Tribal government.
What is Self-Governance?
Self-Governance refers to a Tribe’s authority to administer federal programs that would otherwise be run by federal agencies. This authority is grounded in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (ISDEAA), which reversed termination-era policies and formally recognized Tribes as capable governments.
Under ISDEAA, Tribes can enter into legally binding agreements that allow them to plan, manage, and deliver programs according to Tribal priorities, rather than federal agency procedures.
Self-Governance allows Tribes to:
- Reduce bureaucratic delays
- Strengthen internal government capacity
- Manage budgets locally and respond to changing needs
- Design programs that reflect culture, language, and community values
In short, Self-Governance allows tribes to be governments.
Role of the Office of Self-Governance
The Office of Self-Governance serves as the central coordinating body for NVE’s sovereign authority and government-to-government responsibilities.
The Self-Governance Director is responsible for:
- Managing Self-Governance compacts, Annual Funding Agreements (AFAs), and Title I (638) contracts
- Leading federal negotiations and government-to-government consultation
- Ensuring compliance with Tribal, federal, and grant regulations
- Overseeing policy development and strategic initiatives
- Supporting Tribal Council priorities through coordinated sovereign program management
Because Self-Governance affects every department, this office works horizontally across the organization rather than operating as a service-delivery program.
Key Self Governance Tools
Compacting (Title IV)
A Self-Governance compact is a long-term, legally binding agreement between a Tribe and the federal government. Through compacting, Tribes assume control of federal programs and operate them under Tribal systems rather than federal manuals or daily directives.
Programs that may be compacted include:
- Social and family services
- Housing programs
- Natural resource management
- Environmental monitoring
- Education and cultural programs
- Health services (when compacting with IHS)
Compacts recognize Tribal governance capacity and provide stability, flexibility, and local control.
Annual Funding Agreements (AFAs)
AFAs are negotiated annually and define:
- Program budgets
- Performance requirements
- Reporting methods
- Spending priorities
- Flexibility provisions
AFAs give Tribes broad authority to manage funds efficiently while still meeting federal accountability standards.
638 Contracts (Title I)
Title I contracts allow Tribes to operate individual federal programs. While more prescriptive than compacts, they are often an entry point toward full Self-Governance.
Why Self-Governance Matters at NVE
Through Self-Governance, the Native Village of Eyak is able to:
- Operate Tribal programs independently
- Build culturally grounded services
- Support subsistence and marine mammal stewardship
- Develop food sovereignty systems
- Oversee repatriation and cultural protection
- Manage federal funding more efficiently
- Reduce administrative barriers
- Strengthen community-led decision-making
Self-Governance is the framework that allows NVE’s programs to function cohesively as parts of a Tribal government, not isolated projects.
Accountability & Trust Responsibility
Self-Governance does not eliminate accountability. In fact, it requires strong administrative systems.
NVE complies with:
- Annual Single Audits under Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200)
- Federal reporting and performance requirements
- Financial and compliance monitoring across all compacted and contracted programs
These requirements protect the Tribe, demonstrate capacity, and ensure continued federal trust responsibility. Accountability is not a burden, it is a cornerstone of sovereignty.