The broad goal of the NVE Land and Environment Department is to understand, protect, restore, secure, and enhance traditional lands, environment, and uses while maintaining cultural integrity.  This is the primary responsibility of the Land and Environment Director.  The Elders refer to the environment as land, which includes associated environmental components, such as air and water. Environmental resources such as land, air, water, soil, and geological resources benefit the health and welfare of the Eklutna people.  Biotic resources such as fish, mammals, birds, and plants are the most salient traditional or subsistence natural resources.  These are dependent on healthy environmental habitats.  The Land and Environment Director will undertake programs, investigations, and actions to understand, secure, protect, restore, and enhance these environmental resources and their traditional and cultural uses.  Investigations and perpetuation of Dena’ina’s cultural resources are also important aspects of this position.  Community education and participation should be developed in these areas.  Non-traditional natural resource uses may also be enhanced according to the will of the Tribe.  The economic development of natural resources should be pursued if they are environmentally sustainable and provide economic benefits for Eklutna.

JOB DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Coordinates and negotiates with Native land corporations, private landowners, state and federal agencies, and other organizations for the abovementioned purposes.
• Coordinates and oversees assessment or implementation projects related to the environment and cultural resources.  These include river restoration, pollution prevention and clean-up, harmful trespass prevention, land purchases and development of conservation easements, and traditional knowledge collection and documentation.
• Pursues financial and other assistance for NVE to support accomplishing the tribal council’s strategic goals.
• Manages and fulfills the terms of grants or contracts obtained for these purposes, as agreed during project development.  Position currently manages NVE’s EPA Indian General Assistance Program, EPA Tribal Response CA (Brownfields), DoD Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program, Tribal Wildlife Grant, BIA School Cemetery grant, BIA Culture Camp grant, and the BIA Tribal Transportation Program. Additionally, the director manages several Eklutna Tribal Conservation District projects, notably the AVI CCG Garden sub-award and ACF Agriculture Education Outreach sub-award. Other grants and activities were added as awarded and developed.
• Manages Emergency Management Activities, NVE Culture Camp, and other Cultural/Environmental Education.
• Reports regularly to NVE Tribal Administer (TA), and/or their designee.  Submits quarterly written reports to the NVE Traditional Council at Quarterly Meetings.
• Provides managerial assistance to TA and the Financial Department with Land and Environment Department budgets and financial reports.
• Supervises other Land and Environment Department staff and/or contractors on Land and Environment projects. 
• Facilitates ongoing communication and development of environmental issues with affected staff, community members, partners, agencies, and others.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A minimum bachelor’s degree in an environment-related field or traditional and experiential knowledge of such is desirable. A commitment to NVE goals and the values of environmental conservation is required.  A minimum of five years of experience working with traditional environmental resources management and uses is strongly preferred.  Grants development and management experience helpful.  Experience managing Native environmental programs is also preferred. This employee must understand the interaction dynamics among tribal governments, Native organizations, western resource management agencies, advocate groups, etc., related to environmental resources management.

NATIVE PREFERENCE:

Consistent with P.L. 93-638, the Native Village of Eklutna will exercise Native preference in recruiting and hiring for this position.  Native Village of Eklutna Tribal members preferred.

Contact: Brenda Hewitt, Tribal Administrator bhewitt@eklutna.org (907) 688-6020