Resources

Tribal Resource Tool

21st Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation Priorities Document

This resource outlines the key priorities and recommendations for the 21st Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation. This annual consultation is vital to strengthening the Nation-to-Nation relationship between Tribal Nations and the United States by ensuring meaningful dialogue and Tribal input in decision-making. NIWRC developed this resource to support Tribal leaders and representatives in preparing testimony and identifying key issues impacting the safety of Native women and Tribal communities.

The Office on Violence Against Women is a grant-making agency in the U.S. Department of Justice. Under §903 of Title IX of the United States Department of Justice Reauthorization and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2005, OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the United States Attorney General.

NIWRC’s 2026 Consultation Priorities document explains the topics affecting the safety of Native women and Tribal communities. Explore them all to understand the impacts and engage in important discussions provided by the Office on Violence Against Women.

Topics include:

  1. Tribal Consultation Must Precede Any Decision Impacting Tribal Nations

  2. OVW Must Remain a Separate and Independent Office

  3. Maintaining Funding for Programs Serving American Indian & Alaska Native People

  4. Ensuring Tribal Government Program Grantees Have the Resources to Succeed

  5. Restoring Full Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction

  6. Preserving Federal Justice Resources in Indian Country Following Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta

  7. Preserving the Intertribal Technical-Assistance Working Group

  8. Addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Relatives Crisis

  9. Correcting Funding Disparities for Tribal Nations in Public Law 280 States

  10. Federal Compliance with the Tribal Law & Order Act of 2010 (TLOA)

  11. Increasing Access to Housing, Shelter & Supportive Services in Indian Country

  12. Timely Submission of Statutorily Mandated Reports to Congress