Staff from the Native Nations Institute (NNI) and U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (U.S. Institute) came together on July 24, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona for a joint professional development opportunity. Local and remote staff nationwide held joint discussions around issues in Indian Country, current projects, and opportunities for greater collaboration in service offerings to Native nations.

NNI and the U.S. Institute are programs within the Udall Foundation providing a variety of service to Native nations. While each program is unique, together they offer a suite of services to address a range of issues Native nations are currently addressing. NNI seeks to address the challenge of Native nation rebuilding and strengthening Native nations through capacity building, research, and resource development on a range of policy and governance issues. The U.S. Institute is a neutral agency providing conflict resolution and collaboration services and capacity building to federal agencies and Native nations to support resolving environmental disputes, this includes issues involving natural resources, cultural resources, and land management.

Both programs, within the Udall Foundation seek community-based problem solving and communication. With staff and projects nationwide, both work with Native Nations coast to coast. Senior Program Manager Stephanie Lucero at the U.S. Institute provided a training for NNI staff on the "Interest Based Negotiation Approach" to conflict resolution. Executive Director Joan Timeche (Hopi), NNI and Director Brian Manwaring, U.S. Institute, shared the range that both programs provide in terms of knowledge, expertise, and experience including their respective services compatible approaches to:

• Education/Training
• Capacity Building
• Convening spaces for dialogue, shared decision-making, and problem-solving.
• Supporting healthy relationships and well-being within Native nations and between Native nations and federal agencies

U.S. Institute and NNI staff identified various opportunities that combine their host of talents and expertise to support Native nations.