Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon Department of Human Services Search Site

Tribal Affairs

The Office of Tribal Affairs is committed to supporting all Oregon Tribal communities in thriving mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.

About usContact usNews and resources

Wear orange on September 30

  • Join us as we honor Tribal families, children and elders who have been impacted by Federal Indian Boarding Schools.
  • Learn about this annual day of affirmation and find resources to show your support.
Orange Shirt Day 2024

The deadline to apply for Summer EBT has been extended to Sep. 30, 2024

Summer EBT is a new grocery benefits program that starts this summer. It helps families buy food for their school-aged children during summer when school is out.

Learn more Read and share the flyer
2024 Tribal-State ICWA Conference graphic

Save the date for the 2024 Tribal-State ICWA Conference

  • Oct. 15-17, 2024
  • Seven Feathers Casino, Canyonville, Oregon
  • Registration details are coming soon.




Indigenous Peoples' Day

​​Adam Becenti, Director of the ODHS Office of Tribal Affairs released the following statement in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day:

On behalf of the Office of Tribal Affairs within the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), and the We Are Here Oregon Native Employees Resource Group (WAHONE), we honor Monday, October 9th,2023 as Indigenous People’s Day. As Tribal members and Indigenous people, we are pleased to see the momentum build through positive energy and uplifting of Indigenous voices throughout the State of Oregon.

The Nine Tribes of Oregon and Tribal communities throughout the state represent many cultures, customs, and languages that have contributed to the rich history and diversity of Oregon. Indigenous People’s Day calls for a time to honor and value those contributions with accurate historical representation. On this day and moving forward, it is important to acknowledge all of Oregon is still Indigenous land and that we must do our part in learning about Tribal sovereignty among the Nine Tribes of Oregon. The State of Oregon has a government to government relationship with the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon which we continue to honor, respect, and maintain. Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to uplift Indigenous/Tribal voices inside and outside of work, educate yourself on Tribal history, respect the Indigenous land you live on, and connect with the Indigenous and Tribal employees at ODHS.

The Office of Tribal Affairs and WAHONE want to celebrate and honor Indigenous Peoples Day not just today but every day. Normalizing the inclusion of and amplifying Indigenous and Tribal voices and culture helps our agency move closer to the Equity North Star and produce healthier outcomes for Indigenous/Tribal children, families, and elders. Our hope for today and onward is that you spread this message far and wide among all ODHS Staff.

The Office of Tribal Affairs and WAHONE extends this honoring to all people at ODHS who may identify as Indigenous. This includes Latinx, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and Asian Pacific Islander. I challenge you to learn more about all Indigenous People as you celebrate this state recognized holiday in your own way.

The ODHS WAHONE Employee Resource Group exists to recruit and retain Native employees and improve the delivery of human services to Native clients, families, and communities through tribal best practice, on-going human and technical assistance, mentoring, community engagement, and educational efforts.

The Office of Tribal Affairs works with all five ODHS programs to create and provide Tribally appropriate programming, services, policies, and support. Through Tribal consultation with Oregon’s Nine Federally Recognized Tribes, ODHS ensures programming, services, and policies meet the needs of Oregon Tribal communities. For more information visit our website.

Thank You,​

Adam Becenti (Navajo/Diné)
​Director, Office of Tribal Affairs​​

Native American Heritage Month

W​hat started as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a month-long celebration of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The first American Indian Day was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of New York. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September while Illinois legislators enacted such a day in 1919. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November National American Indian Heritage Month. Since 1994, similar proclamations have been made under different titles including Native American Heritage Month and National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

Did you know? (According to the 2020 U.S. Census)

  • 9.7 million is the American Indian and Alaska Native population alone or in combination in 2020.
  • There are 324 distinct, federally recognized American Indian reservations in 2022, including federal reservations and off-reservation trust lands.
  • There are 574 federally recognized Indian tribes in 2023.
  • There are 122,579 single-race American Indian and Alaska Native veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces in 2022.

To learn more about the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of ​Oregon visit our web page​ or contact Tribal Affairs Communications Specialist Tony Aaron Fuller (Colville and Yakama) at to​​ny-aaron.fuller@odhs.oregon.gov.

Overview of the Nine Tribes