Agency: Heritage and Arts

Line Item: Indian Affairs

Function

The Utah Division of Indian Affairs (UDIA) enhances intergovernmental relations by promoting growth and prosperity for tribes and Native American Indian citizens. It was created in 1953. The Division functions as a liaison between state, tribal, federal and local governmental entities.

Statutory Authority

Statutory authority for the Division of Indian Affairs is provided in UCA 9-9-103. Responsibilities established in statute are listed below:

• Develop programs that will allow Native American Indian citizens residing on or off reservations an opportunity to share in the progress of Utah;
• Promote an atmosphere in which Native American Indian citizens are provided alternatives so that individual citizens may choose for themselves the kinds of lives they will live, both socially and economically;
• Promote programs to help the tribes and Native American Indian communities find and implement solutions to their community problems;
• Promote government-to-government relations between the State and tribal governments;
• Provide information and referral services;
• Facilitate repatriation of human remains in accordance with the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) law.

Intent Language

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that any remaining amount of the $201,400 ongoing General Fund and $25,000 Dedicated Credits appropriation provided by Item 9, Chapter 1 Laws of Utah 2011, for the Department of Community and Culture - Indian Affairs line item not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2012.

Performance

A primary function of the Division of Indian Affairs is the repatriation of native american remains. To this end they track the number of repatriations occuring each year. Data for this measure is shown below.

The division also provides information to the various tribes through education presentations and outreach. Data for these measures are shown below.

Funding Detail

The Indian Affairs budget provides funding for the Director and one support staff. Most of the funding is from the General Fund however, a small allocation is from dedicated credit revenues provided by outside donations.