Ayukîi 

I would like to speak directly with our community on the reality of the prolonged government shutdown. We must acknowledge the Karuk Tribe is negatively impacted by the failure of the Federal government to reach an agreement, a failure which hurts our entire Tribal community and those we service.

The government has a trust obligation to the American people and to the sovereign Tribal nations who have always called this land home. This obligation is not being met, and the needs of our people are again dismissed while the dead lock in Washington continues.

I speak for all in the Karuk Tribal Nation when I say Washington must fulfill its obligation and end the suffering the lapse of essential services has caused our community. I would like to reassure and remind people that our Tribal community has endured worse, and we will continue to do so. Together we have watched over our people and together we will continue to strive forward in the face of adversity.

I urge those in Washington, now is the time for the government to end the shutdown.

We have already encountered direct hardships and challenges as a direct result of this shutdown. The obstacles and the negative effects continue to mount with each passing day:

• Failure to fulfill fiduciary trust obligations.
• Lack of guidance and Federal communication
• BIA is not processing fee-to-trust applications, stopping sovereignty efforts.
• Grant funding for emergency services is running out, and Tribes in Northern California cannot apply for new federal grants, creating serious safety concerns for floods, fires, and landslides.
• IHS correspondence has fallen off, leaving Tribal members without help for wells, septic services, and other essential needs in Indian Country.
• Lack of access to HUD and BIA contracts
• No access to DOJ Just Grants system or DOJ/OVC contracts, halting judicial progress and funding.
• Potential disruption or delays in SNAP benefits, putting food security at risk for Tribal families.

I want to reassure our elders the Senior and Nutrition meals will continue regardless of the government shutdown, and everyone working here in the Tribal government will continue to work and advocate on behalf of the entire Karuk community. I urge those in the Federal government to fulfill its trust obligation and end this shutdown.

Yôotva