Contact OTR

The Office of Tribal Relations is the lead Agency that works with all USDA Mission Areas to stay advised and involved in the formal process of consultation with Tribal governments. The Office of Tribal Relations also works with the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, the Office of General Counsel, the Senior Policy Team, and other key offices working across USDA. OTR also works with counterparts in other Federal agencies to achieve these goals.

OTR publishes a newsletter that provides a listing of USDA grant opportunities, news and events. If you would like to subscribe, please select the Tribal Relations topic.

To request additional information on consultation, or assistance with other USDA issues, please contact:

Main Office: (202) 205-2249
Fax: (202) 720-1058

Mailing Address:
Room 500-A Whitten Building
Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Betsy Rakola, Acting Director

Administrative Team

Elena Krajeski, 771-216-2277, Administrative Officer
Ariel Williams, 202-934-8337, Administrative Assistant
Tribal.Relations@usda.gov, general mailbox

Program Team

Jeff Harris, 202-768-0812, Program Analyst, Food, Indigenous Food Sovereignty Initiative, Research, Consultation, and Youth
Josiah Griffin, 202-720-1999, Program Analyst, Economic Development and Food Systems
Taylor Schad, 202-875-9236, Program Analyst, Forest Service and Natural Resources
Audre Etsitty, 202-389-2534, Program Analyst, Farm and Conservation Programs
Jim Wabindato, 202-805-2208, Special Advisor, Tribal Agricultural Lands

Tribal College and Outreach Team

Lawrence Shorty, 202-870-8035, Director, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) Program
Lisa Yellow Lugar, 202-845-5646, TCU Program Deputy Director/Tribal Liaison, Great Plains Region
Kellen Palmer, 202-308-3684, Tribal Liaison, Central Plains Region
Raymond Benally, 202-360-8087, Tribal Liaison, Southwest Region
Ryhal Rowland, 202-280-8355, Tribal Liaison, Rocky Mountain Region