Ponca tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
SELF-GOVERNANCE

Background and History

The Office of Self-Governance operates under the guidance of P.L. 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (ISDEAA). Amended several times over the years, ISDEAA gives Indigenous Tribes greater control and decision-making authority over Federal funds provided for the benefit of the Indigenous people they govern. Tribes and the United States have government-to-government relationships through self-governance, providing Tribal governments the power to exercise their sovereignty with minimal Federal interference. The Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma has been a federally recognized self-governing tribe since 1999.
Duties

• Establish and maintain working relationships with program directors, community and tribal partners, Tribal Council, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other governmental agencies
• Prepare Annual Funding Agreement (AFA) for review and approval by Tribal Council
• Serve as point of contact for governmental relationships with tribal, local, state, and federal entities
• Ensure all program goals are met in a timely manner in conjunction with grant plans, including budgetary management, timely reporting, evaluations, etc. for all self-governance programs
• Attend meetings, trainings, and give presentations as needed to gain knowledge and build networking for the Ponca Tribe to support informed decision making
• Provide technical assistance to all grant-funded programs​

For more information:
Jevin Dirks
Self-Governance Coordinator
121 White Eagle Drive
Ponca City, OK 74601
(580) 382-6629
jevin.dirks@ponca-nsn.gov