ACHP Serves as Subject Matter Experts During UN Session on Indigenous Issues

Valerie Hauser at the United Nations on April 24

Published April 29, 2019

NEW YORK — Valerie Hauser, director of the ACHP’s Office of Native American Affairs, is in New York City this week attending the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Eighteenth Session, serving as the U.S. State Department’s subject-matter expert. The theme of the two-week session from April 22- May 3 is “Traditional Knowledge: Generation, Transmission and Protection.”

Member nations, indigenous people from around the world, United Nations bodies, and non-governmental organizations that work with indigenous peoples are participating in the session.

On April 24, Hauser and ACHP intern Emily Choi participated in a side event at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations exploring some of the ways the U.S. government is working with federally recognized tribes, Native Hawaiians, and other indigenous peoples to appropriately consider Traditional Knowledge in federal actions and decisions. They were joined by Daniel Gogal, Tribal and Indigenous Peoples Program Manager, Office of Environmental Justice, US Environmental Protection Agency, and Christopher Koeppel, Assistant Director, Office of Tribal Relations, US Forest Service.

Valerie and Emily Choi  on the panel at the side event at the U.S. Mission on April 24.

The Office of Native American Affairs advises the ACHP leadership and staff on policy and program matters related to Native American issues and offers technical assistance and outreach for tribal and Native Hawaiian organization consultation under the Section 106 review process.

Hauser has led the ACHP’s Native American program and participated in interagency initiatives for more than 20 years and has extensive knowledge about federal directives and programs that relate to Native issues.

To learn more about the session, visit https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/unpfii-sessions-2/18-2.html