Tribal Nations

In the latest podcast, FirstNet Authority National Tribal Government Liaison Adam Geisler sits down with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona’s Executive Director Maria Dadgar to discuss the jurisdictional and geographical challenges Arizona tribes face and how FirstNet could be the solution needed.

First responders serving the Red Cliff Reservation in Wisconsin will get a major boost in their access to broadband communications with the addition of a new, purpose-built FirstNet cell site.

Download to learn more about FirstNet tribal outreach.

Browse the frequently asked questions by tribal communities about FirstNet and public safety. 

Download and view the best practices for tribal outreach. 

Download for a brief summary of FirstNet's Tribal Consultation Policy.

In the latest podcast, FirstNet Authority National Tribal Government Liaison Adam Geisler sits down with Danae Wilson, manager of the Department of Technology Services for the Nez Perce Tribe, to discuss broadband in tribal communities today and how FirstNet will benefit Indian Country.

Tribal first responders face their own unique challenges, often covering large expanses of land in remote, rural areas with limited coverage.

First responders serving the Red Cliff Reservation got a major boost in their access to broadband communications with the addition of a new, purpose-built cell site. The new Infrastructure will improve connectivity for tribal first responders and expand rural broadband access for the tribal community.

With over 100+ tribes located in California, PSAC Tribal Working Group member Bob Clark underscores FirstNet’s added value to tribal first responders battling wildland fires on tribal lands.  Currently serving as the Director of Public Safety for the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, Bob understands the importance of reliable communications and deployable network assets when fast-moving wildfires race over rural lands and threaten Indian Country. With FirstNet’s preemptive and prioritized service available nationwide, tribal first responders have a connection they can count on to keep their communities out of harm’s way.

At the PSAC Tribal Working Group’s (TWG) semi-annual in-person meeting, the FirstNet Authority updated TWG delegates on FirstNet’s latest developments, and tribal leaders discussed their network needs and shared real-world FirstNet use cases in tribal communities.

FirstNet deployables were used by the Yankton Sioux Tribe Police Department in South Dakota, where rough terrain physically limits LTE coverage. During a critical search-and-rescue mission, the department reached out to the FirstNet Authority and AT&T, which deployed a SatCOLT within hours.

In 2018, the Citizen Potawatomi Tribe hosted its annual FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma. With FirstNet devices in hand and a deployable on site, tribal first responders were able to better handle emergencies that required a rapid response, including a lost child, heat-related incidents, and cardiac issues.

The FirstNet Authority works to establish nation-to-nation relationships with federally recognized tribes that complement its National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) Section 106 obligatio

Download a copy of the FirstNet Tribal Consultation Policy.

More than 3,600 public safety agencies across the country have now joined FirstNet. That’s a nearly 50% increase in the number of agencies subscribing to the nationwide public safety communications platform in less than 2 months.

Letter introducing FirstNet Tribal Consultation Policy. 

Palute Police Officers, Adrian Calimquim and James Dew say smartphones and increase in technology are vital while policing.