The blackfeet nation (the tribe) is a federally-recognized indian tribe located in northwestern montana

This $830,000 Project Grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) under the Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSA) program (CFDA 16.055). The grant supports a partnership between the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana. The funding will enable the cross-designation of a tribal prosecutor as a SAUSA, allowing them to maintain active caseloads in both the tribal and federal justice systems. This is intended to improve the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking cases in Indian country by filling jurisdictional gaps, enhancing coordination between law enforcement agencies, and strengthening relationships between federal prosecutors and the tribal community. Grant activities include formalizing the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding, providing training and technical assistance, and supporting the SAUSA's salary, fringe benefits, travel, and other necessary resources. The performance period for this award is 60 months, from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2028.

For this project, the tribe is partnering with the united states attorneys office for the district of montana (usao). The tribe and usao have demonstrated a strong mutual interest in filling gaps in jurisdictional coverage; increasing communication and coordination between the tribal, federal, and state law enforcement agencies; establishing consistent relationships between federal prosecutors and the tribal community; and improving the quality of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking cases through training and best practices. Through this project, the partners will: 1) enter into a formal memorandum of understanding detailing the terms of their partnership; 2) mutually select or retain an agreed upon attorney to be cross-designated as both a sausa and a tribal prosecutor who will maintain an active tribal and federal caseload; and 3) participate in required training and technical assistance. Funds through this award will support salary and fringe benefits for the sausa position, training, travel, and other resources needed to support the work of the sausa.timing for performance of this award is 60 months.