Established in 1969, USET is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, inter-Tribal organization serving 33 federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET is dedicated to enhancing the development of Tribal Nations, improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and improving the quality of life for Indigenous people through a variety of technical and supportive programmatic services. Our mission statement of Strength In Unity emphasizes partnership and advocacy to overcome historical traumas and barriers still preventing Tribal Nations from becoming thriving governments with healthy Tribal communities.
In 2014, USET established the USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF), a 501(c)(4) organization, to educate and provide assertive and honest diplomacy and advocacy at the federal level. USET SPF provides education on the two pillars of federal Indian law and policy: (1) Tribal Nations are inherently sovereign, self-governing political entities that predate the existence of the United States; and (2) the United States has assumed trust and treaty obligations to us by taking our lands and resources and restricting the exercise of our sovereignty. USET SPF is dedicated to education and advocacy surrounding laws, policies, and cases that protect Tribal Nations’ sovereign rights and authorities and ensure the United States remains accountable for its trust and treaty obligations.
USET also has a depth of expertise through advocating on behalf of 33 diverse Tribal Nation members, many of which have more than 200 years of experience navigating diplomatic relationships with the United States and its preceding colonizing governments. With a vast regional footprint, USET’s member Tribal Nations come from diverse circumstances and traditions. This diversity allows our advocacy work to be broadly applicable to Tribal Nations across the United States, as our membership represents a microcosm of Indian Country writ large. Our educational and advocacy efforts engage all branches of the federal government, span a wide array of subject matter areas, and call for big change, making us widely regarded as one of the most involved and progressive voices in Indian Country.