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CONSULTATION WITH INDIAN TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS (ITOs) State agencies are required to consult with Tribes about the SNAP State Plan of Operations, which includes the E&T State Plan, per 7 CFR 272.2(b) and 272.2(e)(7). The consultations must pertain to the unique needs of Tribal members. State agencies are required to document the availability of E&T programs for Tribal members living on reservations in accordance with 7 CFR 273.7(c)(6)(xiii). The goal of this section is to describe how the State agency consulted with Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), describe the results of the consultation, and document the availability of E&T programs for Tribal members living on reservations. Did the State agency consult with ITOs in the State? Yes Yes, but not all ITOs No There are no ITOs in my State Explain why the State agency did not consult with ITOs in the State. Louisiana continues to face challenges in completing formal tribal consultation as part of its SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) State Plan. While the state acknowledges the presence of Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs), formal consultation was not completed for the FY 2025 plan. However, SNAP E&T has made multiple outreach efforts aimed at building relationships and initiating consultation. Efforts include meeting with Chandler Vidrine from the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs on November 1, 2025, to discuss the requirements for engaging with tribal organizations and to identify the next steps in the consultation process. Additionally, SNAP E&T met with Louisiana SNAP Tribal Outreach on February 26, 2025, to discuss building relationships and identifying tribal points of contact. The State also reached out and spoke with Alexandra Pierite, Tribal Administrator with the Tunica Biloxi Tribe, on March 5, May 5, and July 24, 2025, to share the SNAP E&T State Plan and E&T Handbook for review and comment. Despite these efforts, several barriers continue to hinder formal consultation. Tribal organizations have also indicated they lack unrestricted, non-federal funding, which makes it difficult to participate in cost-sharing arrangements required for E&T partnerships. A major internal barrier for SNAP E&T has been a 50% reduction in E&T staffing, which has limited the agency’s capacity to maintain consistent engagement and follow-through with tribal partners. Additionally, while the state has not pursued enhanced federal reimbursement for services to tribal members, SNAP E&T remains committed to re-engaging with ITOs and addressing these structural and capacity-related challenges in future planning cycles. The SNAP E&T team presented the SNAP E&T program at the Native American Commission Meeting on September 26, 2025. The presentation was received very well. In attendance were: Chief 2 Eagles (Sovereign Nation of the Louisiana Band of Choctaw), Chief Audrey Clifton (Clifton Choctaws Tribe of Louisiana), Chief Thomas Rivers (Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb), Geneva LeBeouf & Georgia Ferguson (Pointe-Au- Chien Indian Tribe), Katre DeHart (Choctaw Nation), Randy Verdon (Bayou Lafourche Band of Biloxi Chitimacha), Vice Chief Deb Garrett (Adai Caddo), Chief Devon Parfait (Grand Caillou Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw), and Melissa Pousson (Louisiana Choctaw Turtle Tribe). The SNAP E&T State Plan was distributed to Chief 2 Eagles (Sovereign Nation of the Louisiana Band of Choctaw), Chief Thomas Rivers (Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb), Randy Verdon (Bayou Lafourche Band of Biloxi Chitimacha), Vice 1/29/26, 8:19 AM State Plan LA FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-lafy26stateplan//index.html 12/115