2015 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

CONFERENCE

Indigenous Perspectives Empowered:  Forest Service Tools for Tribal Engagement 

Estelle J. Bowman (Navajo) Assistant Director, Office of Tribal Relations, U.S. Forest Service

March 12, 2015

FS Tribal Relations Strategic Goals:

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Goal 1: American Indian and Alaska Native RightsUphold the US government’s trust responsibility and protect AI/AN reserved rights

Goal 2: PartnershipsLeverage partnerships to maximize mutual success

Goal 3: Program DevelopmentPromote integration and utility of the Tribal Relations Program throughout the Agency

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Forest Service Tribal Relations Tools

• Tribal Relations Directives• Tribal Forest Protection Act • Indian Forest Management Assessment Team

Report• Tribal Guide to Grants and Agreements• Tribal Connections Mapping Tool • Sacred Sites Report and implementation• Tribes and Climate Change• Tribal Research Roadmap

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Tribal Relations Directives

• Forest Service guidance and policy

• Proposed Draft available for Tribal Consultation June 2013

• 60-day public comment period

• Publication of Final

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Tribal Forest Protection Act

•Funding to Intertribal Timber Council to provide analysis

•Final Report delivered in March 2013

•FS funding to ITC to provide training

• March 31 – April 2, in Spokane• April 28 – 30, in Albuquerque

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Indian Forest Management Assessment Team Study III

• Decadal analysis of the state of tribal forests across the United States

• Accomplished through a $300,000 FS grant to Intertribal Timber Council

• IFMAT III shows that Tribes are doing a great job of forest management

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Partnership Guide

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Tribal Connections Mapping Tool

Treaty cessions

Indian lands

Forest Service lands

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Sacred Sites Report & Implementation

• Implementing recommendations from the 2012 Sacred Sites Report to the Secretary of Agriculture

• Changing the culture and actions of the AgencyBringing a Good Mind and a Good Heart

• In sync with interagency Sacred Sites MOU Working Group

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Protecting Sacred Places

Facilitated Learning Engagements will provide:– On-the-ground Mutual Learning: FS leaders

with tribal governmental and spiritual leaders

– Agency-wide and Regionally-specific webinars

– Leadership Mentoring Program– Technical Guide on Culture and Heritage

Provisions– Replicating the To Bridge a Gap model– Case Studies for lesson learned– Enhancing FACA Committee representation

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Tribal Engagement Roadmap

Six objectives of the Roadmap:

1. Enhance Partnerships2. Policy & Training on Tribal Relations3. Cultural Transformation of R&D workforce4. Internal Coordination on Tribal research5. Joint Research with Tribes on issues of mutual interest6. Decision Support for Tribal Land Managers

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FS Office of Tribal Relations

Fred Clark, (Citizens Band Potawatomi) Director

Estelle J. Bowman, (Navajo) Assistant Director

Kathryn Sosbe, Acting Assistant Director

Ericka Luna, Policy Analyst

Alicia Bell-Sheeter, Policy Analyst

Mariel Murray, Program Analyst

Pamela Williams, Executive Assistant

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FS Office of Tribal Relations

http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/tribalrelations/

Tele: 202-205-1514

Fax: 202-649-1178

Email: ejbowman@fs.fed.us