An analysis of the potential for reducing or eliminating relevant administrative procedures, rules, and policies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs consistent with the Federal trust responsibility
TASK E
Increased Tribal Self-Governance Since NIFRMA is the current “tap root” of the US view of Indian forests, it should be ascertained if it might benefit from changing with the times. Any such review should be carried out carefully after extensive tribal input. The lack of recurring funding for tribes that acquire new trust forest lands needs to be addressed. BIA regulations and procedures also need to better identify and meet budget needs for all self-governance tribes. (n.b. IFMAT should visit with relevant administration and congressional officials to hear their views on Indian forestry funding issues and rules and to inform them about IFMAT. In particular it should be asked why underfunding is continual over all IFMATs. The NIFRMA “should fund” clause could be used in the discussion.) The 2019 GAO Report stated that, as of FY 2016, 47 percent (267) of the nation’s federally recognized tribes have entered into self-governance compacts. In checking OSG’s current list of self-governance compact tribes, 57 percent (31) of the ITC member tribes are self- governance through compacting. This represents a majority of the timber owning tribes belonging to ITC. Some tribes also perform forestry functions under P.L. 93-638 contracts. So, the total number and percent of tribes carrying out forestry operations under P.L. 93-638 self
The IFMAT team having a discussion with Quinault tribal forestry staff and allottees on recent harvest and reforestation efforts in western Washington. PHOTO CREDIT: VINCENT CORRAO
a combination of tribal and BIA operations occurs and only 18% remain BIA direct operations. Two tribes are carrying out forest management activities under approved ITAMP’s. Thus, the relationship between BIA rules and regulations and tribal forestry actions is changed for half or more of the timber tribes. There should be an independent commission or trust, to oversee tribal and secretarial responsibility (see IFMAT I).
-determination arrangements would be higher than just the numbers for compacts. This IFMAT review collected forestry program information from 41 tribes nationwide. This involved both on-site visits and virtual meetings. A determination of the governance structure for forestry program operations revealed that 77% of the reservation forestry programs visited are being performed directly by tribes. For a few tribes (5%), a hybrid governance structure involving
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