Findings and Recommendations Task J Findings and Recommendations
J7 Finding
Recommendation Ensure that cross-boundary authorities, initiatives, and projects also serve tribal entities, not just their partners. ■ For instance, include tribal lands in the watershed analysis and priority areas identified in the omnibus bill. One great example was a letter provided by the USFS Chief to promote cooperation between the Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. This level of commitment from the Chief has assisted in the development of a RTRL project and a large scale TFPA project. ■ Tribes should be able to benefit financially and retain receipts from GNA projects. Retained receipts could be used to pay for future restoration work.
New authorities aimed at promoting tribal partnerships often benefit the partners more than the tribes themselves. ■ The purpose of the federal Reserved Treaty Rights Lands (RTRL) program is to treat and restore landscapes within and adjacent to reserved treaty right lands and enable “tribes to participate in collaborative projects with non-tribal landowners to enhance the health and resiliency of priority tribal natural resources at high risk to wildland fire” (2015 BIA RTRL Plan). ■ Although trust lands can be treated, a majority of current and future RTRL projects are being conducted on non-trust lands. One sentiment from an individual mentioned “all collaborative benefits from partners were credited from tribal lands.” ■ Similarly, tribes cannot retain receipts from GNA projects, yet their partners can generate revenue from these projects. Tribes should be able to retain receipts for GNA project work. ■ When seeking funding and support partners may receive extra ‘points’ when competing for awards if they are working with a tribal entity but often this has not been meaningfully established and maintained, it is simply to gain the extra benefit when applying.
Resilient forest ecosystems can promote healthy watersheds, such as shown here from the Tule River Reservation, which support adjacent non-tribal communities and agricultural developments downstream. PHOTO CREDIT: SERRA HOAGLAND
196 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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