Tribal Relations

The Federal government and Indian tribes have a unique relationship that is “government-to-government”. The basis for this is in the constitution of the United States (Article 1, Section 8) which recognized tribes as sovereign. The Forest Service is committed to this relationship with federally recognized Tribal governments.

National Forests have important historical, spiritual, and cultural significance for Tribes. Forests often serve as a source of traditional medicines, food, firewood, and basketry materials. Consultation with tribes provides an invaluable means of obtaining expert advice, ideas, information, and diverse opinions from Native Americans in an effort to work together collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for ecosystem health and cultural values.

The Forest Service and 10 Chippewa Tribes of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission entered into an agreement December 1998. The agreement deals primarily with the exercise of the Tribes' treaty rights to gather wild plants on National Forest lands within the areas ceded in those treaties. Information about the agreement can be found on this web page.

Memorandum of Understanding (entire document without campground listings)

MOU Campground Listing - June 2009 (updated yearly)

Map of Treaty Ceded Areas and National Forests in the Lake States

How to Comment on the MOU
The Forest Service continually seeks public feedback on the MOU. Written comments or a Comment Form can be used to submit comments.

Review of Progress

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As part of the MOU, the Forest Service and the Tribes have agreed to meet annually to review progress made on implementing the MOU, and to discuss issues that may affect the MOU. The following documents will provide assistance in reviewing the implementation progress on the MOU.

• 2009 Annual Meeting Notes
• MOU-One Year Implementation Summary, March 2000
• MOU Implementation Ten Year Review 1998-2008
• 2009 Tribal Campgroud Use
• 2008 Tribal Campground Use Report
• 2005 Annual Meeting Notes
• 2006 Annual Meeting Notes
• 2007 Annual Meeting Notes
• 2008 Annual Meeting Notes

Explanatory Materials

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The Forest Service and Tribes have provided some explanatory materials to help people understand the MOU. They can be viewed by clicking on these links:

• MOU Explanatory Notes (to the original MOU)
• MOU Explanatory Notes for the revised MOU, explaining changes to the original MOU, page-by-page.
• MOU Summary Information
• Summary of the Conceptual Agreement on Campground Fee and Length of Stay
• Additional Questions & Answers on Campground Fee and Length of Stay

Laws, Regulations, and Policies

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Various laws, regulations, and policies direct the Forest Service to develop relationships with federally recognized Indian Tribes.

• Forest Service Office of Tribal Relations (links to policies, reports, laws, and regulations)
• National Tribal Resource Book - This document describes and is intended to improve the implementation of the Forest Service's American Indian and Alaska Native policy.

Useful Links

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• Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC)
  http://www.glifwc.org/
  
• Great Lakes Intertribal Council (GLITC)
  http://www.glitc.org/index.php
• Tribal Profiles (for Wisconsin tribes)
  http://witribes.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=284&locid=57
• Wisconsin State Tribal Relations Initiative
  http://witribes.wi.gov/
• USDOJ Office of Tribal Justice
  http://www.usdoj.gov/otj/index.html
• USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs
  http://www.doi.gov/bia/
• College of Menominee Nation Sustainable Development Institute
  www.sustainabledevelopmentinstitute.org
  

Contact Information

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For additional information or questions, contact Mary Rasmussen, Tribal Liaison, 715-479-2827, ext. 19, email mrasmussen@fs.fed.us