Sacred Sites

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack has directed the Forest Service to work with the USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) to review existing laws, regulations, and policies and examine their effectiveness in ensuring a consistent level of protection for American Indian and Alaska Native sacred sites located on National Forest System lands. Secretary Vilsack asked the Forest Service to consult with Tribal leaders to determine how the Agency can do a better job addressing sacred site issues while simultaneously balancing pursuit of the Agency’s mission to deliver forest goods and services for current and future generations.

The Secretary has asked the Forest Service and USDA OTR to provide a final report and recommendations for sacred site policy changes and proposed policy language following the conclusion of Tribal consultation.

Sacred Sites Policy Review Update

Thank you for participating in face-to-face and telephonic listening sessions in support of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Forest Service efforts to improve our policies and procedures for protection of Sacred Sites.

The DRAFT Report with recommendations for improved Sacred Site protection is available for consultation or collaborative discussion.

• DRAFT REPORT TO THE SECRETARY, USDA's Office of Tribal Relations and Forest Service Policy and Procedures Review: Indian Sacred Sites (PDF, 0.6 MB)
• ERRATA: July 2011 Draft Report (PDF, 66 KB)

We will submit the FINAL Report to Secretary Vilsack this winter.

Please help us accurately represent the issues and opportunities by providing your comments and recommendations through consultation and collaborative processes.

Next Steps: We seek your review and comment through consultation and collaboration, and we hope the conversation continues long after we release the FINAL Report this winter!

Please JOIN US in strengthening the DRAFT Report and the Recommendations to improve USDA and Forest Service Sacred Sites policies and procedures!

For more information, to request a hard copy or CD of the report, or to arrange a meeting, please email TribalSacredSites@fs.fed.us, or use any of the contacts listed on our Tribal Relations contact list (PDF, 48 KB).

Proposed Timeline

The proposed timeline for this initiative is as follows:

• November 2010 – April 2011
  The Forest Service and USDA OTR will first engage the Tribes in listening sessions specific to Sacred Sites procedures.
• July 2011
  The Forest Service and USDA OTR will prepare a report for the Secretary, including recommendations for new Sacred Sites procedures.
• July – November 2011
  The Forest Service and USDA OTR will conduct consultation and engage in collaborative dialogue on the draft report and its recommendations.
• November – December 2011
  The Forest Service and USDA OTR will write the final report and refine the recommendations for the Secretary.
• Winter 2011 / 2012
  The Secretary of Agriculture will review the final report with recommendations and proposed procedural changes.

Previous Sacred Sites Listening Sessions

A listing of listening sessions conducted with Tribes, traditional practitioners, elders, and others to hear about sacred site issues is available:

• USDA Forest Service Sacred Sites Listening Sessions Dates and Locations (PDF, 91 KB)

Transcript of the November 29, 2010, and February 14, 2011, calls are available by request. Please send transcript requests to TribalSacredSites@fs.fed.us.

• February 14, 2011 Review of USDA & Forest Service Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Indian Sacred SitesNational Listening Session FINAL THEMES SUMMARY (PDF, 156 KB)
• November 29, 2010 Review of USDA & Forest Service Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Indian Sacred Sites National Listening Session FINAL THEMES SUMMARY (PDF, 128 KB)

Background Materials

• Sacred Sites – Questions & Answers for the Review of USDA & Forest Service Policies and Procedures for the Accommodation of Indian Sacred Sites ( PDF, 166 KB, 7-12-2011).
• Review of USDA & Forest Service Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Indian Sacred Sites: Summary of Summary of 2003-2007 Forest Service Sacred Sites Policy Review (PDF, 125 KB)
• Letter to Tribal leaders from the USDA Under Secretary and the Forest Service Chief (PDF, 0.7 MB) - On July 15, 2011, USDA Under Secretary and Forest Service Chief jointly signed a letter transmitting the report on CD to Tribes and offering them the opportunity to consult on the Draft Report to the Secretary.

• Tribal Participants Letter from the USDA Under Secretary and the Forest Service Chief (PDF, 1.1 MB) - On November 3, 2010, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment, Harris Sherman, and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell jointly signed a letter asking Tribes for their assistance. The letter also invited Tribes to participate in the first national telephonic listening session that occurred on November 29, 2010.

Contact

Please send comments, concerns, and questions to TribalSacredSites@fs.fed.us, or to your Regional Tribal Relations Contact (PDF, 48 KB).