Tribal Relations

The USDA Forest Service Tribal Relations Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2019-2022 describes our plans for fulfilling treaty obligations, meeting trust responsibilities, and finding new opportunities to work together in shared stewardship.

Tribal resource crews help restore national forests and archeological sites. Individuals at a training hosted by the Shawnee Tribe and the Forest Service. Photo by USDA Forest Service. Read more…

The 2018 field season of the Hoonah Native Forest Partnership is in the books! The partnership provides a working example of how investing in a local workforce can provide for a community and aid in land management. Read more…

The Forest Service Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) hosted its American Indian and Alaska Native heritage observance on November 14, 2018. Read about the observance…

“Bridge A Gap” - USDA Forest Service Interim Chief from Forest Service on Vimeo.

A look at Koda Energy, a biomass power facility in Shakopee, Minnesota, owned by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. A showcase for the Sixth Annual Bioenergy Day. View the video on YouTube…

Regional Forester Kathleen Atkinson signs MOU with Saginaw Chippewa renewing the Forest Service commitment to honor treaty rights. Read more about the MOU signing…

Biomass Demonstrations in Indian Country - Eligibility Criteria Released

Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017, Public Law 115-325, “Indian Energy Act”

This Act (section 202) amends the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 to direct the Department of the Interior, for land under Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction, and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), for land under Forest Service jurisdiction, to enter into agreements with Tribes to carry out demonstration projects to promote biomass energy production on Indian forest land and in nearby communities by providing them with reliable supplies of woody biomass from federal lands. Interior and USDA must enter into agreements with tribal organizations to carry out additional biomass demonstration projects.

• The Indian Energy Act (PDF, 230 KB)
• Section 202, Tribal and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects (PDF, 132 KB)
• NEW! Frequently Asked Questions, Section 202, Tribal and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects (PDF, 163 KB)

Federal Register NOTICES
Eligibility Criteria for Tribal and Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects, 11486–11487 [2019–05502] [TEXT]  [PDF]

Tribal Relations Directives

The Forest Service Manual (FSM 1560) and Handbook (FSH 1509.13) revision has been completed. These directives were published in the Federal Register on March 9, 2016. For more information, see these directives on our Authorities web page; or, you may contact the Office of Tribal Relations at OTR@fs.fed.us or 202-205-1514.

Tribal Connections

Tribal Connections is an interactive map that shows the connection between national forests and grasslands, tribal trust lands and tribal lands ceded as part of a treaty. The map is used by the Forest Service as one tool of many to better inform land management decisions.