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…

Smokey Bear a Hit at National Tribal Conference, 41st annual American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 4 to 6, 2018. Read more about the conference…

Tribal Information Webinars

Collaborative Project Planning Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 Webinar

The Intertribal Timber Council (ITC) held a webinar on December 17, 2018, about collaborative project planning for Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) and other TFPA-like projects. Refer to the following for more information.

• Collaborative Planning Webinar Video - YouTube
• Collaborative Planning Webinar Materials - Agenda
• Collaborative Planning Webinar Materials - PowerPoint
• Collaborative Planning Webinar Materials - Agreements Decision Tree
• Collaborative Planning Webinar Materials - G&A Authorities Brochure

Planned Revisions to Forest Service Directives under the National Environmental Policy Act

The USDA Forest Service hosted two webinars April 12 and 19, 2018, to provide general information about its Environmental Analysis and Decision Making efforts, revisions to Forest Service regulations and directives for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act, and Tribal Consultation. These webinars were hosted by the Offices of Ecosystem Management Coordination and Tribal Relations. See a recording of the April 12, 2018 Webinar…

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.