News and Events Archive
Keep track of past Tribal Relations news and events.
Webinars
USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration Program Proposed Directive Webinar
A webinar was presented by Forest Serive staff to:
- Provide an overview of the directive
- Discuss how to submit comments
- Discuss how to engage in Tribal consultation
Watch the recording of the August 19th webinar.
Proposed Rule and Draft Directive Webinar Recordings
Webinars regarding the following topics were hosted on July 16, 2020 and July 20, 2020:
- Range Excess Use & Unauthorized Use – Proposed Rule
- Emergency Closures for Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting - Draft Directive
Watch the recording of the July 16th webinar
Watch the recording of the July 20th webinar
Drafts of the Proposed Rule and Draft Directive will be available soon.
National Historic Preservation Act Phasing Programmatic Agreement Webinar Recordings
Tribal information webinars were held over the week of August 26, 2019, to provide an overview of the proposed National Phasing Programmatic Agreement, how to submit comments, and how to engage in Tribal consultation.
Tribes are being engaged to provide input on the proposed National Phasing Programmatic Agreement. This is the Consultation Package:
Please send any comments or questions to SM.FS.HeritAgrmnt@usda.gov or your local forest representative.
Community Forest and Open Space Webinar Recording
A Tribal information webinar was held September 18, 2019, to provide an overview of the Community Forest Program and the current Request for Applications; to share information about the Hall Mountain Community Forest with Tommy Cabe, forester with the Cherokee Nation; and, to answer questions.
NEPA Rule Tribal Webinar Recordings
Tribal information webinars were held on June 24 and July 12, 2019, to provide an overview of the changes in the Proposed Rule for NEPA procedures, how to submit comments, and how to engage in Tribal consultation.
2018 Farm Bill Listening Session, Title VIII: Forestry
Presented on May 15, 2019, the focus of the “2018 Farm Bill Listening Session, Title VIII: Forestry” was on Section 8624: Good Neighbor Authority for Tribes; Section 8703: Tribal Forest management Demonstration project (also known as “638’ contracts). There was also discussion on tribal woody biomass projects authorized by Public Law 115-325 (amending the Tribal Forest Protection Act).
Sacred Sites Listening Sessions
Transcripts of the November 29, 2010, and February 14, 2011, calls are available by request.
- February 14, 2011 Review of USDA & Forest Service Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Indian Sacred Sites National 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)
Events
- Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and Interior Sign Memorandum to Collaborate to Protect Indian Sacred Sites
Four cabinet-level departments joined the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation December 6, 2012, in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve the protection of Indian sacred sites. The MOU also calls for improving tribal access to the sites. It was signed by cabinet secretaries from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy and Interior. It was also signed by the chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. USDA News Release…
The Sacred Sites MOU has been extended through December 31, 2024.
- Memorandum of Understanding Among the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on Interagency Coordination and Collaboration for the Protection of Indian Sacred Sites (PDF, 374 KB)
- Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Releases Final Sacred Sites Report
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released a report on December 6, 2012, calling for USDA and the U.S. Forest Service to work more closely with tribal governments in the protection, respectful interpretation and appropriate access to Indian sacred sites. USDA News Release…
The FINAL Report is available for review or collaborative discussion.
- Proposed Tribal Relations Directives
The U.S. Forest Service sought public comment on formalizing a proposed policy to expand the mutually beneficial work it conducts with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, and Alaska Native corporations. Tribal consultation and public comment for the proposed Tribal Relations Directives ended on September 22, 2015.- News Release
- Federal Register Notice
- Forest Service Handbook (PDF, 460 KB)
- Forest Service Manual (PDF, 945 KB)
- Webinars regarding the proposed directives were hosted each Wednesday between August 26 and September 16, 2015. You may view the PowerPoint presentation for the webinars (PDF, 1.7 MB).
- Forest Planning Rule Collaboration & Public Involvement: Tribal Relations
- Forest Service Planning Rule [Second] National Tribal Conference Call (August 5, 2010) (PDF, 340 KB) - Summary of Participant Input for the second national tribal conference call of August 5, 2010.
- Forest Service Planning Rule [First] National Tribal Conference Call (May 3, 2010) (PDF, 162 KB) - Summary of Participant Input for the first national tribal conference call of May 3, 2010.
- You may check the USDA Forest Service Forest Planning Rule website for information regarding the second national tribal conference call of August 6, 2010. We will post a summary of that meeting when it becomes available.
- Winter 2018 (PDF, 2.6 MB)
- Summer 2017 (PDF, 5.3 MB)
- Winter 2017 (PDF, 4.1 MB)
- Fall 2016 (PDF, 2.1 MB)
- Summer 2016 (PDF, 3.0 MB)
- Spring 2016 (PDF, 3.7 MB)
- Winter 2016 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Fall 2015 (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Summer 2015 (PDF, 3.3 MB)
- Winter 2015 (PDF, 3.5 MB)
- Fall 2014 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Summer 2014 (PDF, 3.5 MB)
- Spring 2014 (PDF, 3.2 MB)
- Winter 2014 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Fall 2013 (PDF, 3.6 MB)
- Summer 2013 (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- Spring 2013 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Winter 2013 (PDF, 2.2 MB)
- Fall 2012 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Summer 2012 (PDF, 2.9 MB)
- Spring 2012 (PDF, 2.2 MB)
- Winter 2012 (PDF, 1.2 MB)
- January 2009 OTR Newsletter (PDF, 108 KB)
- February 2009 OTR Newsletter (PDF, 108 KB)
- January 2008 OTR Newsletter (PDF, 101 KB)
- February 2008 OTR Newsletter (PDF, 102 KB)
- April 2008 OTR Newsletter (PDF, 102 KB)
- June 2008 OTR Newsletter (PDF, 106 KB)
- August 2008 OTR Newsletter (PDF, 103 KB)
Tribal Relations News
2018
2017
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2015
2014
2013
2012
2010
2009
News from OTR
Newsletters about Tribal Relations topics from the U.S. Forest Service Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) Program.