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.
Agreement
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.