Working with Tribes

The Forest Service recognizes American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians as people with distinct cultures and traditional values. We strive to be in the top tier of federal land managing agencies in partnering appropriately and collaboratively with American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal governments and communities for mutually beneficial outcomes.

American Indians and Alaskan Natives have a unique legal and political relationship with the government of the United States. This relationship is defined by history, treaties, statutes, executive orders, policies, court decisions, and the US Constitution. Indigenous people live in every state and often near Forest Service administered lands. The relationships with Tribes that Forest Service personnel build, maintain, and enhance make a difference.

In general, Forest Service policy states that the agency will:

• Maintain a governmental relationship with federally recognized Tribal governments;
• Implement our programs and activities honoring Tribal rights and fulfill legally mandated trust responsibilities;
• Administer programs and activities to address and be sensitive to traditional relations beliefs and practices; 
• Provide research, transfer of technology, and technical assistance to Tribes;
• Honor treaty rights and privileges of Native Americans. Protect and preserve Native American ceded rights and privileges to access and use the Forest for traditional religious values; and
• Allow access to Native Americans for any area confirmed as traditionally used in connection with tribal ceremonial or traditional rites.

Throughout the agency, line officers are responsible for cultivating and maintaining government-to-government relationships in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, Executive Orders, and agency policy.

Mt. Hood Tribal Relations

The Mt. Hood National Forest recognizes that all lands in Oregon, including the National Forests, were the ancestral lands of Indigenous people. Mt. Hood Forest leadership regularly engages in government-to-government consultation with several Tribes as required by law and Forest Service policy. Based on their ancestral ties to the Forest, these Tribes include the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon (CTGR), the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI), and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Community of Oregon (CTWSRO). Each Tribe is a sovereign entity with its own distinct culture and traditional values.

Forest leadership and staff meet regularly with these Tribal partners to consult on project planning, implementation, and any topic of interest or concern to the Tribes. Tribal consultation enhances stewardship of the Forest by incorporating Tribes’ expert advice, ideas, and diverse opinions into the planning and implementation process for Forest projects. The Forest has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with both CTGR and CTWSRO which guide the consultation process. These Memoranda ensure timely and consistent notification, consultation, coordination, and participation in each other’s planning and management activities. The agreements frame future working relationships related to traditional and cultural values, which include topics such as berries, roots, access, timber planning, recreation, and law enforcement issues.

The Mt. Hood National Forest is committed to increasing opportunities for Tribes to benefit from Forest Service programs and to help the Forest Service benefit from Tribes’ guidance, in support of Tribal Sovereignty, self-governance, and self-determination, as well as Forest Service goals such as wildfire risk reduction and mitigation of climate change impacts.

Additional Resources

• Interactive Map of Tribal Relationships with the U.S. Forest Service
• Tribal Relations in the Pacific Northwest
• Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
• Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon
• Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians​

Photo 1 courtesy of: https://www.museumatwarmsprings.org/collections-the-mastery-of-traditional-craftsmen/
Photo 2 courtesy of: https://www.facebook.com/CTGRgov/photos