Tribal Relations
The USDA Forest Service strives to connect more with all Native American tribes around the nation by strengthening relationships. More information can be found at the National Tribal Relations.
Goals and Relationship
This unique relationship with our American Indian neighbors helps to assist in the development and implementation of the Forest Service interests while establishing a mutual and beneficial partnership. The agency provides opportunities for partnership building with tribes to facilitate economic development assistance through State & Private Programs. Also, this connection assists in fulfilling the obligation the United States Government has with federally recognized Indian tribal governments.
One of the goals is to implement our programs and activities honoring and fulfilling legally mandated trust responsibilities on National Forest System lands. Another is to administer programs and activities to address and be sensitive to traditional Indian religious beliefs and practices. And finally, another goal is for the Forest Service to provide research, transfer or technology, and technical assistance to tribal governments.
This program focuses on:
- Education/Training - Developing and presenting training on Forest Service responsibility in the federal and tribal relationship such as treaty workshops and in protocol/consultation with Tribal Governments.
- Research - Assistance can be provided in researching tribal claims or positions; historical Indian claims or requests regarding National Forest lands; and to better understand current issues and policies.
- Technical Support and Advice - Tribal relations Program Managers can help Line and Staff Officers better understand current events and emerging issues; and provide advice regarding official correspondence with tribes, political relationships between tribal governments, in drafting planning documents, and when creating memorandums of understanding or memorandums of agreement with tribes.
Native American Tribes with an interest in the Intermountain Region
- Battle Mountain Band (Shoshone)
- Blackfeet Tribe
- Chippewa Creek
- Coeur D'Alene
- Confederated Tribes of Goshute
- Crow Tribe
- Dresslerville Community
- Duckwater Shoshone
- Eastern Shoshone
- Elko Band (Western)
- Ely Shoshone
- Fallon Colony (Paiute and Shoshone)
- Fort Belknap Tribe (Gros Ventre & Assiniboine)
- Fort McDermitt
- Fort Peck (Assiniboine & Sioux)
- Kalispel Tribe of Indians
- Kootenai Tribe of Idaho
- Las Vegas Paiute
- Lovelock Paiute
- Moapa Band of Paiute
- Nez Perce Tribe
- Northern Arapaho
- Northern Cheyenne
- Northern Ute Tribe
- Northwestern Band of Shoshoni Nation
- Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah (Includes: Shivwits, Cedar City, Koosharem, Kanosh, Indian Peaks Bands)
- Pyramid Lake Paiute
- Reno-Sparks Colony (Washoe, Paiute, Shoshone)
- Rocky Boys Chippewa Creek
- Salish-Kootenai Tribes (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes)
- San Juan Southern Paiute
- Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
- Shoshone-Paiute Tribes (Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley)
- Skull Valley Band of Band of Goshute
- South Fork Band Colony
- Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe
- Standing Rock Sioux
- Stewart Colony (Washoe)
- Summit Lake Paiute Tribe
- Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone
- Three Affiliated Tribes
- Timbisha Shoshone Band of Paiute
- Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
- Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (Weenuche Band)
- Walker River Paiute
- Washoe Tribe (includes: Carson, Dresslerville, Stewart, Washoe, Reno-Sparks, Woodsfords Colonies)
- Wells Band Colony
- Winnemucca Indian Colony (Paiute and Shoshone)
- Woodsfords Community Washoe
- Yerrington Paiute
- Yomba Shoshone