# Presentation: 573506

## WASHINGTON STATE NRCS

- TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- There are about 40 Federally recognized Tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
- Washington State has 29 of them.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- We as an Agency of the US Government, conduct protocol negotiations with Tribes under the NHPA, several Executive Orders and our National Programmatic Agreement

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- As per our NPA, we must conduct negotiations on a Nation to Nation basis and in “good faith”.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- It is not a requirement that a protocol be signed.  Some Tribes may not wish to sign such a document.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- Nationally, NRCS has developed agreements with approximately 20 Federally recognized Tribes

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- In the great scheme of things, even though we need to negotiate with all Tribes in a Nation to Nation posture, we may initially want to work with Tribes who express more of an interest in negotiating a protocol.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- In Washington, the Tribes that have risen to the top of our priority list are;
- Colville Confederated Tribes
- Spokane Tribe of Indians
- Yakama Tribe
- Quinault Nation
- Squaxin Island Tribe
- Lummi Indian Nation
- Makah Tribe

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- Tribes with influence within Washington, who reside in adjacent states and are Tribes who we wish to develop protocols with are;
- Couer d’Alene Tribe, ID
- Nez Perce Tribe, ID
- Umatilla Confederated Tribes, OR
- Warm Springs Tribes, OR

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- The three largest reservations, ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 acres, are the;
- Colville
- Yakama
- Quinault

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- Regardless of their reservation size, NRCS Washington is committed to working with and consulting with all Federally recognized tribes with traditional use areas in our state.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- Shortly after we signed our new Programmatic Agreement with the WA Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the STC assigned one of his assistants to begin negotiations on operational protocols with WA tribes.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- It became evident fairly quickly that one person could not do justice to the need for negotiations with so many high priority Tribes in a timely manner.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- The ASTC, began working with our three Area Cultural Resources Specialists and has been making progress on negotiations with specific Tribes

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- Also, the East Area Conservationist has developed a working relationship with the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the Spokane Tribe of Indians and has begun negotiations.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- We currently have an interim protocol established with the Colville Confederated Tribes

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- Draft protocols have been developed with the Squaxin Island Tribe and the Quinault Nation, both located in Western Washington.

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- This has not been an easy process; mistakes have been made, misunderstandings have occurred; but we are committed to meeting the intent of our NPA and are making a good faith effort to do so!!

## TRIBAL AGREEMENTS

- QUESTIONS?
- DENNIS J. ROBINSON
- STATE STAFF FORESTER
- STATE CULTURAL RESOURCES COORDINATOR