An official website of the United States government
          Here's how you know
        Here's how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
              
              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Https**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock** (   Locked padlock
 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.  Newsroom
                                
                          
        
                Vote.gov Accessibility Menu
  

        
        Accessibility Menu
      Toggle Font Size
                                        
                                
          
                    Toggle OpenDyslexic
                                        
                                
          
                    Toggle Dyslexia-friendly black-on-creme color scheme
                                        
                                
          
                    Contact Us
 *U.S. Department of the Interior*
Menu


    close

        
        
                        
        
        
  
  
          About
      
                
        
        
  
  
          About
                    Interior
              
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Meet the Secretary
      
                        
                    
      
              Interior Leadership
      
                        
                    
      
              Departmental Offices
      
                        
                    
      
              History of the Interior
      
                        
                    
      
                      Join
              
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Careers
      
                        
                    
      
              Pathways Program
      
                        
                    
      
              Veterans Employment
      
                        
                    
      
              Volunteer
    
  

      
              
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureaus
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Bureaus
                    Bureaus
              
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Bureau of Indian Affairs
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Indian Education
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Land Management
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Reclamation
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Trust Funds Administration
      
                        
                    
      
              National Park Service
      
                        
                    
      
              Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement
      
                        
                    
      
              U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
      
                        
                    
      
              U.S. Geological Survey
    
  

      
              
      
                        
                    
      
              Priorities
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Priorities
                    Addressing the Drought Crisis
      
                        
                    
      
                      Advancing Environmental Justice
      
                        
                    
      
                      America the Beautiful
      
                        
                    
      
                      Clean Energy Future
      
                        
                    
      
                      Increasing Outdoor Access
      
                        
                    
      
                      Investing in America
      
                        
                    
      
                      Strengthening Indian Country
      
                        
                    
      
                      Tackling the Climate Crisis
    
  

      
              
      
                        
                    
      
              Media
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Media
                    Blog
      
                        
                    
      
                      Press Releases
      
                        
                    
      
                      Media Contacts
      
                        
                    
      
                      Multimedia
    
  

      
              
      
    
          
    
  



Search

  Search


          
          
                      Newsroom
                                
                          
        
                Vote.govAccessibility Menu
  

        
        Accessibility Menu
      Toggle Font Size
                                        
                                
          
                    Toggle OpenDyslexic
                                        
                                
          
                    Toggle Dyslexia-friendly black-on-creme color scheme
                                        
                                
          
                    Contact Us
  


Breadcrumb
        Home
                            Biden-Harris Administration Takes Steps to Incr...


  Share
  FacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditPinterest

  Biden-Harris Administration Takes Steps to Increase Co-Stewardship Opportunities, Incorporate Indigenous Knowledge, Protect Sacred Sites

12/06/2023
              Last edited 12/06/2023


      Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2023Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov
**WASHINGTON** — The Department of the Interior today announced new steps to strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship with Tribal Nations, including new efforts to increase Tribal co-stewardship of lands and waters, incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into the Department’s work, and preserve and protect sacred sites around the country.
“Since time immemorial, the Earth’s lands and waters have been central to the social, cultural, spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of Indigenous peoples. It is essential that we do everything we can to ensure that Indigenous Knowledge helps guide our ongoing work as stewards of public lands and waters,” said**Secretary Deb Haaland**. “By acknowledging and empowering Tribes as partners in co-stewardship of our country’s lands and waters, every American will benefit from strengthened management of our federal land and resources.”
Secretary Haaland made the announcements in remarks at the 2023 White House Tribal Nations Summit, which provides an opportunity for the Biden-Harris administration and Tribal leaders from the 574 federally recognized Tribes to discuss ways the federal government can invest in and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships as well as ensure that progress in Indian Country endures for years to come.
**Increasing Tribal Co-Stewardship of Lands and Waters**
At the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, Secretary Haaland and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack signed Joint Secretary's Order 3403 (S.O. 3403) committing to Tribal and federal co-stewardship of federal lands, waters and wildlife, including through collaborative and cooperative agreements with Tribal Nations. At the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, Secretary Raimondo signed the Commerce Department on as party to S.O. 3403.
Since S.O. 3403 was signed, the Departments have celebrated several significant and innovative co-stewardship arrangements providing Tribes a greater role in the management of federal lands and waters that have cultural and natural resources of significance and value to their respective communities. Secretary Haaland today announced that in the past year, the three Departments have signed nearly 200 new co-stewardship agreements with Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations and consortiums. At last year’s Summit, the Interior and Agriculture Departments had completed 20 agreements.
Today, the Interior Department released its second annual report on Tribal co-stewardship, which outlines implementation of S.O. 3403 and highlights the agreements that the Interior Department entered into in the past year.
**Centering Indigenous Knowledge in the Department’s Work**
Secretary Haaland also announced that the Department has published departmental guidance on the inclusion and protection of Indigenous Knowledge in decision making and scientific research. A new chapter in the agency’s Departmental Manual formalizes Indigenous Knowledge as a foundational piece of the Department’s mission and formally recognizes Indigenous Knowledge as one of the many important knowledge systems that contribute to the well-being of the United States and to the collective understanding of the natural world.
While the Department’s bureaus and offices have at times historically included Indigenous Knowledge in certain actions or scientific research, this new chapter will facilitate and encourage the Department’s consistent, broad and equitable inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge internally and externally.
**Protecting Indigenous Sacred Sites**
The Department also announced that the White House Council on Native American Affairs, which is co-chaired by Secretary Haaland and Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, has published a Best Practices Guide for Federal Agencies Regarding Tribal and Native Hawaiian Sacred Sites, which provides best practices, procedures and guidance for the management, treatment and protection of sacred sites. The guide also identifies impediments to federal-level protection of sacred sites and identifies ways to address and remedy the impediments. The initial draft was informed by feedback gathered at two listening sessions, and the final version has been expanded and improved upon based on comments received through Tribal and Native Hawaiian consultation.
The federal government manages a diverse range of lands and waters that contain sites held sacred by Tribes and the Native Hawaiian Community. This Best Practices Guide is intended as a source of practical information for federal agencies and their leadership to update agency-specific guidance or to inform the development of new agency policies and procedures regarding the management of sacred sites.
This new guide builds on a Memorandum of Understanding, signed by several agencies at the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, aimed at increasing collaboration with Tribes to ensure stewardship and access to sites, and incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into management, treatment and protection procedures.
###
  
              Press Release
      

            
      
  
  04/12/2024

        Interior Department Finalizes Action to Ensure Fair Return to Taxpayers, Strengthen Accountability...

    

          Read More
          Press Release
      

            
      
  
  04/11/2024

        Biden-Harris Administration Delivers Historic Milestones, New Actions for Clean Energy on Public...

    

          Read More
          Press Release
      

            
      
  
  04/11/2024

        Interior Department Finalizes Action to Strengthen Endangered Species Act

    

          Read More
Was this page helpful?
    
      Yes
No
This page was not helpful because the content:
          

        
  
      Please provide a comment


  
Leave this field blankReturn to top
    
          Subscribe
    
      Enter your email address to subscribe to Interior news and updates


  Leave this field blank
Section Title
  

        
      About DOI
                              Accessibility
                              Contact Us
                              Copyright
                              Disclaimer
                              Information Quality
                              Privacy Policy
                              Site Map
                              Vulnerability Disclosure PolicySection Title
  

        
      Budget & Performance
                              Coronavirus Updates
                              Cummings Act Notices
                              Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights
                              FOIA
                              Inspector General
                              No Fear Act reports
                              Open Government Initiative
    
          U.S. Department of the Interior
                    Stewarding Conservation and Powering Our Future

                          1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240