Tribal Communication Plan

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | June 1st, 2008

Tribal environmental and natural resource assistance handbook

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | March 11th, 1999

This handbook was developed by the Domestic Policy Council Working Group on American Indians and Alaska Natives (Working Group). The first draft of this document was poss

This handbook was developed by the Domestic Policy Council Working Group on American Indians and Alaska Natives (Working Group). The first draft of this document was possible thanks to the significant contributions of the Native American Fish & Wildlife Society. Previous drafts of the handbook were reviewed by each federal contributor and also went through the interagency review process at the Office of Management and Budget. The result is a compilation of the federal sources of financial and/or technical assistance programs available for Tribal environmental management. The handbook is intended to provide a central location for federal sources of both technical and financial assistance available to Tribes for environmental management. Many Tribes have limited environmental staffs that are faced with the challenge of addressing a broad range of environmental issues. Unlike State environmental programs that have received annual federal funding for many years, Tribal environmental programs generally must compete annually for their funds. With 554 federally recognized Tribes, there simply is not enough money to go around. Therefore, Tribal environmental staffs spend a large part of their time applying for grants and searching for sources of federal assistance. This document is an effort to assist Tribal staff in their search and hopefully save them valuable time. The handbook can also assist federal, regional, State and Local government employees in becoming better informed about the sources of environmental assistance available in order to improve customer service to the Tribes. The Working Group recognizes that this document does not contain every federal resource available to Tribes. This is an evolving document and will be updated periodically. Future versions of this document will be available on the Internet (see Comments section).

Tribal Water Study: An Overview

Water and Tribes Initiative | October 28th, 2019

The purpose of this policy brief is to provide an overview of the Colorado River Basin Ten Tribes Partnership Tribal Water Study (Study), a unique review of the water rig

The purpose of this policy brief is to provide an overview of the Colorado River Basin Ten Tribes Partnership Tribal Water Study (Study), a unique review of the water rights, water uses, and future plans of the member tribes of the Colorado River Basin Tribes Partnership (Ten Tribes Partnership). The information in this policy brief is taken directly from the Study. In the foreword to the Study, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Commissioner Brenda Burman states that Reclamation and the Ten Tribes Partnership collaborated to document current water use and potential future water development to better facilitate planning and decision-making throughout the Colorado River Basin (Basin). The Study strengthens a Department of the Interior commitment to address water issues facing tribes and recognizes that the Colorado River is an essential foundation for the physical, economic, and cultural sustenance of tribes in the Basin. The Study also explores ways to provide a wide range of benefits to both Partnership Tribes and other water users. The mutual trust and understanding forged during the Study will prove to be critical as the Basin collaboratively addresses the significant challenges ahead. The Ten Tribes Partnership, in its foreword, stated that in addition to producing technical information, the Tribes had other goals. First, they wanted to better understand how, at present, the Study’s water use scenarios fit into the overall scheme of Colorado River Basin management. Second, they wanted to know how future development of tribal water resources will affect other water users who are now using water to which a tribe may hold legal title, but which the title-holding tribe has not yet developed for its own use. Finally, they wanted to assess--to the extent present information allows -- the role future development of tribal water rights will have on Basin operations. The Ten Tribes Partnership hopes the Study resolves some uncertainty about how tribes perceive the future for their water uses, and establishes a baseline of information for discussions and development of relationships among tribes, states, federal government, water managers, and water users throughout the Basin.

Tribal Water Summit Proceedings: California Indigenous Rights, Uses, and Management of Land and Water (2013)

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | March 26th, 2014

Two hundred representatives from California Native American Tribes, Federal and State agencies, and Native American organizations participated in the 2013 California Trib

Two hundred representatives from California Native American Tribes, Federal and State agencies, and Native American organizations participated in the 2013 California Tribal Water Summit. This event continued key concepts discussed at the 2009 Tribal Water Summit: »» Tribal Ecological Knowledge (TEK) – emphasizing greater respect for, and understanding of, Tribal knowledge and its value in resource management; »» Indigenous Rights to Water – focusing on the broader context and relationships between Tribes and water; and »»Watershed Management and Land Use – looking at the integration of TEK and indigenous water rights with local, regional and statewide watershed efforts and projects which affect Tribal communities, trust lands and homelands. Three plenary speakers were featured during the Summit. On the first day, Heather Whiteman Runs Him, Staff Attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, discussed Tribal water rights principles and approaches. On the second day, Felicia Marcus, Board Chair for the State Water Board, reflected on the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships between agencies and Tribes. Also on the second day, Cynthia Gomez, Tribal Advisor to the Governor, provided an overview on the work of the Tribal Advisor’s Office. On Day 1, opening remarks were offered by John Laird, Secretary for the California Natural Resources Agency, and Dale Hoffman-Floerke, Chief Deputy Director for the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).   Mr. Laird highlighted the efforts within the Resources Agency to better balance historic rights with multiple needs and interests. He shared the experiences from the MLPA Initiative, and described the adoption of the Tribal consultation policy and creation of the Tribal liaison positions. Ms. Hoffman-Floerke called attention to the TWS Guiding Principles and Statement of Goals for Implementation, which are supported by the Resources Agency and DWR. She described the 2013 TWS as succession planning, which supports the continuity of awareness, understanding and relationships from the 2009 TWS.

Tribal-Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the Use of Fire

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | September 9th, 2014

A memo written by Ron W. Goode, Tribal Chairman, North Fork Mono Tribe on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the use of fire.  This document was part of the reference

A memo written by Ron W. Goode, Tribal Chairman, North Fork Mono Tribe on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the use of fire.  This document was part of the reference documents included with the California Water Plan 2013 Update.

Western and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in ecocultural restoration

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | October 1st, 2018

 The Delta Plan (DSC 2013) calls for “protecting and enhancing the unique cultural values” of California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, a 2,800-km2 (1,100 mi2)

 The Delta Plan (DSC 2013) calls for “protecting and enhancing the unique cultural values” of California’s Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, a 2,800-km2 (1,100 mi2) region that was occupied by indigenous peoples for ~5,000 years. The legacies of Native Californians need to be included in the Delta Plan, especially Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of ways to gather, hunt, and fish for food; build shelters; prepare medicines; and perform ceremonies — along with ways to make tools, clothing, baskets, and shelters. Plants were not just collected but also tended, which involved planned burning, digging, planting, weeding, harvesting, and seed dispersal. Populations of plants that have cultural significance and unique values should be enhanced under the Delta Plan. While Western Ecological Knowledge (WEK) offers a strong foundation for restoration of species assemblages and ecosystems, TEK adds culturally-significant species to restoration targets and traditional management practices to achieve ecological resilience. We compare 11 attributes of WEK and TEK that aid ecological restoration; all are complementary or shared by these two ways of knowing. Both WEK and TEK emphasize adaptive approaches for managing natural resources, as mandated in the Delta Plan. We suggest that WEK–TEK restoration sites throughout the Delta can be linked (virtually) to honor cultural integrity and nurture a “Sense of Place” for Native Californians and others. At the same time, such a network could foster ways to achieve sustainability through the TEK ethic of reciprocity, which WEK lacks. A network of WEK–TEK sites could enhance unique cultural values while supporting passive recreation and attracting ecotourists. 

Who makes decisions about California's water?

Restore the Delta | January 9th, 2023

This project collected and created data on California's water managers at the state, local and individual level to determine their race and gender. At the State level, we

This project collected and created data on California's water managers at the state, local and individual level to determine their race and gender. At the State level, we used the State Workforce Analysis to examine the race and gender of water-related state executives. At the local level, we coded about 1500 directors of water agencies for race and gender and then compared each board to the race and gender of the agency service areas. At the individual level, we coded nearly 14,000 individual rights holders for race. The results were not surprising. At every level, the people who make decisions about California's water are more white and more male than the population of California. At the local agency level, boards of directors are 86% White and 79% male. At the individual level, 91% of small named water rights holders have last names that code as White.

Winnemem Wintu Salmon Restoration Plan for the McCloud River

Winnemem Wintu | February 1st, 2016

The National Marine Fisheries Service 2009 Biological Opinion for salmon specifically calls out for volition passage alternatives to be investigated and considered. [The

The National Marine Fisheries Service 2009 Biological Opinion for salmon specifically calls out for volition passage alternatives to be investigated and considered. [The Winnemem Wintu] have not seen any real evidence that the Pilot Project is even considering this option. Fortunately, the Winnemem Wintu Tribe has a solution to the above, a full repatriation and restoration of the Salmon to the McCloud River, their Spiritual and Cultural home. It is those Spiritual and Cultural ties and beliefs that have sustained us thus far, and will continue to sustain us as we bring our NUR (Salmon) back home. We therefore request that the following Spiritual, Cultural and Practical Fish Restoration Plan be included in the Pilot Project Plan and submitted out for public comment and consideration.