The Assembly has approved a bill establishing the Tribal Cogovernance and Comanagement of Ancestral Lands and Waters Act to encourage the state to create agreements with tribes to share responsibility and partnership in resource management conservation within a tribe’s lands and waters.
Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) introduced the measure, AB 1284, which will now head to the Senate.
“Under current law the California Natural Resource Agency is not required to work with tribal communities even though the state’s First People have managed the land and its resources for centuries,” Ramos said. “Tribes are committed to the health and safety of delicate ecosystems and a tradition of responsibility and stewardship.”
AB 1284 would permit and encourage the Natural Resource Agency to engage in government-to-government negotiations with federally recognized tribal communities to advance state goals regarding natural resource management.
In 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Executive Order B-10-11 which reaffirmed California’s recognition of tribal communities as sovereigns of their own territory and people and as citizens of the state.
It also committed the state to foster and sustain government-to-government relationships with tribal communities to address areas of mutual concern and to have meaningful consultations.
“True co-governance and management is shared decision-making from the very start. It is time for tribes and the Resources Agency to be real partners in combating climate change and protecting biodiversity and our natural and cultural resources. It is time to return the management of tribal ancestral lands and waters to California’s first peoples. AB 1284 is our way forward,” said Resighini Rancheria Tribal Chairperson Fawn C. Murphy in a letter expressing support for the proposal.
AB 1284 is sponsored by Resighini Rancheria and Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation. It is also supported by the Natural California Tribal Chairpersons Association, Jamui Indian Village of California, Elk Valley Rancheria, Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, Ocean Conservancy, the California State Parks Association and Pew Charitable Trusts.
Assembly approves measure to include tribal voice and experience in natural resource management
- Lake County News reports
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