WASHINGTON – The Home Office announced on September 14 that it will begin consultations with tribes as it continues to build the capacity of sovereign nations to establish and consolidate their homelands.

Acquisition of land in trust, according to a DOI statement, is one of the most important functions the Interior undertakes on behalf of tribes and is essential to tribal self-determination. Trust lands are a primary location of tribal authority, and many federal programs and services are only available on reserves or trust lands, the statement said.

He also indicates that the Interior is inviting tribes to provide comments during consultations that will focus on three specific topics: the process of transferring land in trust; rental and rights of way; and sacred sites and treaty rights.

“Internally, we have an obligation to work with the tribes to protect their lands and ensure that every community has a homeland where its citizens can live together to lead safe and fulfilling lives,” said the deputy secretary for affairs. Indian, Bryan Newland. “These important actions are a step in the right direction to restore homelands that will strengthen tribal communities. ”

According to the statement, federal policies dating back more than a century have eroded the land base of Indian tribes across the United States. By placing land in trust through the DOI, tribes are able to repurchase land in or near their reserves, establish a land base for tribal communities and clarify jurisdiction over their lands, says the press release. It also states that tribes have faced increasing delays and costs in their efforts to develop housing projects, manage law enforcement agencies and develop local economies due to unnecessary obstacles in the process. transfer of land in trust.

In April, Home Secretary Deb Haaland issued Secretary Order 3400, which redelegated the authority to review and approve land trust applications to regional directors of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In addition to the order, the prosecutor’s office withdrew three previous notices that hindered the interior’s ability to turn over land to tribes and which had been issued without adequate tribal consultation.

To learn more about the Tribal Consultations of the Interior, visit the Tribal Consultations page.