Voluntary Tribal Engagement Strategies for Save the Redwoods League

Abstract

A century-old nonprofit land trust in California, Save the Redwoods League has long worked to protect and steward ecologically significant lands that are also tribal ancestral territories embedded with cultural and spiritual significance. To achieve their ambitious vision for the next century of redwoods conservation, the League has engaged with tribes on individual conservation projects while recognizing the need for a more holistic understanding of tribal engagement. Based on formal policy and guidelines, state and federal agencies hold a legal responsibility to consult with tribes as sovereign nations. Without statutory guidance or authority, few resources are available to non-agency land trusts and conservation groups to guide their tribal engagement strategies. This report identifies applicable frameworks for tribal engagement, offers perspectives on tribal engagement from various stakeholder groups, and provides recommendations for the League to consider in their development of a framework or best practices for tribal engagement.