A Tribal relations specialist represents the Forest Service in dealing with Tribes, ensuring that the rights of Sovereign Indian Nations are fully respected and carried out in a government-to-government relationship.
I love relationship building which is a key element and foundation to establishing trust with our Tribal Nations. It is also very important to me that both Tribes and the Forest Service are aware of the legal obligations and the trust responsibility that binds the two together.
A simple challenge is planning a discussion on a complex issue between two groups that see the topic from a different viewpoint.
My laptop is regularly used to draft documents for review as well as attend virtual meetings. It allows me to be a walking office.
I am working with a collaborative group called the Bi-State Tribal Natural Resources Committee (BTNRC). It includes Tribal agencies, Federal and State agencies, and nonprofits. The group comes together to listen to Tribes and discuss land management practices that are being proposed.
In March 2012, I helped organize a Tribal Liaison conference for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Participants included Tribal leaders and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, as well as agency staff. The intent of the conference was to learn the history of the U.S. Army and Tribes in the Great Lakes. The rest is history!
