As an agency, we often refer to the humbling responsibility of managing 193 million acres of public lands for “present and future generations.” But what is that responsibility, who are we responsible to, and what does success look like? While answers to those questions are complex to a degree, some aspects are simple, elegant and full of opportunity. 

As an agency, we hold immeasurable trust responsibility to Tribes; when we lean into that responsibility we are met with tremendous pathways to better “care for the land and serve people.” Through treaties, laws and executive orders we are guided toward coordinating closely with Tribal Nations. Yet, I believe those written rules do not move us; rather, it is when our hearts are touched that our minds want to follow.

My heart was touched as a district ranger on the Chippewa National Forest while engaging in field trips with Tribal elders and natural resources staff, recognizing that small management changes could better sustain and enhance Tribal values, practices and traditions. This is also to acknowledge that at times our “best available science” did not incorporate the knowledge Tribes gained over millennia (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) and, therefore, we often struggled to achieve the results we desired.

Having worked in four regions and Washington, DC, I have witnessed the tremendous work we perform every day on behalf of the public, striving to incorporate science and public/partner input to make informed decisions on the ground. At the same time, I have seen how we tend to seek input from common audiences while overlooking the opportunity to learn from other groups or individuals, such as Tribes. Yet, I have seen some great strides in true engagement with Tribes, leading in places to co-stewardship or co-management and resulting in healthier, and more resilient, landscapes.

In the past, and still today, I miss opportunities to uphold those responsibilities, learn and apply Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and to co-steward and co-manage this great landscape with Tribal Nations. To better uphold these responsibilities as an individual and to help us as an agency, I am humbled and honored to be a member of the Tribal Nation Sovereignty and Responsibility Advisory Commission.

I invite you to help us accelerate our agency journey in upholding our Trust responsibility. Be open to learning and growing, and recognizing that some of our management intentions can be improved through expanding our personal knowledge base to incorporate the knowledge of others. By doing this, we get ever closer to our mission “to sustain the health, diversity and productivity” of this great landscape.

The Tribal Nation Sovereignty and Responsibility Advisory Commission is a group of agency leaders who strive to ensure Indian Tribes and Tribal communities are included in relevant decision-making and that program and service delivery respect Tribal sovereignty. Members of the commission include senior leaders across the agency representing the National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, Business Operations, Research and Development, and forest supervisors.