"This updated Native American policy (policy) provides a framework for government-to-government relationships, which furthers the United States’ and the Department of the Interior’s trust responsibility to federally recognized tribes to protect, conserve, and use tribal reserved, treaty guaranteed, or statutorily identified resources. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and representatives from tribes across the country worked together to update the policy. The policy articulates the principles for interactions between the Service and tribal governments as they relate to shared interests in the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats, which include Service lands and the protection of cultural resources that exist on Service lands. The Service and tribal governments recognize the need for strong, healthy communication and relationships so that we can work together to improve and enhance conservation of fish and wildlife resources and shared natural and cultural resource goals and objectives."
