Tribal Relations

Through a Service First agreement between the Fishlake National Forest, Manti-La Sal National Forest and the BLM Richfield Field Office, tribal consultation is a shared function of the three offices. All three offices share contiguous lands in central Utah – with the exception of the Manti’s LaSal Division near Moab and Monticello. In addition, all three offices share similar issues. 

This cooperative venture essentially blocks up the federal land in central Utah into one package that interested tribes can deal with without being concerned about boundaries and jurisdictions. Currently, there are about 16 tribes that have expressed an interest in what the federal government is doing in this area that might affect them, and we try to answer their questions and concerns through effective face-to-face meetings.

The tribes decide who we consult with, how, and when it happens. The list of those interested in this area is always changing, and that interest depends on what is being proposed. Some tribes are interested only in certain kinds of projects; others in everything the public land management agencies do. Any tribe is welcome to participate in consultation. Tribal interests in this area include the impacts to archaeological sites from individual projects, the protection of sacred sites, repatriation of human remains, and Traditional Cultural Property nominations.