Tribal Relations

Pacific Southwest Region

Working With Tribes

Map of Tribal Lands Within the Boundaries of Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (1MB)

The federal government has a unique and distinctive political relationship with federally recognized Indian tribes. It is defined by treaties, statutes, executive orders, judicial decisions and agreements and differs from relationships with state and local governments or other entities.

It has given rise to a special federal trust responsibility, involving the legal responsibilities and obligations of the United States toward Indian tribes and the application of fiduciary standards of due care with respect to Indian lands, tribal trust resources and the exercise of tribal rights.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as a bureau of the Department of the Interior, has a mandated obligation to ensure that the federal Indian trust responsibility is fulfilled.

Helpful Documents

2017 Eagle Rule Change Consultation Letter

2016 Final Revised Native American Policy

1994 Native American Policy (pdf 1.8 MB)

Secretarial Order 3206 (1.6 MB) — American Indian Tribal Rights, Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered Species Act

Questions and Answers regarding Secretarial Order 3206

Sept. 21, 2015 - Reopening of Comment Period on draft Native American Policy

2013 Tribal Consultation Guide

2018 Tribal Consultation Handbook

2016 Tribal Wildlife Grant Application Kit

Torres Martinez wetlands restoration at the Salton Sea
Photo Credit: USFWS

We routinely coordinate with the following Tribes:

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians
Barona Band of Mission Indians
Cabazon Band of Mission Indians
Cahuilla Band of Mission Indians
Campo Band of Mission Indians
Capitan Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California (Barona Group of the Capitan Grande of the Barona Reservation
Capitan Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California: Viejas (Baron Long) Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Viejas Reservation
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation
Colorado River Indian Tribes of the Colorado River Indian Reservation
Death Valley Timbi-sha Shoshone Tribe
Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Arizona, California, and Nevada
Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel
Inaja-Cosmit Band of Mission Indians
Jamul Indian Village
La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians

La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Reservation
Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians
Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
Mesa Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
Morongo Band of Mission Indians
Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians
Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation
Ramona Band of Cahuilla
Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians
Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians
Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians