US touts new era of collaboration with Native American tribes to manage public lands and water

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Top U.S. officials say they are entering a new era of collaboration with Native American and Alaska Native leaders in managing public lands, water and other resources. Hundreds of tribal leaders gathered in Washington this week for an annual summit where the Biden administration is celebrating nearly 200 new agreements to boost cooperation with the tribes. The new co-management and co-stewardship agreements mark a tenfold increase over what had been inked just a year earlier. Federal emergency managers also announced updates Thursday to recovery policies to aid tribes in repairing or rebuilding traditional homes or ceremonial buildings after a year marked by a series of wildfires, floods and other disasters.