BLM, Tribes announce historic co-stewardship agreement

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today celebrated the historic signing of a Co-Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formally establishes the BLM’s commitment to collaboratively steward federal public lands administered by the Missoula Field Office within the aboriginal territory of the Tribes. 

“By signing this agreement, we reaffirm our dedication to meaningful collaboration with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. We have a deep mutual interest in assuring these lands are managed in a way that honors our past and our future,” said BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning. 

“Today marks a new beginning in our relationship with the Bureau of Land Management. This MOU is not just a document; it is a testament to our commitment to honoring our ancestors and the land that sustains us,” said Michael Dolson, Chairman Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. 

The MOU represents a significant step forward in Tribal co-stewardship, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous knowledge and values in the management of public lands. It builds on the existing work the BLM is already doing with the Tribes in efforts such as the restoration of the tributaries and Camas habitat and populations in the Lower Blackfoot River Corridor. By working together, the BLM aims to ensure the cultural, spiritual, and ecological interests of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are respected and integrated into land management practices.  

For more information about the event, please contact Chelsea Lair clair@blm.gov.