The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria signed an agreement with the National Park Service on Monday, the tribe announced, formalizing the government-to-government relationship between the entities for the next two decades.
The agreement concerns historic sites within the Point Reyes National Seashore as well as the park’s management of the tule elk and ranching in the seashore, both of which have been contentious issues.
Tribal chairman Greg Sarris wrote in a statement that the tribe is proud of the agreement, which he wrote “demonstrates the federal government’s respect for the tribe’s sovereignty and self-governance, and the Tribe’s history within PRNS.”
Mr. Sarris, who said the partnership with the park was a model for other tribes, declined to comment further to the Light on the content of the agreement.
The park’s management policies already require that it consult with the federally recognized tribe when its plans affect tribal interests, and the National Historic Preservation Act also requires the park to consult with the tribe about any sites that have cultural or religious significance.
Craig Kenkel, the seashore’s superintendent, said in a statement that the new agreement makes the tribe and the park “solid partners” in the protection and stewardship of cultural resources, ecological knowledge and the park’s lands.
But when it comes to cultural heritage and wildlife management in the park, Graton is not the only voice representing Indigenous interests. The Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin, which is made up of Coast Miwok descendants who are not enrolled in the federally recognized tribe, has asked the park for more say in its plans. The council and the tribe have clashing views over tule elk, archaeological sites and the replica Miwok village of Kule Loklo.
In June, the tribal council authored a letter to park officials, raising concerns about damage to Indigenous archeological sites in the seashore and about the park’s plan to allow lethal removal of elk, which are sacred animals in Miwok culture. The council’s leaders also said they were not included in discussions before Graton announced it would be rebuilding the damaged roundhouse at Kule Loklo.
“It’s really befuddling to me why we haven’t been invited and welcome at the table,” said Dean Hoaglin, the chairman of the tribal council. He said it’s not about what the council can get out of the relationship, but when they can bring: valuable cultural knowledge and resources.
Mr. Hoaglin suggested the park could find a more formal way to include his council. He cited the 2018 agreement between the National Park Service and the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, which is not a federally recognized tribe, authorizing the group to reconstruct a historic village in the Yosemite Valley.
“One of the traditional values we hold is inclusivity,” Mr. Hoaglin said of the council. “Everything we do, we invite all our relatives. That’s the way it should be.”