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Contact: Brianne Miller, 650-575-7727
Contact: Christine Beekman, 415-464-5135
Rohnert Park, Calif. and Point Reyes Station, Calif. — On Monday, August 9, 2021, a General Agreement for a Government-to-Government Partnership (235 KB PDF) was signed between the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (Tribe) and the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, and 12, which specifically includes the Point Reyes National Seashore and those sections of Marin County which are administrated by the Superintendent of Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS).
The 20-year General Agreement is believed to be the only one of its kind in the country.
Management efforts will focus on designations of Native American Traditional Cultural Properties eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and ensure Tribal views and traditional ecological knowledge are part of the management of tule elk and the ranching lands in PRNS.
"This Agreement demonstrates the federal government’s respect for the Tribe’s sovereignty and self-governance, and the Tribe’s history within PRNS," stated Greg Sarris, Tribal Chairman, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. "We are extremely happy and proud of this agreement and look forward to sharing, with the National Parks Service, the responsibility for restoring and enhancing our ancestral lands at PRNS. This government-to-government partnership is a model for other tribes to partner with the NPS and manage federal lands within tribal ancestral territories."
"The Tribe and NPS are now solid partners in the management of PRNS in cultural resource protection and stewardship, traditional ecological knowledge, education, research, revitalization of community and tradition, and the overall stewardship of Park lands and places," stated Craig Kenkel, Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore.
About Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, a federally recognized Tribe, is a sovereign nation, with its Reservation located in Sonoma County and its ancestral territory in Sonoma and Marin counties.
About Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore encompasses more than 71,000 acres of beaches, coastal cliffs and headlands, marine terraces, coastal uplands, and forests and includes all tide and submerged lands to 0.25 miles offshore. The Superintendent of Point Reyes National Seashore administers an additional 15,000 acres of the North District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
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Last updated: August 22, 2021