WASHINGTON — In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.
U.S. Forest Service, Great Sioux Nation Sign Historic Co-Stewardship Agreement for Black Elk Wildernes
U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and representatives of the Great Sioux Nation on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing co-stewardship of the Black Elk Wilderness in the Black Hills National Forest.
The agreement marks a significant step toward increased tribal involvement in the management of ancestral lands, strengthening collaboration between federal agencies and Tribal Nations.
“Establishing this agreement will enhance consultation, collaboration and co-stewardship of the Black Elk Wilderness with the Great Sioux Nation Tribes,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “This agreement focuses on active management for recreation, habitat improvement, wildlife benefit, invasive species mitigation and wilderness management.”
Under the MOU, tribes will have expanded opportunities to provide guidance, traditional knowledge, and consultation on wilderness management, resource protection, recreation, and cultural interpretation—at their discretion and as permitted under federal law. The agreement also reinforces commitments to preserving culturally significant sites, maintaining wilderness integrity, and protecting access for traditional practices.
Tribal leaders emphasized the agreement’s importance for future generations and the preservation of culture and identity.
“These MOUs are important because our Lakota children are our most important resource for the future of our Nation, and we want our kids to have a chance to visit our sacred lands, plant trees and enjoy Mother Earth, where our ancestors once roamed free,” said Boyd Gourneau, chairman of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe.
“Our most sacred lands are the Black Hills, and Black Elk Peak is tied to Black Elk, our Holy Man and it is an honor for us to care for these lands at Black Elk Wilderness,” said Wayne Boyd, treasurer for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. “We welcome the jobs and opportunity for our kids and the chance to teach our culture and history to our neighbors.”
The co-stewardship agreement reflects a growing movement toward recognizing Tribal sovereignty and integrating Indigenous knowledge into federal land management practices.
NCAI Urges Support for NAHASDA Reauthorization
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) calls on all Tribal Nations and Indian Country partners to stand united in urging Congress to prioritize NAHASDA reauthorization and send a clear signal of commitment to Tribal self-determination and housing security.
NCAI invites Tribal Nations and organizations serving Indian Country to sign on to a letter to Congress urging timely passage of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) Modernization Act of 2026. NAHASDA is the primary federal law governing Tribal housing programs and the legislative foundation upon which the 575 federally recognized Tribal Nations rely to address severe housing shortages, overcrowding, housing stock shortages, and critical infrastructure needs in their communities.
This legislation would reauthorize NAHASDA programs through 2032 and modernize key provisions to help Tribal Nations better address housing shortages, rising construction costs, and evolving community needs. The bill provides targeted regulatory relief and program improvements, including:
- Streamlining environmental reviews for federally funded Tribal housing projects;
- Modernizing and reauthorizing the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program to expand access to private lending;
- Allowing 99-year leasehold interests on trust land to support long-term homeownership and development; and
- Codifying the Tribal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program to support Native veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Reauthorization presents a vital opportunity to strengthen Tribal housing policy, affirm the federal trust responsibility, and ensure Indian Country’s most pressing housing needs are met with sustained federal support. Without reauthorization, Tribal Nations face uncertainty in planning and administering housing programs that serve some of the most underserved communities in the nation.