Statement from Dr. Ken Lucero, Tribal and Indigenous Lands Director for Trust for Public Land on the Biden Administration’s Executive Order Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations

Washington D.C. – Statement from Dr. Ken Lucero, Tribal and Indigenous Lands Director for Trust for Public Land, on the Biden Administration’s Executive Order Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations.  

“Trust for Public Land applauds President Biden for issuing an Executive Order on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self Determination. This historic Executive Order will require federal agencies to ensure that tribes can access federal funds and that funding is flexible, equitable and provided in a manner that advances the self-determination and leadership of tribal governments. The United States has a legal and moral obligation to honor its nation-to-nation relationship with tribes around the country, and federal funding is a core component of this responsibility. In a moment with historic levels of funding for conservation, climate, and infrastructure – thanks to the Biden Administration’s leadership – this Executive Order will better enable tribes to access and benefit from federal funding. The Executive Order was accompanied by additional Department of the Interior actions to protect tribal lands, increase co-stewardship opportunities, highlight nationally significant Native American historical sites, and establish public-private partnerships. Trust for Public Land is working closely with tribal partners on increasing tribal land ownership, such as our work with the Penobscot Nation in Maine, and on creating community schoolyards for tribally controlled and Bureau of Indian Education-operated schools. TPL looks forward to seeing the direct benefits of increased tribal access to federal funding to enhance the self-determination and well-being of all tribal nations across the country.”  

 ###

About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,364 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $93 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.4 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.