Tribal Partners
Working with Tribes
The federal government has a unique and distinctive political relationship with federally recognized Indian Tribes. It is defined by treaties, statutes, executive orders, judicial decisions and agreements and differs from relationships with state and local governments or other entities.
It has given rise to a special federal trust responsibility, involving the legal responsibilities and obligations of the United States toward Indian Tribes and the application of fiduciary standards of due care with respect to Indian lands, Tribal trust resources and the exercise of Tribal rights.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as a bureau of the Department of the Interior, has a mandated obligation to ensure that the federal Indian trust responsibility is fulfilled. Our office routinely coordinates with more than 35 federally recognized Tribes throughout Southern California.
You can learn more at our National Native American Programs page.
View our Tribal Partners' resources below.
View the 2025 Spring Tribal Coordination Meeting documents below. Contact Public Affairs to request documents from previous meetings.