Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed $100 million in funding to support California Native American Tribes to purchase and preserve ancestral land, all while reaching conservation goals.
The proposal was announced on Friday at the California Truth and Healing Council meeting to strengthen partnerships with California Native American tribes. It aims to support tribal initiatives that advance shared climate and biodiversity goals, including research, development, and implementation of traditional knowledge.
“Too often, California Native American tribal communities are overlooked and suffer many of the worst impacts of climate change,” said Governor Newsom. “The California way is not to hide from our past, but to embrace it with a commitment to build upon our values of inclusiveness and equity for everyone who calls this state home.”
The proposal is part of Newsom’s pledge to ensure nearly one-third of California’s land and coastal waters are preserved by 2030, becoming a leader in an international effort referred to as “30X30.”
“We heard loud and clear in our consultations with more than 70 different California Native American tribes a strong desire from tribal governments to play a leading role in restoration and conservation efforts that benefit Tribal communities and honor their connections to the lands and waters,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Tribes also identified a need for capacity-building resources to participate more centrally in California’s conservation and climate efforts. This proposed funding can make that collaboration possible.”
Newsom said tribal leaders should dictate what lands get preserved. The funding would also help advance workforce training, capacity building, technical support; and tribal nature-based climate conservation programs, among others.
“As we have heard over the last few days, removing California Native people and practices from the places they have lived and thrived in since time immemorial have had far-reaching negative impacts, including many of the climate challenges we are currently experiencing,” said Governor’s Tribal Advisor Christina Snider. “This proposal, which anticipates a tribally-led and informed process, is a step in the right direction to begin to honor what California Native peoples have been through and respectfully defer to tribal communities as the first people of this place.”
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The money is one piece of Newsom’s $286.4 billion budget proposal, but is pending approval from the state Legislature.
