United States Department of the Interior                                        FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE                                                   Washington, D.C. 20240

SUBJECT: Native American Policy

A. POLICY: The Service's Native American Policy is appended. It includes an introduction, definitions, and policy statements on the following subjects:

1.   Sovereignty.
2.   Conservation.
3.   Government to Government Relations.
4.   Self-Determination.
5.   Communication.
6.   Funding.
7.   Culture/Religion.
8.   Law Enforcement.
9.   Technical Assistance.
10. Training and Education.

B.  PURPOSE: The purpose of this Policy is to articulate the general principles that will guide the Service's government-to-government relationship with Native American governments in the conservation of fish and wildlife resources.

C.  SCOPE: All Service employees in discharging official duties that affect Native American governmental interests.

D.  IMPLEMENTATION: The Deputy Director - External Affairs will provide guidance for the development of regional implementation plans.

E. AUTHORITY:

1. Presidential Memorandum, Government-to-Government Relations with American Tribal Governments, April 29, 1994.

2. Secretarial Order No. 3175, Departmental Responsibilities for Indian Trust Resources, November 8, 1993.

F. INCORPORATION AND SUPERSESSION: This issuance incorporates the Service's Native American Policy, signed June 28, 1994, into the National Policy Issuance System.    The Policy was distributed to Regional Directors by the Director's memorandum of July 11, 1994. This issuance supersedes NPI #89-05, Trusteeship of Tribal Fishery Resources, which was effective May 10, 1984.
 

Date:  8/24/94                                                                   Bruce Blanchard
                                                                                         Deputy Director - Staff

NPI 96-04 APPENDIX

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