California Governor Jerry Brown has established the position of Governor’s Tribal Advisor in order to strengthen communication and collaboration between California state government and Native American tribes.

California’s tribes have been environmental stewards, but the lack of state government consultation has been a persistent problem. One example: the state of California has so far failed to recognize tribal gathering rights under the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative, which may yet block Yurok and other North Coast Tribes from their traditional fishing grounds.
The state has also failed to include tribal representatives in The Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and other governmental processes.
“This position will serve as a direct link between the Governor’s Office and tribal governments on matters including legislation, policy and regulation,” according to a news release from the Governor’s Office. “Governor Brown signed the Executive Order today while attending the TASIN All California Tribes Meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Sacramento, CA.”
According to the order, the position will facilitate communication and consultations between the tribes, the Office of the Governor, state agencies, and agency tribal liaisons and review state legislation and regulations affecting tribes and make recommendations on these proposals.
Governor Brown has not yet appointed anyone to the new, unpaid post.
The order also declared the “Office of the Governor shall meet regularly with the elected officials of California Indian Tribes to discuss state policies that may affect tribal communities.”
In addition, the order stated it is “the policy of this Administration that every state agency and department subject to my executive control shall encourage communication and consultation with California Indian Tribes.”
In one noteworthy difference with the federal government, Brown’s order doesn’t apply just to Federally Recognized Tribes, but to all California Native Americans.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, Chief and Spiritual Leader of the Winnemem Wintu (McCloud River) Tribe, responded to Brown’s action by saying, “This seems like a good Executive Order… [but] one has to wonder why tribes like the Winnemem Wintu were not invited to the meeting at the Sheridan Inn?” Sisk-Franco asked. “Will there be fair representation available to all tribes? Will there be a position available for ‘Unrecognized’ Calif. tribal staff to represent the issues? Federally Recognized Tribes have not represented these issues fairly.”
The tribe is now engaged in an ambitious program to return the original strain of endangered winter run chinook salmon, now thriving in the Rakaira and other rivers in New Zealand, to the McCloud River above Lake Shasta.
The Winnemem Wintu are a traditional tribe that inhabit their ancestral territory from Mt. Shasta down the McCloud River watershed. When the Shasta Dam was constructed during World War II, it flooded their home and blocked the salmon runs.
“The salmon are an integral part of our lifeway and of a healthy McCloud River watershed,” according to the tribe. “We believe that when the last salmon is gone, humans will be gone too. Our fight to return the salmon to the McCloud River is no less than a fight to save the Winnemem Wintu Tribe. As salmon people and middle water people we advocate for all aspects of clean water and the restoration of salmon to their natural spawning grounds.”
Source: Red Green & Blue (http://s.tt/13iG7)