Representatives of federally recognized Tribes have been invited to consult with the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs to discuss protecting and restoring Tribal lands, according to a press release from the Interior Department. 

"At Interior, we have an obligation to work with Tribes to protect their lands and ensure that each community has a homeland where its citizens can live together to lead safe and fulfilling lives," said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland. "These important actions are a step in the right direction to restore homelands that will strengthen Tribal communities."

Sessions will be held Oct. 18 for tribes in the Alaskan Time Zone, Oct. 21 for those in Eastern and Central Time Zones,  Oct. 25 for those in the Mountain Daylight Time Zone, and Oct. 26 for those in the Pacific and Mountain Standard Time Zones,  the release stated. 

In an order regarding Non-Gaming Off-Reservation Fee-to-Trust Acquisitions, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland delegated decision-making authority for all non-gaming off-reservation fee-to-trust acquisitions to BIA regional directors. Gaming-related off-reservation-fee-to-trust acquisitions are delegated to the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs, according to the Interior Department. 

This isn’t the first consultation series the DOI has held this year. Consultations took place via teleconference between March 8 and 12, and tribal representatives had until March 19 to submit comments regarding that consultation series. 

Haaland issued Secretary’s Order 3400 in April, which "re-delegated the authority to review and approve applications to place land into trust to the Bureau of Indian Affairs regional directors," according to a press release. "In addition to the Secretary’s Order, the Solicitor’s Office withdrew three previous opinions that impeded the Department’s ability to take land into trust for Tribes and that were issued without adequate Tribal consultation."