The U.S. Interior Department wants more protection for indigenous sacred sites and increased access to them due to their cultural significance, according to a Nov. 16 news release.
The department agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOA) with eight other federal agencies for the preservation effort. These included the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
“Since time immemorial, the Earth’s lands and waters have been central to the social, cultural, spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing of Indigenous peoples," Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. "It is essential that we do everything we can to honor sites that hold historical, spiritual or ceremonial significance.”
The department is committed to "protecting these sacred sites from desecration, while at the same time collaborating with Indigenous communities to increase access and ensure good stewardship of their lands,” Haaland said.
Millions of acres are under the protection of federal agencies. There are many sites within those boundaries considered sacred by Indian Tribes, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian organizations. This includes burial sites, stone structures and geological features, the release said.
As part of the effort, the department will establish a workgroup of different federal government agencies and incorporate the sites "early into the decision-making, regulatory, and consultation processes to ensure that agency actions acknowledge and honor the importance of sacred sites," the Interior Department said.
The department will also expand public outreach on the importance of "maintaining the integrity of sacred sites and the need for public stewardship to protect and preserve them," according to the release.
President Biden hosted the first tribal nations summit since 2016 on Nov. 15, coinciding with Native American Heritage Month. He announced steps to improve public safety and justice for Native Americans. Leaders from 570 tribes were expected to participate in the virtual meeting, Time reported.
