A place where Tribal Nations can come together
The ocean is a source of life and subsistence for Tribes across the West Coast.
We are grateful for all the work of Tribal Nations on the West Coast to take care of our ocean resources and spaces.
Since its formal inception in 2018, the West Coast Ocean Alliance (WCOA) has framed its activities around strong Tribal Nation participation. The West Coast Ocean Tribal Caucus (Caucus) initially formed in 2014 to engage more effectively with the new West Coast Regional Planning Body formed during the Obama administration, as well as engage with the continuation of the West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health to support collaboration and engagement between Tribal Nations on the West Coast. The Caucus has continued its activities as a part of the West Coast Ocean Alliance, with the number of Tribal members has continued to grow to twenty (20) Tribal Nations currently participating. In early 2023 the WCOA also hired a new full-time Tribal Coordinator to further strengthen and expand activities of the Caucus and better amplify Tribal perspectives from throughout the region. The Caucus does not speak with one voice, but provides a space for inter-Tribal sharing and communication around ocean health, uses, and issues.
A priority goal for WCOA, in support of WCOA Tribal Nations and the Tribal Caucus, is to: Increase understanding of and respect for Tribal rights, traditional knowledge, resources and practices.
The objectives that align with this goal include the following:
Improve understanding of tribal rights and trust responsibilities
Ensure inclusion and consideration of traditional knowledge in ocean management and decision-making as appropriate
Improve awareness and recognition of traditional ocean uses
The Caucus continues to make huge strides to advance this goal and these objectives and well as other WCOA goals and their respective objectives.
Tribal Nations have committed to West Coast Tribal Caucus engagement to share knowledge and improve inter-Tribal relations.
Tribal Nations have committed to participate in the broader Ocean Alliance to network and share positions with external government partners at the state and federal level.
A Guide for Agencies Working with West Coast Tribes on Ocean & Coastal Issues
The West Coast Ocean Tribal Caucus released the “Guidance and Responsibilities for Effective Tribal Consultation, Communication, and Engagement: A Guide for Agencies Working with West Coast Tribes on Ocean & Coastal Issues” on July 13, 2020.
This document is initially intended for use by federal and state partners participating in the West Coast Ocean Alliance, but any interested parties engaged in ocean and coastal management with tribal governments on the U.S. West Coast or elsewhere are encouraged to use this guide for their own benefit.
If you have any questions or would like to connect with Tribal Caucus members and/or the West Coast Ocean Alliance on further use of this guide, please contact WCOA Tribal Coordinator Margaret Corvi at mcorvi@westcoastoceanalliance.org.
West Coast Tribes & BC First Nation Summit, British Columbia, October 2019
Tribal Support of the Guidance
Leadership from the following tribal governments have submitted letters, or similar resolution, to show support for the principles and recommendations included in the Tribal Engagement Guidance document. Please note that additional tribes may be added to this list in the future.
Last updated July 17 2020