Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Dave McKee (605) 673-9200, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

FOREST SERVICE AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO MEET

CUSTER, SD: February 3, 2005

Forest Service and tribal government leaders will meet February 16 and 17 to consult on a number of issues affecting American Indian tribes.

Tribal representatives and Forest Service personnel from seven states and the District of Columbia will convene at the Great Plains Tribal Leaders Consultation and Listening Session at the Crazy Horse Memorial, three miles north of Custer.

“We’re going to talk about issues that have significant impacts on tribal members in the national forests,” said Brad Exton, acting Black Hills National Forest supervisor.

Agenda topics include drafting a policy for managing special forest products; developing draft guidance for the Tribal Forest Production Act of 2004; and establishing a tribal advisory council for the Black Hills National Forest.

A half-day will be devoted to a listening session on developing a national sacred sites policy. “We want to hear comments and concerns from tribal people on how best the Forest Service can provide protection of sacred sites located on National Forest System lands,” said Dorothy FireCloud, acting Black Hills National Forest deputy supervisor.

The Intertribal Information Technology Co. (IITC) will discuss progress in tribal economic development. The Small Business Administration awarded IITC a contract to help develop American Indian small businesses. The company will provide support for 20 American Indian firms that will work to reduce wildland fire risks. The plan, launched under the federal Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, is to recruit 20 tribes throughout the country to take advantage of new federal forest restoration contracts worth $200 million.

Boxelder Job Corps will provide lunch and refreshments for representatives from Washington, DC and the States of Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

For more forest news visit the Black Hills National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills.