In early 2025 the Indigenous Conservation Council (ICC), made up of representatives from all federally recognized tribes in Virginia, submitted a resolution formally proposing that it should have a seat on the executive council, which is the Bay Program’s governing body.
The seven federally recognized tribes have a government-to-government relationship with the United States. The ICC resolution says this means they should be treated as governmental entities and not special interest groups. The tribes say having a seat on the executive council would ensure that Indigenous knowledge and conservation practices are considered in Bay restoration work.
The executive council has directed its Principals’ Staff Committee to work with the Indigenous tribes on how best to include them in the Bay program partnership, with recommendations due by July 1.
“We look forward to sitting down to kick off the next six-month process to get real about what this looks like, including signatory status, funding and respect for Indigenous knowledge,” said ICC executive director Melissa Ehrenreich.
