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Abstract
Utilizing GIS to Develop Partnerships Between Tribes and U.S. Government AgenciesTrack: Ecology, Archaeology, and Conservation
Author(s): Barbara E Deverse
In 1994, Congress enacted the California Desert Protection Act, P.L. 103-433, including Section 705(b), which addresses the need of the Timbisha-Shoshone Tribe for a recognized land base in the California Desert. The Department of the Interior (DOI) and its agencies--The National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)--were directed to conduct a study to identify lands suitable for a reservation for the Timbisha-Shoshone Tribe that had no land base and currently resides in its ancestral homeland in and around Death Valley National Park. Proposed Trust Areas and Cooperative Agreement Areas were digitized, and utilizing GIS and Intranet tools the DOI team established a secure Web site and placed land use information for interdisciplinary interactions. Using GIS, poster-size maps were produced to brief congressional members and the public. Utilizing information technology, such as posting digital land use maps on the Web, allowed the different members of the team from across the country, including the tribe, to collaborate, improve communication, and increase the chances of success for such a cooperative undertaking. When it was completed in April 1999, the draft report described a comprehensive integrated plan creating a unique partnership between the Timbisha Tribe, Death Valley National Park, and the Bureau of Land Management by establishing a reservation for the Tribe and creating cooperative management opportunities within the tribe's ancestral homelands in the Mojave Desert. On October 17, 2000, the Timbisha Homeland Bill passed Congress and was signed by the President shortly after.
Barbara E Deverse
Bureau of Land Management
1553 S. Main St.
Tonopah, NV 89049
USA
Phone: (775)482-7800
E-mail: deverse99@yahoo.com