Tribes in Virginia step away from environmental cleanup collaborative
Chesapeake Bay partnership won’t have tribes involved in state and local government conservation management
On Monday, the Indigenous Conservation Council of the Chesapeake Bay stepped away from a land management agreement between the state of Virginia, local governments and seven tribal nations in the area.
The fallout ends nearly a year of negotiations after the tribal group did not receive signatory status to go along with its role in the planned Chesapeake Bay Program.
Tribal leaders said this is a clear disregard to tribal sovereignty.
Melissa Ann Ehrenreich, executive director of the Indigenous Conservation Council, told Maryland Matters the group would be open to a new conversation if tribes were granted more autonomy in any new conservation rules on or near tribal land.
“If people are not willing to create a seat at the table, why should you sit under the table?” Ehrenreich was quoted as saying. “That was what they were suggesting: For tribes to sit under the table and catch crumbs.”
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