About this Episode
California plans to place about seven percent of its land and coastal waters under Indigenous stewardship. The policy by the California Natural Resources Agency targets around 7.5 million acres. The figure reflects land the United States once promised to reserve for tribes when California joined the union in 1850.
At that time, U.S. negotiators signed 18 treaties with Indigenous tribes. The agreements promised reservations in exchange for tribes giving up claims to most of their ancestral lands. But the United States Senate secretly rejected all treaties after pressure from California politicians and settlers. The decision remained hidden for decades, and tribes were never informed. The promised reservations were therefore never created.
Under the new policy, Indigenous communities could gain access to cultural sites, share management of land with public or private owners, or receive land transfers. Officials say about 1.7 million acres are already under tribal stewardship through reservations, partnerships with the state and earlier land return programs. Indigenous advocates say the plan is a step forward, but restoring land rights will require long-term commitment.
