Tuesday, December 28, 2010

NM pueblo, Santa Fe forest reach agreement

The Santa Fe National Forest and Jemez Pueblo have entered into a cooperative agreement that formalizes government-to-government relations between the two entities. Forest and tribal officials say they're committed to working together to address issues related to the management of forest lands that are considered to be Jemez's ancestral lands. The memorandum of understanding was signed Monday. It recognizes impacts to the pueblo's religion and culture that have occurred since the forest service began operations in the area in 1905. Pueblo Gov. Joshua Madalena says the agreement details that the forest has legal commitments and federal trust responsibilities to protect and preserve the pueblo's ancestral sites, cultural properties, human remains, religious freedoms and sacred objects. AP

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