CRITICAL COMPONENT
TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT
In this special marine region, the coast and ocean itself are part of the tribes' rich heritage, and they provide a deep and substantial knowledge base and cultural memory.
Countless Generations of Ocean Understanding
There are four core commitments which are foundational to equitable and productive partnerships with tribes. These four tenants—tribal sovereignty, tribal relationships, tribal priorities, and equitable partnerships—should form the cornerstone of the engagement standards for MARCO.
Tribal Sovereignty
A commitment to tribal sovereignty entails understanding that these tribal partners are sovereign governments with all the rights and responsibilities of that status, including the ability to create and enforce rules and regulations and to run programs tailored to their tribal communities. This commitment must be forefront in all relationships with tribal partners, as it is the basis on which respectful and mutually beneficial relationships must be built.
Establishing Tribal Relationships
The second core commitment is focused on establishing robust and ongoing relationships with all current or potential tribal partners. In essence, this commitment is centered on the idea that MARCO’s interactions with tribes should not be subject-specific, singular interactions, but instead focuses on creating long lasting relationships. The establishment of the Tribal Caucus has set MARCO on the path towards establishing those long-term relationships. However, this should be approached with the recognition that continued commitment to engaging the current tribes while also keeping lines of communication open with other potential tribal partners is central to ensuring the Caucus continues to become an integral part of MARCO.
Understanding Tribal Priorities
Correspondingly, in the process of developing robust and lasting relationships with tribal partners, MARCO should be committed to identifying, discussing, and supporting the priorities and values of tribes with which they are engaged. This may involve tribal needs assessments (discussed below), or ongoing coordination with tribal representatives or tribal program directors.
Fostering Equitable Partnerships
The final core commitment which should form the base of all engagement standards for MARCO is a commitment to fostering equitable partnerships, specifically ones in which tribal representatives are treated as equal partners, programs are developed in coordination with representatives, and both or all parties attain a benefit from the ongoing relationship and associated activities.