by
<a href="mailto:candiceb@awcnet.org">Candice Bock</a>, <a href="mailto:sheilag@awcnet.org">Sheila Gall</a> | Jun 14, 2019
Last month the Attorney General announced a new <a target="_blank" href="https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-announces-historic-tribal-consent-and-consultation-policy">consent and consultation policy</a> that he will follow prior to the state taking legal action involving one of the state’s 29 federally recognized tribes.
Last month the Attorney General announced a new consent and consultation policy that he will follow prior to the state taking legal action involving one of the state’s 29 federally recognized tribes.
The policy requires the state obtain prior and informed consent before initiating a program or project that directly and tangibly affects tribes, tribal rights, tribal lands or sacred sites. Consent will require a written resolution from the highest elected body from every federally recognized tribe that may be directly impacted. The policy contains exceptions for legal actions in certain situations where the state’s rights would otherwise be jeopardized.
The Attorney General also plans to propose legislation in 2020 to formalize the consent policy in statute.