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County staff report slow progress contacting tribes on consultation framework; staff urge tailored, staff‑to‑staff engagement
Summary
Frances Robertson, cultural coordinator for San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, told the council May 12 the county sent letters to 14 tribes on Dec. 24 requesting tailored government‑to‑government consultation; responses and scheduling have been slow and staff are pursuing staff‑to‑staff follow ups and in‑person meetings.
Frances Robertson, cultural coordinator in San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship, told the County Council on May 12 that the county sent a request for consultation to 14 tribes on Dec. 24 and is following up at a staff‑to‑staff level after a slow initial response.
Robertson said the county sought to begin conversations about a proposed engagement and consultation framework and "how they would like to tailor that to fit each tribe's needs." She told council that some tribes have responded and that staff are arranging meetings but that the pace of responses has been slow; Robertson noted that part of the delay was likely due to the holiday period when tribal governments were closed.
Robertson also warned that, from her outreach, tribes have expressed a desire to be informed about county activities that touch lands and waters even when a federal permitting nexus is not present. When Council member Kaye asked "what a Section 106 process is," Robertson explained that Section 106 refers to the federal permitting review under which agencies consult with tribes where a federal nexus exists, but she said many tribes want engagement about maintenance projects and other county actions that do not trigger Section 106.
Robertson said the county is coordinating with the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and learning more about permit expectations. She told council she will attend the annual Cultural Resources Protection Summit at the Suquamish Reservation next week to meet tribal THPOs (tribal historic preservation officers) and state agency staff, and to hear current issues affecting tribes.
Council members asked whether the original Dec. 24 letter — signed by previous council members — should be reissued with current council signatures; Robertson said she has been following up individually with tribes and asked whether the council preferred an updated letter signed by current members. She also offered to circulate the engagement framework and the departmental audit that informed the letter.
Why it matters: establishing a documented, government‑to‑government consultation process affects permit review, cultural‑resource protections, and how routine county projects — such as ditch or roadside maintenance — are communicated to tribes. Council members urged staff to continue building relationships and to return with refined language and a timeline.
Next steps: Robertson will continue staff‑to‑staff follow ups, share the proposed framework and departmental audit with council, and report back after the Cultural Resources Protection Summit and subsequent tribe meetings.
