Bringing West Coast Tribes to D.C.

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West Coast Ocean Tribal Caucus in Washington, D.C. Credit: Margaret Corvi

During the first week of June 2025, a Tribal Caucus delegation comprising 20 Tribal leaders and representatives from nine West Coast Tribes traveled to Washington D.C. The visit coincided with Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW), providing a critical opportunity for delegates to engage directly with federal leadership and event attendees.

Supported on the ground by WCOA staff, the delegation focused on sharing Tribal perspectives and priorities. Delegates leveraged new communication tools created specifically for the trip to highlight the work of the Tribal Caucus and the Alliance, connecting with federal counterparts and increasing the Alliance's visibility.

The delegation maintained a packed schedule of high-level meetings with key federal partners, including:

• Federal Agencies: NOAA, EPA, Indian Affairs (BIA), BOEM, BSEE, and USFWS.

• Congressional Committees: The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and three separate subcommittees of the House Natural Resource Committee.

As sovereign governments and robust resource management entities, the coastal Tribes recognize that federal actions to address efficiency and streamline processes must carefully consider treaty and trust responsibilities. The Tribes expressed that partnership and collaboration offer the best path forward for effective implementation and upholding commitments to Tribes.