Chesapeake Bay Program Must Recognize and Include Tribal Leadership in Restoration Efforts

A coalition of Indigenous tribes announced Monday they are suspending talks with the Chesapeake Bay Program on a longstanding effort to become signatories to the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

The Indigenous Conservation Council (ICC), which includes representatives from all seven federally recognized tribes in Virginia, has worked for more than a year to secure meaningful inclusion and recognition in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. They have been met with delay after delay and little concrete action.

In December of 2025, Tribal leaders gathered in front of the governors throughout the region and were told that they were valued and welcomed into the partnership. Just before a July 1 deadline to come up with solutions, the Bay Program’s Principals’ Staff Committee voted to hold off on deciding on how to recognize tribes in the partnership until later in the year. The ICC had passed a resolution in January 2025 asking to be included as signatories to the updated agreement.

The tribes are right to be frustrated. They deserve meaningful inclusion and recognition in Bay restoration efforts. Their tribal knowledge is invaluable to stewarding the health of waterways, and their conservation work in the Bay watershed includes:

• Mussels. The Pamunkey, Mattaponi, and Upper Mattaponi Tribes have been active participants in the newly created Pamunkey Freshwater Mussel Alliance, a consortium of partners looking for opportunities to restore the population of freshwater mussels.
• Oyster restoration. The tribes have been invaluable supporters and partners on the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) oyster restoration efforts, including work through the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance.
• Land recognition. CBF has supported pushes from tribes, including the Nansemond Indian Nation, to reclaim ancestral land in parts of Virginia.

CBF spoke in support of the tribes during the public comment portion of the Bay Program’s Policy Steering Committee meeting that took place on Monday.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement:

“We stand with the tribes. For far too long, they have not had a seat at the table when it comes to the Chesapeake Bay Partnership even while delivering invaluable contributions on promoting broader goals of clean water, thriving habitat, and healthy landscapes.

“It’s unacceptable that the Chesapeake Bay Partnership is not following through on promises to engage in good faith and meaningfully include tribes in the partnership.”

“Enough delays. We urge decisionmakers to make things right. Time is running out for the Chesapeake Bay Partnership to come up with solutions before the Chesapeake Executive Council meets in December.”