What is the trust responsibility?

The trust responsibility is a legal obligation that the U.S. government has to protect the rights of Native American tribes. This responsibility includes providing tribes with lands, resources, and services, and protecting their cultural heritage. New York has a unique relationship with its Native American communities, having a long history of colonization, including wars, land treaties, and Native displacement. As a result of these historic actions, the U.S. government has a distinct obligation to protect the rights of Native Americans living in New York. The trust responsibility includes providing resources and services for tribes’ economic and educational development, maintaining reservations in a state of good health, and protecting tribal rights to self-governance. The trust responsibility also includes protecting Native American cultural heritage, sacred sites, treaty rights, and the rights of Indigenous peoples. The trust responsibility requires that the U.S. government consult with tribes before any action is taken on their land or resources that could affect their interests. This includes any development activities, such as oil and gas exploration. The trust responsibility is an ongoing legal obligation that requires the U.S. government to honor its promise to protect Native American tribes and their rights. It is an essential part of the government’s commitment to uphold Native American sovereignty and ensure that tribes can continue to thrive and enjoy a vibrant quality of life.

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