California unveiled a plan Tuesday to bring at least 7.5 million acres of land and coastal waters under the care of Indigenous tribes. It also corresponds with the amount of land the federal government promised it would hold as reservations for Indigenous tribes after California joined the union in 1850. Advertisement“Tribal stewardship is so critical for all of us ... the natural resources and everything that we rely on to live healthy, happy lives,” said Geneva E.B. She recalled the first land return she witnessed in the role: 46 acres of coastal wetlands to the Wiyot Tribe. During tours of the newly returned land, tribal culture experts kept breaking off to take care of the various native plants that they noticed needed some love.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 17, 2026 23:57 UTC