Bill Overview
Title: Tribal Cultural Areas Protection Act
Description: This bill provides for the preservation of tribal cultural sites on public land, including by establishing the Tribal Cultural Areas System, setting forth requirements related to land management, and authorizing certain actions by tribes.
Sponsors: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Target Audience
Population: Indigenous peoples globally living near or having cultural ties to public lands
Estimated Size: 7000000
- Indigenous tribes often have cultural sites scattered over large areas of their historical lands, now part of public lands, especially in regions like North America.
- Many of these tribes currently reside on reservations or in areas near these public lands.
- Tribes may have difficulty accessing and managing these sites due to jurisdictional issues, hence legislation would directly impact their abilities to preserve culture.
- The general public, especially those living near these cultural sites, may also feel the impact due to changes in land-use policies or restricted access.
Reasoning
- Indigenous people near newly protected cultural sites are likely to see an improvement in wellbeing due to increased cultural preservation and involvement.
- Non-Indigenous residents in these areas may experience both positive and negative impacts, such as economic benefits from cultural tourism, but restrictions on land use.
- Urban Indigenous populations might not feel a direct impact unless they have strong ties to specific cultural sites being protected.
- The budget will mostly need to cover documentation, designation, and enforcement actions related to protecting the sites.
- A fraction of the budget should be allocated for community outreach and education programs to explain the benefits of the Act and adapt local population activities.
- The population's distribution has a significant number of non-Indigenous people who might not be directly affected.
- Additional considerations include political, recreational, and commercial interests that might intersect with preservation efforts.
Simulated Interviews
Tribal leader (Arizona)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is crucial for preserving our cultural heritage and allowing us to manage our sacred sites.
- I hope this policy helps educate the younger generations about the importance of our sites and traditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Software engineer (San Francisco)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I am supportive of the policy but doubt it will directly change my daily life.
- It's good to see this cultural preservation happening, even if I'm not immediately affected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Park ranger (Montana)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Balancing conservation and public access will be challenging, but protecting cultural sites is a worthy goal.
- The policy should provide us with clearer guidelines and resources to manage these areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired schoolteacher (Austin, Texas)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy doesn't restrict my access to areas I enjoy visiting, though cultural preservation is understandable.
- Any changes to land use might affect my recreation plans substantially.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
University student (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act will hopefully serve as a case study for my thesis on indigenous legal frameworks and land rights.
- While it's impactful for the communities involved, it's not likely to change my life directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Artist (New Mexico)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The protection of these sites will provide more inspiration and authenticity in my artistry.
- There is potential for more collaborative work with tribes surrounding these areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Tribal cultural coordinator (Oklahoma)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy aligns closely with my work in promoting cultural tourism.
- Additional support and funding can significantly enhance our cultural programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Fisherman (Alaska)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Worried about any new fishing restrictions that might arise due to new protected regions.
- Cultural zones need to be marked clearly to avoid conflicts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
School principal (Utah)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can help strengthen the educational material and engagement regarding Native American history in our programs.
- Students will gain a better understanding of the living culture around them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Park visitor center guide (Nevada)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An increase in cultural tourism could mean job stability and growth.
- There's a high interest from tourists in history tours, and this policy provides a more accurate context.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $44000000, High: $64000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $48000000, High: $68000000)
Year 10: $70000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $80000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $160000000)
Key Considerations
- Clarifying jurisdictional authority between tribes and federal agencies is crucial.
- Investment in cultural preservation can bolster tribal-community relations and improve cultural heritage tourism.
- Potential resistance or political challenges could influence the cost and success of implementation.