The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority aims to provide tribes with equitable access to the Measure AA Grant Program and the benefits that Measure AA projects provide. Please see this flyer or reach out to tribalaffairs@sfbayrestore.org for information about how tribes can collaborate with the Authority.
Our agency serves a region that encompasses the unceded homelands of the Ohlone, Miwok, Wappo, and Patwin speaking people, who were the original inhabitants and stewards of these lands for thousands of years. Their descendants are represented today by approximately 30 Tribal bands. We recognize that tribes have experienced state sanctioned violence and racism that have excluded them from the San Francisco Bay shoreline, and have made Bay stewardship, access to outdoor spaces and natural resources, preparation for climate change, and representation on decision making bodies extremely difficult.
Equitable access to our programs can increase access to outdoor spaces, protect cultural resources, institute traditional stewardship, and fund more projects led by tribes along the San Francisco Bay shoreline.
Tribal Consultation Policy
In March 2026, the Governing Board of the Authority adopted a Tribal Consultation Policy. The policy replaces the Interim Tribal Consultation Policy, which served as an initial step toward a more comprehensive approach to working with Tribes while the Tribal Engagement Recommendations were in development.
The policy states that the Authority’s goal is for culturally sensitive outreach and the opportunity for consultation to occur early and regularly prior to the Authority’s decisions to fund projects. Before recommending projects to the Board for funding, staff shall send letters to potentially interested tribes inviting consultation and collaboration on the potential Authority grants. Staff shall strive to send consultation letters at least 90 days before Board meetings to consider authorizing the grants, unless there are extenuating circumstances. If a tribe requests consultation, the Tribal Liaison will work with the tribe to arrange a meeting with the Executive Officer, or if less formal, with Authority staff members.
As a general practice, staff will send the consultation letters around the time when staff releases the preliminary list of projects they intend to bring to the Board for funding authorization in the coming year. If a project has been significantly changed prior to the meeting at which the Board will consider authorizing a grant, staff shall send another consultation letter regarding the potential grant.
After Board authorization of a grant, if staff plans to recommend that the Board authorize a significant change to the project or the grant, staff shall send out consultation letters to the tribes inviting another opportunity for consultation.
The Authority may enter into a grant agreement with federally recognized tribes and nonprofit organizations. However, other tribal organizations may be engaged in our grant programs in other ways, such as through fiscal sponsorships.
Tribal Engagement Recommendations
In May 2024, the Governing Board of the Authority passed Resolution 123 adopting Tribal Engagement Recommendations that staff developed in collaboration with the region’s California Native American tribes and tribal organizations. The Recommendations include potential actions the Authority can take to improve access to San Francisco Bay shoreline projects for tribes. Specific actions are incorporated into annual staff work plans that are approved by the Governing Board. We welcome ongoing input from tribes on how Authority staff can best provide tribes with equitable access to the Measure AA grant program.
