Morongo Band of Mission Indians Receive over $190,000 for Wildlife Preserve to Strengthen the Resiliency of the Diverse Wildlife and Habitats Found on the Morongo Reservation

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) and Chairman Charles Martin of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, announced a $192,280 grant to fund the development of the Morongo tribal wildlife preserve management plan: 

“Wildlife preservation is critical to the success and expansion of a tribe’s sovereignty and natural resource capacity,” said Dr. Ruiz. “I am excited to see the Morongo Band of Mission Indians was awarded the funding to begin developing their wildlife preservation management plan. As a community, we need to give them our utmost support in expanding their sovereignty and engaging in co-stewardship together.”

"The Morongo Band of Mission Indians’ enduring commitment to the natural world and the precious ecosystems on our reservation are part of a legacy that spans generations," said Charles Martin, Tribal Chairman of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. "We thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Congressman Ruiz for their support, as this grant will help enable Morongo to develop a vital management plan for our Tribal wildlife preserve that will strengthen the resiliency of the diverse wildlife and habitats on the Morongo Reservation."

BACKGROUND: 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding more than $6.4 million to federally recognized tribes to benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. This year’s funding will support 36 tribes for conservation projects across 17 states, benefiting a wide range of wildlife and habitat, including species of cultural or traditional importance to Indigenous communities.

In the Service’s Pacific Southwest Region, projects proposed by five tribes were selected for funding, totaling over $800,000 to further tribal conservation goals. Tribes include the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and the Yurok Tribe.

The Tribal Wildlife Grants Program helps fulfill federal trust responsibilities and achieve tribal sovereignty by expanding tribes’ natural resource management capacity. Since its inception in 2003, the competitive grant program has awarded more than $118 million to Native American and Alaska Native Tribes, providing support for 662 conservation projects.

The Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative is a locally led, voluntary conservation and restoration effort that aims to address the nature and climate crises, improve equitable access to the outdoors, and strengthen the economy. This effort calls upon local, state, and federal leaders to honor tribal sovereignty and support the priorities of tribal nations when making decisions related to sustainable land management and the conservation of natural, cultural, and historical resources.

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