1. Tribal Transportation Department Yurok Indian Reservation
2015 California Transportation Planning Conference Tribal Transportation Planning and Engagement
Yurok Tribe
Tribal Transportation Department
Yurok Indian Reservation
Joseph l. James
Manager

2. Yurok Tribe – Beyond the Pavement
Yurok People, Lands and Culture
Yurok Tribe Transportation Principles and Vision
Government to Government Relationship
Decision makers v. Consultation

3. Recommendations for Effective Project Implementation
Principles and objectives
Technical expertise and solution based approaches
Timeliness and Policy decision making abilities
Communication, Engagement and Decision Making
Secure Funding
Yurok Tribe is looked to as leader in infrastructure improvement, tribal governance and projects

4. Partners and Decision Makers
Recognizes importance of Tribal Government
Respect Yurok Cultural integrity and history
Technical Expertise
Technical Capabilities
Infrastructure improvement

5. Challenges Co-Decision Principles Exercise Sovereignty
Administration of policy and staff awareness
Expansion of areas covered by agreements including but not limited to Cultural and Traditional life-ways, Training and Awareness, Technical Capabilities
Funding & Budgetary engagement – Top and Bottom

6. Future Issues Transportation - Federal
Federal – DOI, DOT, HUD, EPA, DHHS & DOJ
Re - acquisition of Tribal Ancestral Territory
Technical Expertise beyond MOU’s
Planning and Funding
Land management, Funding, Cultural Resources Protection, Trainings, Data, Management

7. Future Issues – State of California
Educational Process of Tribal Governments,
Tribal Land Areas and Natural Resources
Jurisdictional Interactions
Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance and Tribal Laws
Cultural Integrity, Respect and Management
California Transportation Commission and others

8. Principled Benefits
Technical Expertise has been invaluable to Federal, State, local and international agencies
Allow to expand collective views perspectives beyond transportation
Technical ability to carry out activities supportive of Agreements and Funding opportunities

9. Challenges
Responsibilities and obligations are interpreted differently by administration and staff changes
Limited funding and availability of funding for implementation
Differing policy actions attempts to inhibit Tribal technical expertise
Limited Tribal participation at Cabinet level and Sr. Management policy levels

10. Worth the Risk
Yurok Tribe has been awarded and administers FTA, FHWA & Caltrans discretionary and other grants.
Development of a Yurok Scenic Byways Program, River Transit Service and Yurok Trail Program.
Partnerships with Redwood National and State Parks – a world heritage site; Six Rivers National Forest, the State of California, & Hum./DN counties

11. Planning Activities and Projects
Transit Services – Yurok Tribe and KT-NET
Bald Hills Paving and Rehabilitation
Transportation Research Board
NextGen
Intermodal / Multimodal Initiatives
Tribal Transportation Program and Projects
Yurok Scenic Byways Program
Re-Acquisition of Yurok Lands and Transportation
Infrastructure development
Emergency Response and Design Programs
Yurok River Transit – Ferry Boat initiative

12. Yurok Country Visitor Center and Demonstration Village

13. Bald Hills Road

14. River Highway

15. Old is New Again

16. Yurok Tribe – Transportation Department
QUESTIONS?
Contact information
Joseph L. James, Manager
Transportation Department
Yurok Tribe
190 Klamath Blvd.
Klamath, CA 95546
(707)