ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In a landmark move, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Pueblo of Acoma have signed a co-stewardship agreement aimed at safeguarding ancestral lands and preserving culturally significant sites. This partnership reflects a commitment to collaborative management, benefiting the Pueblo, the United States government, and the broader public.
“Pueblo of Acoma is pleased to collaborate with the BLM in this costewardship agreement to protect important cultural places on federal land,” said Pueblo of Acoma Governor Randall Vicente. “Protecting these places is one of our highest priorities. We look forward to working with the agency in co-stewardship, future management, and maintaining the integrity and sanctity of these places.”
The agreement aligns with Joint Secretarial Order 3403, issued in 2021 by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack. The order directs federal agencies to manage lands and waters in ways that honor treaty obligations, protect cultural interests, and support the nation-to-nation relationship between the U.S. government and federally recognized Tribes.
“This agreement advances the Department of the Interior’s priority of strengthening the government-
with sovereign Tribal Nations,” said BLM Albuquerque District Manager Sabrina Flores. “It improves the BLM’s ability to support Tribal communities and emphasizes our commitment to co-stewardship of federal lands. The BLM is honored to have worked collaboratively with Pueblo of Acoma on this historic agreement and looks forward to continuing to work together for a successful future.”
The partnership is set against the backdrop of New Mexico’s diverse and storied landscape. BLM Rio Puerco Field Manager Adam Lujan highlighted the importance of respecting the deep cultural connections to the land while ensuring its sustainable management.
“The landscape in New Mexico is beautiful and diverse, just like its history,” Lujan said. “The agreement with Pueblo of Acoma is one more way to respect the knowledge and deep connection of those who are tied to the history and the land as we manage these landscapes for future generations.”