CAMP VERDE, Ariz. — U.S. forest officials have finalized a significant land exchange with the Yavapai-Apache Nation, a move long in the works that promises to expand the tribe’s reservation in Arizona’s Verde Valley. Tribal leaders announced the completion of this agreement on Tuesday, noting the process has spanned several decades.
Under the terms of the exchange, the tribe will trade six parcels of privately owned land to the U.S. Forest Service. In return, they will acquire approximately 5 square miles (12.95 square kilometers) of national forest land that is deeply rooted in the tribe’s ancestral heritage. To commemorate this pivotal moment, the tribe is set to hold a signing ceremony next week, marking an initiative that first emerged in 1996.
Yavapai-Apache Chairwoman Tanya Lewis highlighted the importance of the agreement, stating on the tribe’s website, “This is a critical step in our history and vital to the nation’s cultural and economic recovery and future prosperity.”
Prescott National Forest Supervisor Sarah Clawson acknowledged the challenges faced throughout the years, including several delays and alterations to the original proposal. However, she emphasized that both the tribe and the Forest Service remained committed to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement for the management of tribal lands and public land.
In recent years, the federal government has made significant efforts to safeguard lands revered by Native American communities. Initiatives have also been put in place to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into public land management and to simplify the regulations for tribes seeking to acquire land in trust.
The Yavapai-Apache Nation comprises two distinct groups: the Wipuhk’a’bah and the Dil’zhe’e. Historically, their territories encompassed over 16,000 square miles (41,440 square kilometers) of what is now central Arizona. Following the discovery of gold near Prescott in the 1860s, much of their land was taken, and the federal government established only a small reservation. The tribe was ultimately displaced from their lands, and it wasn’t until the 1900s that they were able to reclaim a small portion of their former territory.
Presently, the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s reservation in Verde Valley consists of less than 3 square miles (7.77 square kilometers) situated near Camp Verde. This small landholding has proven insufficient to foster economic development or adequately address housing demands, according to Lewis, who pointed out that many families remain on a waiting list for new homes.
Recognizing the historical injustices faced by the Yavapai-Apache people, the tribe’s constitution preamble emphasizes that land acquisition is an essential responsibility of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
In addition to expanding the reservation, this land exchange will enhance federal efforts to protect the Verde River’s headwaters and prevent the historic Yavapai Ranch from being utilized for developmental purposes. Furthermore, the agreement will facilitate better recreational access across portions of four national forests within Arizona.