California returns rugged coastline to Native American tribes

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 8, 2026

California has transferred ownership of a coastal area in Mendocino County to three Native American tribes as part of its Tribal Stewardship Policy to return land and management rights to Indigenous peoples. This land return represents a broader effort to restore tribal stewardship over millions of acres and address historical injustices related to Indigenous land displacement.

California has transferred ownership of a rugged stretch of coastline to several Native American tribes, marking a significant step in the state’s efforts to restore Indigenous stewardship over ancestral lands. This recent land return follows the launch in March of California’s first Tribal Stewardship Policy, which aims to place at least 7.5 million acres of land and coastal waters under tribal management.

The policy outlines three approaches for tribal involvement: shared decision-making ("collaboration"), granting tribal access for ceremonial use or resource gathering, and full transfer of land ownership. Tribal groups have expressed that outright land return remains the most favored and meaningful form of stewardship.

Among the recent land transfers is a Mendocino County beach previously managed by the California Department of Transportation. The property was conveyed to the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, the Round Valley Indian Tribes, and the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians. These transactions represent at least four instances since the policy’s adoption in which parcels have been formally returned to Indigenous tribes.

California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot framed the policy as a response to historic government actions that disrupted tribal connections to the land. “In institutionalizing tribal stewardship with our agency, we begin a new era of partnership with tribes,” Crowfoot said when the policy was introduced.

Governor Gavin Newsom has also highlighted these land restorations as part of broader efforts to address past injustices. Speaking last year, he noted that “the historical wrongs committed by the state against the Native people of this land echo through the natural worlds of California — ecosystems that lost their first and best stewards.”

California’s initiative reflects a growing movement among some state governments to recognize and empower Indigenous land management practices. The state’s Natural Resources Agency has indicated it is continuing to explore further opportunities for land transfer and collaboration with tribes as part of these goals.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.