The Quinault Indian Nation has purchased 11,196 acres of forestland for approximately $60 million, bringing more than half the land within its Washington state reservation under the Nation’s ownership.
The deal with Olympia, Wash.-based Anderson & Middleton Logging Co. increases Quinault’s share of reservation land from approximately 47% to more than 52%, according to a Nov. 10 announcement. The acquisition covers roughly half the privately owned land remaining within reservation boundaries.
Washington’s Climate Commitment Act provided $25 million, while the Quinault tribe contributed approximately $20 million. The Nature Conservancy raised $15 million from private donors and foundations, providing $14 million for the purchase and $1 million for stewardship activities directed by the Nation.
“This is making our ancestral land whole again and will allow future generations to strategically manage our culture and traditional land as our ancestors intended,” Quinault President Guy Capoeman said in a statement.
Most of the property lies in the Raft River watershed, which supports salmon, steelhead and culturally important gathering areas. The acquisition connects tribal holdings, allowing Quinault to manage forests and waterways across a larger area.
The Nation’s priorities include protecting salmon habitat, cultural resources and traditional foods while maintaining sustainable forestry that supports community services.
The Nature Conservancy also provided technical assistance. State funding was appropriated for the acquisition to support fish and wildlife habitat, traditional uses and climate mitigation benefits on the land.
The Quinault purchase follows other large tribal land reclamation efforts this year. In Maine, the Penobscot Nation regained 11,297 acres in September, the first phase of a planned return of more than 30,000 acres. California approved a $25 million zero-interest loan to help the Quartz Valley Indian Reservation acquire nearly 40,000 acres. In Arizona, a federal court action seeks to transfer more than 45,000 acres of state land into trust for the Hopi Tribe, supporting ranching operations and consolidating fragmented holdings.
