HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Military leaders and tribal representatives convened at the Hill Aerospace Museum April 15-16 for the Annual American Indian Meeting to discuss shared environmental stewardship and the long-term management of ancestral lands.
Co-hosted by Hill Air Force Base and the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, the event brought together officials from Dugway Proving Ground, Tooele Army Depot, the Utah National Guard and several of the 22 sovereign American Indian nations that consult with the installation. The dialogue focused on the shared responsibilities that accompany military operations, balancing national defense missions with the management of culturally significant resources.
Hill AFB’s Installation Tribal Liaison Officer and Environmental Branch Chief Amanda Burton highlighted the scale of the stewardship mission and the importance of maintaining strong relationships with Tribal Nations.
“Hill AFB is entrusted with managing over one million acres, and we actively consult with 22 American Indian tribes who hold a profound connection to its heritage and resources,” Burton said. “It was a privilege to meet with tribal members and DoW partners to ensure we listen to their concerns and manage these lands for our mutual benefit. I look forward to growing our vital partnerships while executing our mission.”
Burton said the meeting is a cornerstone of Hill's commitment to transparency, respect, and collaboration with Tribal Nations. Bringing together sovereign governments, military organizations, and environmental professionals reinforces the Air Force's dedication to honoring the government’s responsibility to these sovereign nations while supporting national defense missions.
Col. Mathew Miller, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the installation commander, represented Hill AFB leadership and emphasized the importance of the annual consultation.
“It’s incredibly important to the installation to ensure that our responsibility to the mission and our mission partners is appropriately informed, and we greatly value this critical annual consultation with our Tribal Nation neighbors,” he said.