For the first time in USA history, the heads of the US Department of Interior and the US Bureau of Land Management are indigenous. We now have a new marine sanctuary off the coast of California – the Chumash National Heritage Marine Sanctuary – being championed by the Chumash AND the National Park Service. Parallel to both of the above, the US Forest Service has completed 11 co-management agreement with indigenous tribes and another 40+ are pending (see https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/releases/new-agreements-advance-tribal-co-stewardship). These are all new initiatives and we shall see how they play out, but from where I sit this represents fundamental change. This work being done by tireless activists, government staff and businesses represents only a part of what is happening around the globe, wherein indigenous and traditional communities are gaining more definitive access and control to forest and other natural resources that need protection, need better stewardship, and respond to longstanding grievances. No one should expect “perfect” stewardship as a result, or disappearance of conflict – humans are involved and we are a quite imperfect species, to say the least. But I would suggest these trends are a reason for optimism at a time when polarization seems rampant. Such optimism shouldn’t be blind – we need better forest stewardship, more implementation climate-sensitive forest practices that can contribute to addressing both climate change and sustainability challenges – from conservation and restoration of “old growth” to engagement with communities of all kinds towards forest visions and strategies that integrate humans and our biophysical landscape positively and constructively. But let’s at least take a minute to applaud the above dynamics and support their contribution to a better world. Thanks to all who are helping to make this happen.