Mark Macarro, chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians, represents his tribe in the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), which advocates for tribal rights against federal termination policies. The Indian Trust Management Reform Act, enacted in June 2016, is a significant step toward tribal self-governance by allowing tribes to create trust asset management plans without needing further approval from the Secretary of the Interior. This law also establishes a new under secretary for Indian affairs to enhance the management of tribal resources.

1. Mark Macarro
The Indian Trust Management
Reform Act

2. Introduction
 As the longstanding tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band
of Luiseno Indians in Temecula, California, Mark Macarro
acts on behalf of his people in various organizations. A
national figure, Mark Macarro represents the Pechanga
Band in the National Congress of American Indians
(NCAI).
NCAI was founded in 1944 in response to the United
States' government's termination and assimilation
programs imposed on tribal governments which ran
contrary to the tribal governments’ treaty entitlements and
sovereign nation standing. Since then, the primary concern
of NCAI is to protect these legal and inherent rights.
Long advocating tribal self-governance, NCAI lauded the
enactment into law of the Indian Trust Management
Reform Act in June 2016.

3. Indian Trust Management Reform Act
 The law is a milestone toward tribal self-rule
concerning trust land management.
The key aspect of the law is the Demonstration
Project. This vests tribes with the authority to
establish trust asset management plans. Once these
plans and regulations are approved by the Secretary
of the Interior, they empower the tribes to participate
in forest management, leasing, and appraisal without
further need of approval from the Secretary.
As a consequence, a new Under Secretary for Indian
Affairs position will be created with functions separate
from other divisions of the Interior.