Sustainable forest management (SFM) has become a prominent goal of current forest management approaches within the Unites [sic] States. A growing body of literature offers support for incorporating traditional and local knowledge (TEK) with current SFM methods in an effort to improve management planning and policies. By seeking Native American perspectives and incorporating traditional knowledge into current forest management methods, U.S. forest managers have the potential to increase their understanding of relationships between human, non-human, and the physical environment, thereby increasing their ability to manage our nation’s forests more effectively for all stakeholders involved. Using the qualitative data obtained from in-depth interviews and focus groups conducted with two Native American communities, this study examines the absent perspectives of Native American voices in the dialogue on sustainable forest management. This study argues that bringing in Native American viewpoints into sustainable forest management will add key missing perspectives to the national and global discussion. Results suggest that the abilities to maintain and manage natural resources are central to the survival of Native American communities, their spiritual beliefs, and their cultural practices, and that the human element in ecosystem functions is an essential factor in sustainable forest management from a Native American perspective.