U.S ( NATIVE ORGANIZERS ALLIANCE) : Now is the time to INDIGENIZE THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM !

 

 

 

Dear friend,         The National Parks are considered ancestral homes by many Tribal Nations. Yellowstone National Park is marking its 150th anniversary this year which has become a rallying point for the tribal communities that have ancestral ties to the land beyond 150 years.      Seen as the crown jewel of the National Park System, Yellowstone’s establishment played a critical role in the conservation movement and perpetuated a myth that the wilderness was untainted by humanity.      However, Native Americans were hunting and living off the land since time immemorial. It was a place where our people hunted, fished, gathered medicine, and used the warm waters for healing and ceremony.   The land was stolen from our people, often violently.     Yellowstone has long been viewed as a leader in conservation which has helped the general public to ignore the history of Native land dispossession in the name of preservation.     While the National Park Service has made recent efforts to be more inclusive of the Indigenous history of the park, the myth of “untouched land” is still promoted in their visitor brochures.     Charles F. “Chuck” Sams' (Umatilla) appointment as the National Park Service's first Native American director made history earlier this year and is a move towards the inclusion of Native voices in the leadership of parks and public lands. As original stewards of the land, it’s time to elevate the role of Native voices in the governance of National Parks.            Donate Today !           Native Organizers Alliance is supporting local tribal efforts to include more tribal input in the management and conservation of Yellowstone and its resources. Our support includes fundraising for their efforts and calling on media outlets to help interrupt the narrative by highlighting the need for tribal input and participation.      Help us build national support around the movement for co-governance. Now is the time to indigenize the National Park system !            Donate Today !           Hawwih (Thank you),           Judith Le Blanc (Caddo) Executive Director.