The Role of Ethnography in Park Management
Sarah Craighead, National Park Service
February 25, 2003
Abstract: Sarah Craighead's presentation described from the viewpoint of park management how ethnography fits into the resource management strategies of the National Park Service. First, it highlighted how ethnographies are useful on a day to day basis, i.e. gathering information locating trailheads, conducting wildlife surveys, or other management decisions, so they do not interfere with neighboring Indian resource harvests that are of cultural importance, so the public does not interfere, and so the Indians do not interfere with public enjoyment of the Parks. Second, it showed how ethnographies can provide historical and contemporary information that helps prepare employees for dealing with these peoples. Third, it stressed the needs for such information at a much more general level, to help in human survival as well as the survival of the National Park Service. Fourth, it described the documentation that best helped impart this information.
