Last updated: March 12, 2024
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Stories of Partnership: Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Achievements in Indigenous Communities
The National Park Service – Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (NPS-RTCA) has worked in partnership with Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native communities for more than 30 years on conservation and outdoor recreation projects. Consisting of staff with a broad variety of professional backgrounds, including community planning, landscape design, conservation, and natural resource management, the National Park Service brings passion and expertise to projects across the country.
In working with Tribes, NPS-RTCA helps identify what is important to community members through local engagement, events, meetings, and forums. Detailed discussions about elements that hold cultural and historical significance in the area take place during design charrettes, which are hands-on workshops where community members collaborate to establish a shared vision for their land. The visions are then flushed out in master plans which incorporate conservation principles, educational exhibits, sustainable design elements, and art that highlight the stories of each location and its people. These collaborative efforts are grounded in indigenous knowledge and wisdom borne of experience. Each project aims to support traditional Tribal customs, restore the environment, introduce stewardship, improve the health of local communities, and add impetus for economic prosperity.
The National Park Service is honored to have worked on such impactful projects with Tribes across the country and looks forward to continuing working with more Indigenous community leaders and knowledge experts in the future These projects help maintain cultural values and protect vital natural resources so that Tribal members can enjoy healthy lifestyles and improved opportunities for recreational, vocational, and spiritual activities for generations to come.