Tribal Archeology & Cultural Heritage

A close up of someone knapping a stone at the annual Yosemite Knap In event.

Eric Nelson

 

Tribal Relations

• Wahhoga Village Restoration
• Traditional Plant Gathering Agreement
• Yosemite Ancestral Stewards Crew
• Black Oak Stewardship
• Little Fires Program & Cultural Burning
• Traditional Events
• Tribal Archeology & Cultural Heritage
• Tribal Resources

Tribal archeology differs in important ways from Western archeology. While Western approaches may emphasize artifacts, features, and documentation to inform us about the human past, Tribal archeology prioritizes the inclusion of Indigenous communities, values, and input within the archeological research process. This includes: 
 

• Sovereignty: Maintaining Tribal autonomy in stewarding ancestral homelands and material culture
• Consultation: Engaging in good faith to build trust; expanding opportunities for descendants to connect with cultural heritage and traditional knowledge
• Avoidance: Avoiding physical disturbances to the archeological record as well as natural features to the greatest extent possible
• Preservation: Protecting significant values of living landscapes and contextual integrity
• Appropriate treatment: Maintaining ceremonial protocols and minimize handling and destructive scientific studies
• Documentation: Ensuring culturally respectful collection of and accountability for sensitive data. 

Scroll on to learn about the ways in which Yosemite National Park works with the Traditionally Associated Tribes to preserve and educate the public about archeological and cultural heritages within the park.  

 

 

Richard Leard, left, a Southern Sierra Miwuk Tribal monitor, overseeing the archeological excavation at Yosemite's Emergency Services Complex.

Tribal Consultation

As part of consultation, the park discusses all planned projects that may have an impact on cultural resources within the park with the Traditionally Associated Tribes. This is a legal requirement under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and is also central to National Park Service and Department of Interior policies to steward ancestral homelands in good faith with Indigenous communities.

Consulting with Tribes can take many different forms, from planning to execution of a project. Park staff work with Tribes to avoid impacts to resources and values of cultural significance. This work may include involving Tribes as part of interdisciplinary teams for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, developing inadvertent discovery plans, carrying out on-site training workshops, or hiring Tribal monitors for work sites.

 

John Saucedo (Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians) and James Brother Bethel (North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians) are two Tribal monitors who frequently work with Yosemite National Park.

Edward Broughton

Tribal Monitors

When a construction project might impact natural and/or cultural values requiring Tribal stewardship, the park enlists Tribal monitors to attend the construction. On site, Tribal monitors use their cultural knowledge in combination with their training in monitoring to watch over active construction sites. They oversee Tribal interests and stewardship of the landscape. They provide on-the-ground Tribal expertise to the project managers and construction crew to help them minimize the potential of disturbance or destruction of cultural resources. Sometimes, monitoring efforts are not enough, and the construction does result in the disturbance of significant cultural resources. In that case, the monitors stop the project so that the site can be evaluated and appropriate protections can be put into place.

Tribal monitors work with archeological monitors in parallel, complimentary collaboration. The goal is early recognition, minimal disturbance, avoidance where possible, and timely communication. They are sovereign governmental and cultural authorities, not project stakeholders.

 

On the left, a cultural demonstrator shows how to knap obsidian to a crowd of visitors. On the right, the front and back of an obsidian biface discovered in Yosemite.

Left: Eric Nelson. Right: NPS.

 

Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation Tribal Chairwoman, Sandra Chapman (left) examines artifact while NPS archeological monitors (right) screen back dirt from construction project.

Archeological Management Plan

The Archeological Management Plan (AMP) is a document in progress by Yosemite National Park and designated representatives of the Traditionally Associated Tribes. Upon completion, the AMP will guide future archeological work in the park as well as the stewardship of current and future ancestral remains and cultural belongings, also referred to as artifacts, discovered through archeology. The AMP will guide how Yosemite National Park handles archeological research and complies with federal laws like Section 106 and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

 

Top image: Indian cultural intern demonstrating flint knapping in the Yosemite Cultural Museum.
Bottom image: Indian cultural intern working in Yosemite Village constructing an acorn granary (Chukka' - Southern Sierra Miwuk).

NAGPRA

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, is a federal law that applies to federal agencies, museums receiving federal funding, and federally managed lands. NAGPRA requires these institutions repatriate or return any Native American Ancestors (also referred to as ancestral remains) and cultural belongings (funerary or sacred objects) in their collections to Traditionally Associated Tribes or the descendants of those peoples. Since the National Park Service is a federal agency, NAGPRA applies to Yosemite National Park and our collections.

Under NAGPRA, we work with the Traditionally Associated Tribes to consult on which parts of our collections are to be returned. Any new discoveries of Ancestors or cultural belongings within the park also go through the NAGPRA process. Once the park and the Tribe(s) have come to an agreement, the Ancestors and cultural belongings may be returned to the Tribes, reinterred, or remain with the park.

As of 2025, we have consulted with the Traditionally Associated Tribes on 11 different NAGPRA actions. We are continuing to work through our collections, through the Ancestors or cultural belongings sent to us from other institutions, and through new discoveries to comply with NAGPRA and fulfill our obligations to the Tribes.

 

History and Culture

Yosemite’s rich human history tells a story of conflict, dreams, hardships, adventures, and preservation of one of the first national parks.

Archeology

Archeology is the study of past ways of life through material remains. Learn why it matters.

Traditional Events

Many Native cultural and traditional events continue in the park today. Learn more about the ongoing ones here.