March 2022 marked the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park. Established in 1872, it’s the first National Park in the U.S., and one of the first in the world. However, as Indigenous people, we know that the legacy of the park’s land goes far beyond 150 years. Since time immemorial, the region has been home to many Tribal Nations who still consider Yellowstone their ancestral home. The National Parks have complex and often dark histories and for many Indigenous people, they represent the loss of traditional homelands and culture.
Now is the time for a national conversation around the governance of our National Parks and public lands. We are calling on our network to help build national support around the movement for co-governance and to Indigenize the National Park System. Federal agencies should incorporate Indigenous voices in the history and future of the National Parks.
