Conor Marshall
Our shared lands and waters - the places where Mountaineers gather, learn, and recreate - are the traditional lands of the Pacific Northwest Indian Tribes. These peoples have been here since time immemorial, are still here, and continue to steward and maintain cultural and legally-protected connections to their ancestral lands.
An emerging part of our conservation education shares resources and perspectives about how our community can strive to recreate mindfully and respectfully on Native land and honor and uphold tribal rights, including treaty rights. The Northwest’s natural places aren’t something to conquer, but spaces to find connection, belonging, and community with the natural world. If you haven’t begun to unpack our blogs on these important topics, they’re a good place to start your own learning journey in this area. Together, we can reshape what “adventure with purpose” means at The Mountaineers toward a more inclusive outdoors for all.
Indian Country 101
Over the last year and a half The Mountaineers and our Outdoor Alliance Washington partners have been developing the capacity to engage with tribes around conservation and recreation issues. Working with a Native-owned tribal engagement consultancy, The Whitener Group, and completing their tribal engagement training series, Indian Country 101, was the foundation of preparing to engage with tribal governments around recreation and conservation. Since completing the training, we’ve begun to build relationships with staff from tribal governments working to address recreation impacts on tribal resources and cultural lifeways.
One of the goals of the Indian Country 101 training is for learners to come away with the ability to engage with tribes 25% more effectively and offend Native people 50% less often. The training took me about 20 hours to complete and is organized into six learning modules covering the following topics:
- A national overview and crash course in Native history in the United States
- Tribal governments today
- Native identity, citizenship, and culture
- Washington’s tribes and tribal treaties, the importance of fishing to tribes, and the role of Washington’s treaty tribes as co-managers of the state’s fisheries
While Mountaineers members and leaders won’t be engaging with tribal governments, the rich learnings and resources shared in Indian Country 101 have been invaluable to my learning journey and are a fit for all in our community. I encourage you to take any and all of the training modules to grow your understanding of Native history and tribes in Washington today. This knowledge and understanding can unlock deeper connection and belonging in the Northwest’s special outdoor places.
Reflections from Indian Country 101
So, what exactly is Indian Country? The course defines Indian Country as the cultural and physical landscape of North American tribes today. There are 29 federally recognized Native tribes in Washington state, and most of the tribes are confederations of several aboriginal groups. Here are some learnings from the course that should be helpful as you consider how you can respect and honor Native lands and peoples.
The Importance of Knowing Native History in the U.S.
The treatment of Native peoples by the U.S. government throughout our nation’s history is filled with tragedy and trauma, leaving a complex legacy that we’re still grappling with today. The course heavily emphasizes Native history, from the Native independence era (pre-European contact) to the self determination and self governance of Native tribes today. Each of these periods played an important role in shaping Native identity and tribal governance.
If you’re like me, you received very little of this history in school, so it’s important to learn more of the historical context that has shaped Native peoples today. A deeper understanding of Native history in the U.S. can shape your knowledge of Native tribes and their connections to our lands and waters. The first module of Indian Country 101 is a great place to start.
Tribes are not a Monolith
Native tribes are often misperceived and inappropriately referred to one broad group. They are not a monolith - they are unique and diverse in their history, culture, priorities, and perspectives. Political boundaries like state and international borders don’t coincide with ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples. It’s critical not to make assumptions or generalizations as you learn more about Native lands and peoples. Geography, natural resources, and shared history can link Native peoples across state and international lines.
An easy way to show respect for Native peoples is to learn to properly pronounce the names of tribes with traditional lands in your area or where you recreate. Basic research about individual tribes has enriched my conservation education work at The Mountaineers as well as my personal recreation experience in my home state of Washington.
Why Learning About Treaties Matters
There are many different types of tribal recognition and tribal rights. Indian Country 101 does a great job of unpacking nuances around recognition and treaties, which play an important role in how a particular tribe functions today. Many Native tribes ceded lands to the U.S. government through the treaty-making process while retaining certain rights - they weren't “given” anything.
It’s important to understand the agency and power Native tribes held and still hold today. Treaties are the supreme law of the land - meaning they supersede any federal or state laws when it comes to tribal sovereignty. Learning about treaty history and the reserved rights tribes retained from treaties can help you better understand the history and tribal rights associated with the places where you live, work, and recreate. You can learn more about tribal treaties and how we are all treaty people in this blog from our partners at Sacred Lands Conservancy.
Tribal Governments Today
Tribes aren’t another stakeholder when it comes to government relations; they’re a sovereign entity entitled to self governance. The federal government, as well as state governments, engage in government-to-government consultation with tribal nations. The Mountaineers supports tribal sovereignty and respects the importance of tribal consultation, especially when it comes to management of our shared lands and waters and the outdoor experiences they provide.
Federally recognized tribes have governments that are diverse in structure and decision-making processes. Tribal governments have multiple priorities, including wise use of land and resources, tourism, and economic development. Tribal enterprises are strong drivers of tribal economies. Consider supporting a tribal enterprise when your adventures take you near a tribe’s reservation; it can be a thoughtful addition to your experience of a particular place.
Continue Your Learning Journey
We’re committed to educating our community about Native lands and peoples so that we can create a space where all in our Mountaineers community can learn and grow together. You don’t have to work in conservation to take Indian Country 101. The course is currently still free to the public and there are no prerequisites.
Learn more about the history, culture, and reserved rights of Washington tribes today by taking any of the Indian Country 101 course modules. I recommended starting with the first module for an overview of Native history in the United States. As you begin, course creator Jennifer Whitener Ulrich advises all learners to take in what you can - you can always re-visit the course and dig deeper later.
Thank you for being on this journey with us and for learning more about the first stewards of Washington’s lands and waters.
We’re grateful to The Whitener Group and The Nature Conservancy for creating Indian Country 101 and making this valuable resource available to the wider community.
