Yellowstone Forever is committed to supporting Tribal Engagement in Yellowstone National Park, recognizing that the connection between nature and culture is not just historical but continues today and will carry forward into the future. The park’s rivers, forests, and geothermal features have long been central to the lives and traditions of Indigenous Peoples, fostering a deep relationship with the unique landscapes. This work is more than a partnership; it is a journey of reconnection and stewardship that honors the knowledge and practices of those who have called Yellowstone home long before it was a national park. By fostering these connections through education, celebration, and shared experiences, Yellowstone Forever helps ensure that the wisdom, stories, and traditions of Indigenous communities are not just remembered but actively integrated into the park’s present and future.

This season, Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center, open from May 21 to October 11, hosted twenty-seven presenters sharing stories and knowledge that connected past and present. Visitors learned that the park’s landscapes – home to wildlife like bison, elk, and grizzlies – hold cultural significance that extends beyond their natural beauty. Art displays linked contemporary pieces to ancestral traditions, and traditional music and spoken Tribal languages brought the space to life, highlighting a continuous connection that spans generations. Since 2022, nearly 60 presenters from 19 of the 27 associated Tribes have contributed to this space, solidifying its role as a center for cultural education and connection.

In August, Voices of Yellowstone: First Peoples Celebration underscored the profound relationship between the land and people, past and present. In partnership with Yellowstone National Park, the Pretty Shield Foundation, Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, and the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce, the event featured songs and languages from multiple Tribes and the rhythmic sound of the Cheyenne Boyz drum group. Illuminated teepees glowed in the evenings, serving as symbols of resilience and unity that bridge history and modern identity. Cultural tours offered throughout the park shared stories of the first stewards of the land, while Traditional Native Games in Arch Park provided activities that embody teachings of patience, balance, and community. The Native Art Market featured handcrafted works that connected art to the land itself, showcasing how creativity has long been influenced by nature. The event concluded with a blessing from Oglala Lakota elder Kelly Lookinghorse and a round dance led by the Baldes family, exemplifying Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone heritage and emphasizing the unbroken connection between people and place.

Looking ahead, Yellowstone Forever is developing a winter program with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, with plans to extend this model to other Tribal groups. This program will guide youth through the park’s winter landscape, blending traditional teachings with the experience of Yellowstone’s unique environment. Stories of ancestors who thrived in harmony with these lands will be shared alongside lessons on reading the land’s signs and understanding its seasonal rhythms. By fostering this intergenerational connection, the program will nurture a sense of belonging and stewardship that reaches into the future.

For Yellowstone, this ongoing engagement strengthens the park’s identity as more than just a destination; it becomes a landscape of learning and connection, where past, present, and future converge. Future generations – Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike – can learn from the traditions that emphasize living in harmony with the land, understanding its rhythms, and recognizing our shared responsibility to protect it. By supporting Tribal initiatives, we contribute to a more inclusive story of Yellowstone – one that honors the voices and guardians of this land and ensures that this sacred relationship continues to guide us for generations to come.