This Week: Secretary Haaland highlights conservation and Indigenous youth public service as she begins her visit to New Mexico.

South Lake Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada – The Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP) is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Project Excellence and Individual Service Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to the outdoor recreation profession.

Indigenous people from around the U.S. and Canada convened in Auburn last week, for a summit meeting on tribal climate leadership. Hosted every other year by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, the event also includes tribal partners such as environmental groups, researchers and energy developers.

One of the first panel discussions showcased stories from young tribal leaders. Among them was 27-year-old Aeon Albert from the Hopi Tribe in northern Arizona, who works with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps.

The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps has announced the launch of a new office within the Wind River Reservation community

Indigenous trail crews empower the next generation of environmental stewards

Today on 01/25/2024 the ALCC Acoma program were awarded the Heart of the Land Award for Outstanding Leadership in Farming and Ranching award. The Acoma office’s work on their growing Traditional Farm Corps have focused on restoring local food systems through agriculture, seed, rematriation, & learning traditional knowledge that come from planting.

Young Leaders Will Help Parks Become Climate Resilient and Engage Local Indigenous and Tribal Communities.

Grand Canyon Conservancy & Grand Canyon North Rim staff sat down with Crew 663 out of Zuni, New Mexico to talk about the work that they had completed on the North Rim.

Take a moment to learn about their connections to Grand Canyon, to learn about their culture & heritage, and what motivates them in their work and daily lives.

Across the Zuni Mountains landscape, ALCC is cultivating the next generation of local land stewards. In what is now known as El Morro National Monument, ALCC crews have spearheaded the Headland Trail project which consists of removing the existing asphalt trail and replacing it with “Sta-Lok” material, which is a paving material made of decomposed granite and crushed stone. The project also includes masonry work, such as foundation setting for trail curbing and retaining walls. This project will increase accessibility for visitors while creating a natural look.

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced nearly $3.5 million in 2023 Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) grants to eight projects involving more than 20 Tribes and Tribal organizations. These are the first awards for the IYSC, established by Secretary Deb Haaland as a partner-based program designed to provide Indigenous youth with meaningful, Tribally led public service opportunities to support the conservation and protection of natural and cultural resources through construction, restoration, or rehabilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational or scenic resources. Participants will receive a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training and mentoring.