In the summer of 2024, working with the Rio Grande National Forest, the GMUG hired their first all-Native American field crew using money from the Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee. On the GMUG, the crew constructed handline to help contain the future Horsefly prescribed fire. They used chainsaws and hand tools to remove vegetation along one edge of the unit, which will allow for a safe and effective prescribed fire.

The project came about through a partnership with Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to offer land management opportunities to young Native Americans. ALCC’s goal is to strengthen indigenous peoples’ connections to their native lands and to careers with the Forest Service.

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland was in New Mexico and Colorado to highlight how President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is restoring our nation’s public lands and waters, strengthening Indian Country and the use of Indigenous Knowledge, and building a next-generation conservation workforce through the Indian Youth Service Corps which is part of the Administration’s new American Climate Corps.

This year, BLM Colorado has hired two new interns through Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC), a Conservation Legacy corps program that aims to engage Indigenous youth and young adults with conservation service programs. Macy Robinson (Cherokee) and Pualani Tupper are this year’s hires. Pualani sat down with Macy to discuss what her experience has been like so far and to highlight BLM’s burgeoning relationship with ALCC, an organization dedicated to the betterment of Indigenous lands and people.

The 2024 Partners trip, led by trip leader Jen Lair, boat operator John Napier, and assistants Nichole Sanchez and Stephen Yazzie, served two ALCC crews and based out of Arizona and New Mexico and one all-Indigenous Southwest Conservation Corps Crew based out of Colorado. The youth and young adults on this trip belonged to a diversity of Tribes in the Southwest and beyond.

On June 15th, 2024 Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM) hosted their second annual Four Corners Indigenous Art Market highlighting Native artisans and musicians from across the region. The event welcomed a diverse group of guests with close to 450 people stopping by throughout the day to shop, watch, and learn from the Native communities represented.

Invasive plants are wreaking havoc in parks in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, and Utah—and have become a significant concern for the NPS. It’s essential to understand these invasives at an individual park level so that everyone can understand the true dangers these invaders create at a large scale.

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