Hunter, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, which is affiliated with Casa Grande, has brought invaluable traditional cultural knowledge to the preservation work at Casa Grande. He has engaged tribal members in preservation events that he organized within his community to give indigenous members the opportunity to develop hands-on skills and work to preserve their cultural heritage.

What is your background and how have your skills or experiences helped you in your volunteer role?

My background in environmental studies has been incredibly helpful in my internship roles. After graduation, I interned at Pecos with the preservation crew. Following that, I then interned with an NPS program “Vanishing Treasures” through Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC). I returned to Pecos for a second internship as a Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) with ALCC.