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.

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

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

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.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., (January 24, 2023) — Today’s vote by the Bernalillo County Commission represents the overwhelming support for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future for all New Mexicans by equitably protecting the state’s lands and waters right now.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today joined Tribal leaders, community partners and Indigenous youth to celebrate the launch of the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) and unveil the program’s guidelines. The IYSC is a new partnership-based program that will provide meaningful education, employment and training opportunities to Indigenous youth through conservation projects on public and Indian lands, and Hawaiian homelands – putting young people on a path to good-paying jobs while working to tackle the climate crisis.

“The National Park Foundation has consistently been one of our strongest funding partners over the years,” said Ron Hassel, Conservation Legacy’s Partnerships Director. “We are thrilled to once again have their support in 2022, and can’t wait to put their funding to action through our conservation corps crews and individual placement interns. We are especially excited about ALCC’s Native Conservation Crew, whose members will continue to help integrate Indigenous insight and perspective into the national park narrative—truly a crucial collaboration.”

February 24th, 2022 | The National Park Foundation today announced the official launch of ParkVentures within the organization's Outdoor Exploration initiative. ParkVentures supports programs and activities that help people create and strengthen life-long relationships with national parks, with a focus on communities that have been historically excluded from parks and may not feel a sense of belonging in the outdoors.

February 5, 2021 | Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Celebrates Biden Administration Executive Order Establishing a Civilian Climate Corps, Ready to Engage the Next Generation of Stewards

ALBUQUERQUE, NM. Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) applauds President Joseph R. Biden’s establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps initiative through an executive order, signed January 27, 2021, and is standing ready to assist the Administration in providing work opportunities, engaging Americans in addressing climate change and building community resiliency.

June 29, 2020 | This will be updated regularly by Conservation Legacy staff with changes or further announcements. Last updated 6/29/20.

The safety of our participants, staff, and partners is our utmost priority. We have activated an Incident Response Team dedicated to addressing the impact of COVID-19 on our organization.

Below you will find updates regarding Conservation Legacy’s response to the emerging concerns related to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus).