Engaging Indigenous Youth in Natural Resource Conservation

Natural resources have sustained the lifeways, cultures and economies of tribal peoples for countless generations and remain vital to their health and welfare today.  For tomorrow, needs for effective and efficient preparation, mitigation, and adaptation strategies for natural resource management will surely escalate as tribes confront threats to energy, food, and water security arising from climate change.  To this end, the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fisheries Program has joined in partnership with the National Tribal Natural Resource Strategy Workgroup, formally known as Our Natural Resources (ONR), comprised of leadership from inter-tribal organizations that are familiar with the views of national leadership in the natural resource arena, including federal and state agencies, and environmental organizations and industry.  ONR seeks to develop a natural resource agenda centered on protecting and advancing tribal sovereignty over their lands and resources to benefit their own communities and integrate efforts of tribal natural resource organizations to support advocacy of that agenda.  Of great importance to the Service’s Fisheries Program, ONR sees the education and employment of tribal youth in the area of natural resource conservation as vital to the success of a National Tribal Natural Resource Strategy.  The Fisheries Program currently sponsors Youth Conservation Corps programs with the Mescalero Apache Tribe (NM), Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (MT), and the White Mountain Apache Tribe (AZ).  These youth employment programs often lead to advanced education opportunities and identification of natural resource career pathways.  The need for these programs is overwhelming, and the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fisheries Program is committed to expanding natural resource employment opportunities for the nation’s indigenous youth.