Native American Cross Cultural Exchange
Yellowstone National Park is a landscape of diverse natural and rich cultural histories. Yellowstone’s seven affiliated Treaty Tribes are an integral part of this history. Many of them, however, especially tribal youth, lack the financial resources to visit Yellowstone. A successful pilot Native American Cross Cultural Exchange Project, funded by the Foundation in 2004, provided travel, lodging, and scholarships for a group of youth, elders, and chaperones from one of Yellowstone’s seven Treaty Tribes to attend a five-day camp in the Park. With input from tribal elders, students and consultants, Park education and ethnography staff designed a program of site visits along with educational and cultural activities. This unique opportunity allowed tribal youth and their accompanying elders to view the Park’s abundant wildlife, experience Yellowstone’s unique geological features, meet with various Park staff, and connect Yellowstone to their own cultural identity. This residential, outdoor experience provides the ideal vehicle for cross-cultural exchange—fostering knowledge, building relationships, and encouraging individual growth. The program was conducted again in 2007, and funds have been successfully raised to continue the program in 2008.Total Project Cost: $52,380 for 2008