A land of learning

Native Americans have stewarded the high desert for millennia. A small group of Tribal members gathered on their homelands to share their traditions, further conservation and restoration efforts in the Trout Creek and Pueblo Mountains, and inspire youth to do the same.

Earlier this fall, ODLT hosted a Tribal gathering at Trout Creek Ranch for elders and youth to share perspectives, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and to learn about local restoration projects and environmental career pathways. With attendees traveling 200-600 miles, the event enabled Northern Paiutes to gather on some of their ancestral lands, many for the first time.

This was the second get-together at the ranch and Tribal leaders who participated in the first helped shape the agenda with ODLT board and staff. More than 20 Tribal members attended with friends and families from Burns Paiute Tribe, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Wilson Wewa spoke at the opening circle.

“This land is so rich in culture. Sharing Indigenous Knowledge to help protect the land is really important, and to respect the stories of our elders is really important. What I would love to see is the land opened back up to our people, to reintroduce them so people are familiar with our homelands.”

Wilson Wewa

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Tribal Council Member
Oregon Desert Land Trust Board Member

Wewa is on the Tribal council for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and is also an ODLT board member. He helped organize the event and guide storytelling. He stressed the value in having youth attend similar events to learn about the environment and related career options. Cathi Crutcher spoke in agreement while sitting next to her children.

“That’s where learning starts and it’s the generation after that, and the generation after that, and the generation after that, that we have to keep it going for.”

Cathi Crutcher

Fort McDermitt Paiute & Shoshone Tribe Language & Culture Specialist

She was excited to explore Cottonwood Creek with her friends and family while learning about restoring the riverbanks and floodplain for fish and wildlife.

Anna Hosford was eager to introduce Tribal youth to the area in the Trout Creek Mountains and share the good news for multiple reasons. She’s the riparian restoration project manager for The Nature Conservancy and a descendent of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

“It was such a fun time exploring Cottonwood Creek with the kids and looking for fish, frogs, beavers and other animals,” recalled Anna.

"I think it’s so valuable to spark that interest and connection to the land at a young age. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from time spent outside learning about the balance in nature and our connection to the land. It would be so great to see more Indigenous representation in conservation so we can preserve these lands for future generations."

Anna Hosford

Descendent of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs,
The Nature Conservancy Riparian Restoration Manager

Hosford was grateful to connect with more Tribal members on conservation projects and discuss her background, interests or resources with those curious about working outdoors or in the environmental field. This is a shared goal and vision for future gatherings at the ranch.

“It would be our dream to get young people to see what’s here, and with efforts like what Anna’s doing, to get them hooked into going into these fields because we’re lacking in Indian Country biologists that work with plants and animals,” expressed Wewa. “Then the kids can say, ‘I want to become a biologist.’ Another part of it is presenting practices: how to plow, plant, irrigate or even finding programs and funders.”

As the environmental director of Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, Duane Masters Sr. feels the same. He attended last year, then helped double attendance this year with his outreach to the Tribe. He was happy to assist in planning, encouraging a campfire and storytelling event, and arranging for members to bring and prepare roasted groundhogs (marmots) for one of the dinners.

"It’s important to bring people together and do these things, to bring all of the Tribes together to do what they used to do."

Thierry Veyrié

Fort McDermitt Paiute & Shoshone Tribe Language Program Director

True to his words, the next month Thierry coordinated with a similar-sized group to collect willows at Trout Creek Ranch for cradle baskets and other traditional activities.

Conversations continue about a 2025 spring gathering for First Foods and other interests of local Tribal members. Both annual gatherings were important listening sessions for ODLT staff and board members, and we’re eager to learn more about how we can best support the high desert’s communities of Indigenous caretakers.

Feature image: Tribal members found numerous artifacts of their ancestors within the Trout Creek Mountains on trips during the Tribal Gathering

Published November, 2024