In a groundbreaking move, the Yurok Tribe is poised to make history as the inaugural Tribal nation to engage in a joint management initiative with the National Park Service. This significant milestone comes to fruition through a historic memorandum of understanding, formally signed by the tribe, Redwood National and State Parks, and the esteemed non-profit organization, Save the Redwoods League. News reports herald this collaboration as a pivotal step towards indigenous sovereignty and environmental stewardship.
The ascendancy of the Yurok Tribe in recent years is underscored by a series of triumphs. Notably, their steadfast advocacy led to the successful dismantling of several dams along the Klamath River—a watershed where salmon once navigated freely into Yurok territory. Now, with the ratification of this new memorandum of understanding, the Yurok people are poised to reclaim more of their ancestral heritage and ecological birthright.
The narrative of this collaborative endeavor is further enriched by the efforts of Save the Redwoods League. Their acquisition of a property adorned with majestic redwoods in 2013 catalyzed a partnership with the Yurok Tribe aimed at ecological rejuvenation. Through meticulous restoration efforts, including the planting of 50,000 indigenous plants, this endeavor seeks to breathe life back into a landscape that holds profound cultural significance for the Yurok people. Remarkably, this parcel of land lies within the ancestral territories of the Yurok, which were dispossessed during the tumultuous era of the Gold Rush.
The passage of time witnessed the transformation of this land into a logging hub for half a century, while adjacent waterways, like Prairie Creek—once teeming with salmon, sustained by the Yurok—faced degradation and neglect.
Presently situated on the periphery of the Redwood National and State Parks—a revered UNESCO Natural Heritage Site—this reclaimed property now bears the name ‘O Rew, a poignant homage to its Yurok heritage. Its adjacency to an area frequented by over a million visitors annually underscores its potential to serve as a beacon of indigenous resilience and environmental harmony.
“Today we acknowledge and celebrate the opportunity to return Indigenous guardianship to ‘O Rew and reimagine how millions of visitors from around the world experience the redwoods,” Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League, said.
After rejuvenating Prarie Creek and reintroducing various species like chinook and coho salmon, red-legged frogs, northwestern salamanders, and waterfowl, the tribe plans to construct a traditional village site as a cultural exhibit. This will include structures like redwood-plank huts, a sweat house, and a museum showcasing tribal artifacts recovered from museum collections.
Out of reverence for the sacred giant trees, they exclusively utilize fallen trees for constructing their lodges.
“As the original stewards of this land, we look forward to working together with the Redwood national and state parks to manage it,” Rosie Clayburn, the tribe’s cultural resources director, said.
It will extend the park system by an extra mile of trails, linking them to beloved redwood groves and introducing new interactive exhibits along the way.
“This is a first-of-its-kind arrangement, where Tribal land is co-stewarded with a national park as its gateway to millions of visitors. This action will deepen the relationship between Tribes and the National Park Service,” said Redwoods National Park Superintendent Steve Mietz, adding that this would “heal the land while healing the relationships among all the people who inhabit this magnificent forest.”
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