How to Give Back to Native American Tribes With Each National Park Visit

Many national parks and monuments in the US are situated on territory traditionally stewarded by Indigenous people. While some were forcibly removed from these lands, many Indigenous communities continue to reside in or near these protected areas, maintaining a profound cultural and spiritual connection to the land. The Sacred Defense Initiative seeks to address the historical dispossession of Indigenous people and the ongoing challenges they face in asserting their rights and cultural heritage within national parks.

The initiative operates through a voluntary donation program. Visitors planning a trip to a participating national park or monument can donate directly to the associated tribe. Lakota Law lists participating parks and monuments and links to the respective tribal nations. Funds collected are distributed annually to the participating tribes. 100 percent of donations go directly to the communities.

Currently, you can donate to the Indigenous people of 14 national parks and monuments.

• Arches National Park, Utah
• Bears Ears National Monument, Utah
• Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
• Death Valley National Park, California, Nevada
• Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming
• Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
• Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
• Haleakalā / Hawai’i Volcanoes National Parks, Hawai’i
• Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
• White Sands National Park, New Mexico
• Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota
• Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming
• Yosemite National Park, California
• Zion National Park, Utah

The program is still in its early stages. However, Lakota Law envisions expanding it to encompass all national parks and monuments in the US, ensuring that visitors can contribute directly to the well-being of the Indigenous communities who have stewarded these lands for generations.