5 Things You Should Know This National Public Lands Day

As we head out to recreate or join organizations in events for National Public Lands Day, let’s remember the Indigenous communities that were relocated from their homes through war and forced removal to create the public land system we enjoy. The Indigenous People of America are still here today. Their presence decorates our public lands. Many of these areas, such as Bears Ears National Monument, were protected due to their rich cultural importance. 

We call their ancestral lands national parks, monuments, wilderness areas, and other names and designations. While land acknowledgments and counseling with tribal leaders have increased over the last few decades, only the returning of ancestral lands to the First Nations can begin the healing process in our country. Here are five things you should know this National Public Lands Day to increase your understanding of why we need to diversify outdoors.

Public Land is Only Possible Through the Genocide and Forced Removal of Indigenous People

With national parks facing record crowds and, in certain terms, being “loved to death”, it is important to know their history. The forced removal of Indigenous communities led to several decades of war. The initial treaties created were never honored. Instead, the lands were whittled away over time by local and federal governments. Supporting land designations that include language that returns land to local Indigenous people is one solution to consider this National Public Lands Day.

There's No Such Thing As Pristine Wilderness

The Wilderness Act of 1964 sought to define vast expanses of land that appeared to be “untrammeled”. However, the idea of pristine wilderness erases the history of America’s First Nations. Petroglyphs, lithic scatter, and roasting pits are only some of the remnants left behind after the forced removal of Indigenous people. Native Americans lived in harmony with the land minimizing their impact whenever possible. In many cases, their habitation of areas is not easily detected. We mustn’t forget they lived on the areas we call our public lands and are still here today fighting for their way of life.

The National Park System Is Rooted In Eugenics

Many of the early leaders in conservation were racists and eugenicists. These prejudiced beliefs shaped who they thought belonged on public lands. The almost exclusively white, male conservation leaders of yesterday cast a long and ugly shadow on the organizations they helped to create. Save the Redwoods League was founded by eugenicists who believed certain Americans were “unfit” to reproduce or cohabitate with. It is these beliefs, along with Jim Crow laws in the south, that prevented generations of Americans from developing a connection with public lands. But organizations are taking strides to remedy their racist beginnings. The surge of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives in 2020 promised to create a new day for conservation. The Sierra Club openly confronted their racist founder John Muir and others by “tearing down their monuments”. Still, more needs to be done. Understanding the racist lens that early public lands policy was created under and looking at how we got here with fresh eyes will help us usher in a new era of inclusion and Indigenous rights where public lands are concerned.

Public Lands aren’t Accessible to Many Communities

Whether it is due to ADA-accessible trails or proximity to certain communities, many people have difficulty accessing public lands. ADA-accessible trails are used by individuals of all abilities. These trails are great for introducing new hikers to the outdoors, families pushing strollers or recreating with older or younger generations, disabled recreationists, and those with pets. On the ground, Diversify Outdoors members, such as Syren Nagakyrie of Disabled Hikers, are advocating for accessibility and creating resources to educate their community. Syren recently released a book, The Disabled Hiker’s Guide to Western WA and OR, that details hikes from the disabled hikers’ perspective. The Guide is now available on their website for those who would like to learn more.

For other communities, distance and access to affordable transportation options hinder their connection to public lands. To address some of these access issues, the Trails to Transit Act of 2021 was introduced last year. If passed, the legislation will fund projects aimed at closing the gap between underserved communities and our public lands. If you would like to assist communities with accessing public lands, consider creating a rideshare/carpool program within your organization to reach outdoor enthusiasts who face access challenges.

New Hikers Belong Outside

Public lands are truly for all. Many of us are discovering the outdoors for the first time in our adult lives and that’s alright. We hope you feel encouraged to explore and enjoy every recreational opportunity you can find. There are affinity groups creating community, if you need support. Together, we are redefining what it means to be an outdoorsy person and welcome those who wish to be active in diversifying the outdoors. Explore #DiversifyOutdoors on Instagram and get to know some of the organizations and individuals bringing diversity to outdoor spaces.