Rule will allow tribal members to gather plants on park land
Native Americans will soon be allowed to gather plants on national park land for traditional purposes following the National Park Service’s decision to modify its regulations.
“The changes to the gathering rule support continuation of unique cultural traditions of American Indians and support the mission of the National Park Service,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “This also respects tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship between the United States and the tribes.”
The rule will go into effect 30 days after its publication in the National Register. At that point, tribes will be able to request agreements to conduct gathering activities. Eligibility requires tribes to have a traditional association to Park Service lands, and plants must be gathered for traditional purposes only. Agreements between tribes and the Park Service will outline which plants may be gathered and in what quantities, and they may require permits to identify tribal members who gather.
The regulation is designed to balance tribes’ desire to continue traditional practices with the Park Service’s mandate to ensure sustainability of park resources. The Park Service met with or contacted more than 120 tribes in drafting modifications to the regulation.
Most comments received during the review period were supportive of the proposed rule, according to a Park Service press release, while others raised questions about authority, environmental protection and the collection of information deemed sensitive by tribes. The proposed rule was revised to address these concerns.
