Navajo Nation Stewardship Plan

Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department has entered into a collaboration with Arizona State University’s School of Community Resources and Development to co-create a stewardship plan for the Western Area of the reservation with the participation of residents, be they elected officials, non-elected officials, vendors, artists, teachers, and so forth. This project will result in a joint stewardship plan that will inform the designation of areas for sustainable forms of cultural tourism, other business uses, residential use, traditional use, and/or for preservation.

This project adopts a grassroots and participatory approach that prioritizes Diné sovereignty, recognizes Diné culture and abides by ethical standards needed for meaningful collaboration. There are two phases in this project. The first phase involves community visioning which will be led by Dr. Benjamin Broome and will convene workshops with an advisory group to get information regarding the creation of a stewardship plan for the Western area of Navajo Nation. The second phase of the project involves cultural mapping and will be led by Dr. Christine Buzinde and Dr. Gyan Nyaupane. It will focus on documenting the life stories, memories, personal histories, attitudes and values of residents to understand their experiences with the land.

Information obtained from both phases will inform the creation of the stewardship plan. That is, the identification of local experiences of resistance, suffering, and triumph will shine light on: tangible and intangible areas that should be protected; areas appropriate for domestic and foreign visitation; areas for private residential use; public recreational areas for residents; and, areas for environmental conservation as well as economic development in the Western area of Navajo Nation.

Under phase one of the project, a Navajo Advisory Group, made up of various formal and informal leaders, was purposefully created to ensure cultural sensitivity, to obtain guidance on the design and feasibility of project but also to create awareness about the project. Under phase two of the project and with the help of the advisory group, a convenient sample of approximately 45 residents will be chosen from the Western Area of the Navajo Nation. Interviews will be conducted with residents to learn about their experiences with the land. A final workshop will be held to discuss key findings from these interviews, gather feedback to inform the joint stewardship plan.

This collective collaboration is in line with wider global dialogues about Indigenous Sovereignty and Indigenous People’s relationships to their lands. ASU’s approach is anchored in Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) which catalyzes change and development from within communities by drawing on existing strengths and capacities of people and their communities. The products of this collaboration will remain the property of the Navajo Nation. 

Eminence Break

Benefits of the Joint Stewardship Plan

Promote cultural sovereignty and traditional knowledge.
Integrate sustainability concepts from an indigenous perspective.
Value and protect cultural and biological diversity.
Encourage intergenerational cultural exchange and global dialogue in managing tribal parks.
Provide visitors, both Navajo and non-Navajo, an authentic and educational experience that awakens a sense of stewardship.
Develop partnerships between all stakeholders and create a platform for human capacity building.

This project focuses on the socio-cultural component, which entails two distinct, but intricately related stages of this project: Community Visioning and Cultural Mapping.

Stage One: Community Visioning

The Community Visioning stage will occur in three phases and will result in the creation of a joint stewardship plan that outlines the responsibilities of all stakeholders:

Workshops with an advisory team will convene to elicit input regarding the creation of a joint stewardship plan.
Dialogue facilitation between the advisory team and various stakeholders will ensure that any community discord is identified and that necessary steps for resolution are accomplished regarding the Western Area of the Navajo Nation, managed by Tribal Parks.
A safe forum will be provided through which community members and local leaders can share community strengths related to the Western Area Tribal Parks, and allow for community challenges to be addressed, understood, and documented.

The Community Visioning stage is an important dimension of the project because:

It will equip the advisory team, many of whom are residents of Western Navajo Nation, with first-hand information related to the role and authority of Tribal Parks;
It will empower residents and the advisory team by involving them in the participatory planning process;
It will enable local leaders and the advisory team to better understand local challenges; and
It will create a foundation on which to facilitate stage two of this project.

Stage Two: Cultural Mapping

The Cultural Mapping stage will document the life stories, memories, personal histories, attitudes, and values of residents residing in and around the Western Area of Navajo Nation in order to document and understand their experiences with the land. This stage of the project will include the process of collecting and documenting experiences with cultural and natural resources from community members through interviews, and will be used for the purposes of informing economic and social development. With residents’ approval, some of the documented narratives will be included in the interpretive materials showcased within Tribal Parks to inform visitors of local land experiences of resistance, suffering, and triumph.

The Cultural Mapping stage is a vital part of the project because:

Residents’ life stories will inform efforts to create a joint stewardship plan for the Western Area of Navajo Nation.
Understanding the cultural meanings that residents associate with their natural landscape will inform processes to better develop the area in a culturally-appropriate manner. Residents’ narratives will help the identification of: tangible and intangible sacred areas that should be protected; areas appropriate for foreign visitation and tourism; areas for private residential use; public recreational areas for residents; and areas for environmental conservation.
Residents’ life stories will enrich efforts to create a world class Tribal Parks system.

ASU will work with the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department and the Navajo National Heritage and Historic Preservation Department to create a culturally grounded interview protocol.

Advisory Team

The duties and responsibilities of the advisory team include:

Proposing goals and guiding principles for a joint stewardship plan for the Tribal Parks;
Identifying the challenges and/or obstacles to engaging residents in joint stewardship of the Tribal Parks;
Proposing options for inclusion in a joint stewardship plan;
Developing a strategy for engaging residents in joint stewardship of the Western Parks;
Assisting ASU in identifying 45 Western area residents who will participate in the interviews.

The current members of the Advisory Team are:

Larry Foster
Emmett Kerley
Helen Webster
Mike Anderson
Tony Robbins
Nicolette Elvira Cooley
Mae Franklin
Tom Riggenbach
Bidtah Becker
Daryn Melvin
Delores Wilson-Aguirre
Timothy Begay

Arizona State University Team:

ASU, in collaboration with Navajo National Parks and Recreation Department, will work on both the Community Visioning and Cultural Mapping phases of the project. The ASU team will produce a detailed report including the scope of work, findings, conclusions, implications for future development, and suggested courses of action for the core team of the project, as well as the Division of Natural Resources. Additionally, ASU will provide a portfolio of stories that can be used by Tribal Parks for interpretation purposes. This portfolio will be compiled and also shared with the core team of the project, as well as the Division of Natural Resources.

The ASU Team Members are:

Dr. Benjamin Broome will be responsible for the first stage of the project, Community Visioning, by facilitating a series of community-visioning workshops for community members and local leaders.
Dr. Christine Buzinde and Dr. Gyan Nyaupane will be responsible for the second stage of the project, Cultural Mapping, by documenting the life stories, memories, personal histories, attitudes, and values of residents residing in and around the Western Area of Navajo Nation in order to document and understand their experiences with the land.

All three ASU team members will be involved with the presentation of the results.

Navajo Nation Joint Stewardship Place

A large portion of Navajo Nation land located in the Western Area is under the protection of the Tribal Parks. Tribal Parks, much like similar agencies elsewhere, is tasked with protecting the natural landscape. Within Navajo culture, conceptualizations of the natural landscapes are complexly intertwined with cultural and spiritual dimensions, wherein all tangible and intangible, animate and inanimate aspects are linked and must be considered.

Accordingly, Tribal Parks has to adopt a holistic approach that accounts for the connections between natural, cultural, and spiritual realms in the management and economic development agendas for the parks system. The various local chapters also have an obligation to protect the natural and cultural assets located in their vicinity. Consequently, collaborations between Tribal Parks and local chapters allow the two parties to work together on creating a sustainable development plan that preserves and protects the Western Area Tribal Parks for the present and future generations.

Overview & Vision of Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation:

The following information was originally produced by Navajo Nations Parks and Recreation that can be found here.

With over 17 million acres, the Navajo Nation encompasses the entire northeast quarter of the state of Arizona, and spills over into New Mexico and Utah. These vast areas of pristine wilderness, majestic canyons, high mountain meadows, dry deserts, and flatlands were inhabited by Navajo people (Diné) long before the four corner states’ boundaries were drawn.

Mid-20th century Diné leaders recognized the consequences of dissecting land, resources, and all inhabitants by political alignment. Thus, recognizing the key to a prosperous future was to preserve and conserve our Diné Bikéyah for the benefit of all life, in accordance with Diné fundamental laws, based on philosophy, spirituality, and science. Custodians for these lands were needed, so the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department was established in 1964 and remains one of the oldest branches in the Navajo Nation government.

Confronted with overwhelming the challenges of protecting, preserving, and managing vast and diverse parks, the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department initiated a staff strategy session at Arizona State University that led to the collective goal of creating a comprehensive joint stewardship plan. We envisioned this plan to be a strategic planning document to help the Navajo Nation, and the communities within and surrounding the parks, to preserve and interpret each park’s natural and cultural resources, ensure safe and enjoyable experiences, provide for new visitor opportunities, and develop and enhance facilities. These plans guide park managers in their stewardship responsibilities.

From the start, it was important to create a collective vision for the Diné/Navajo Nation Parks. The foundation of Diné is harmony, beauty, sustainability, or Hózhó, in the Diné language. The importance of using the Diné language and philosophy to illustrate the Diné worldview is based on thousands of years of studies, experiences, and interactions with the environment. With the guidance of a respected grandfather, medicine man, rancher, and elected leader from the community of Cameron, Arizona, known in English as Emmett Kerley (DinéHózhó L3C Manager), the vision graphic and statement was created. This graphic can be applied to all life and on many different levels, based on our understanding of our relationship with our environment.

Dine Philosophy

Diné Philosophy

Diné Bikéyah is a place of scenic beauty and biocultural diversity, offering visitors and Diné a holistic connection to pristine landscapes, wildlife, and wilderness. Here exists opportunities for intergenerational global dialogue grounded in traditional Diné knowledge of sustainability.

The four cardinal directions are associated with the following:

Áhaajoobá, meaning charity, originates in the East. These teachings lie within the birth of a new day symbolizing charity and determination. One acquires charity through knowledge. Only when you have love for self and others do you attain the understanding of another person’s condition and mortality, resulting in self-determination for positive action.

Áyóó’óó’né, meaning love, exists in the South. Love and charity work hand in hand. Through love, one is able to communicate knowledge to another recipient. Only through having respect and love is one able to pass that knowledge on.

Iiná, meaning life, exists in the West. The cycle of life changes, but never ends. Planning and implementation is a natural process in seeking equilibrium in what seems to be a chaotic environment.

Sihasin, meaning faith and clarity, is achieved through honest evaluation which exists in the North. Only by having honest evaluation can you attain Sihasin.

Hózhó Haz’á means this is a place designated for balance and sustainability. This place is created from a beautiful process — the corn pollen path — illustrated by the cornstalk, beginning from one cardinal direction flowing to the next.

Diné Sustainability

Iiná doo nda nashi is Diné sustainability, literally meaning never to wear out or erode. Sustainability is the never-ending cycle of life. From the application of this dynamic process, equilibrium can be achieved. Equilibrium already exists and is an ongoing pendulum of chaos with constant readjustments in the natural cycle. We think and call it chaos, but it is not, it is merely the cycle of life.

It is our arrogance that the universe should exist in balance for us, but it is not the case. The universe exists because it exists and we just happen to be a part of it. For this reason, we want to learn the ability of sustaining. In order to do that, we have to understand that knowledge, and pass this knowledge on to the next generation.

The four pillars of sustainability — environmental responsibility, cultural vitality, economic health, and social equity — are critical parts of the cycle of life. We are a part of the environment and the environment is a part of us. When we create something, we destroy something in the process. It is our responsibility to bestow charity to all those who are a part of this life cycle so that overuse and greed are recognized as actions that lead to harm.

Sustainability is wanting life to mature to where it is useful and responsible, and to be able to replicate that cycle again through sharing of this knowledge.

Navajo Nation Joint Stewardship Products

Collaborators, Dr. Christine Buzinde and Gyan Nyaupane, will create materials pertaining to the Cultural Mapping stage of the project to be publicly distributed on this page. The following awareness creation tasks related to the project will be:

Webinars led by various members of the Advisory Team to expand on the value and importance of the lands of Navajo Nation
Short interviews with residents of Navajo Nation
Short videos of best practices in other communities
A short radio show/advertisement to be broadcasted on a local station
Posters regarding the project
A promotional column to be published in the Navajo Times

This project has been approved by two IRB boards, both Arizona State University and Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board, under the name "Cultural Mapping for the Western Area Tribal Parks including the Former Bennett Freeze Area".

For specific questions about the project, please contact Dr. Christine Buzinde at Christine.Buzinde@asu.edu, (602) 496 -2429.