FIELDREPORT Northern Rockies | Summer 2015
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FIELDREPORT Northern Rockies | Summer 2015 Sacred Ground A Lasting Legacy for Grand Teton Protecting the “Backbone of the World” By Sharon Mader Efforts to transfer ownership of state lands to Grand Teton Program Manager the Park Service are well underway, but are he Blackfeet Nation first encountered bound by an extremely ambitious timeline. Summer Celebration for Glacier’s North Fork the United States government in the resident Obama has an amazing The clock is ticking, and without immediate Tearly morning chill of July 27, 1806. opportunity, before the end of his action at the highest levels of government, Capt. Meriwether Lewis, returning with presidency, to create a profound his men from the Pacific, chanced upon P and lasting legacy for America’s national a band of eight young braves, camped in parks. As we look toward the Centennial spectacular buffalo country where unbroken of the National Park Service in August prairie crashes headlong into soaring 2016—NPCA is encouraging the peaks. What unfolded that morning was administration to prioritize protecting the only bloodshed recorded by Lewis lands in Grand Teton National Park that and Clark. are owned by the state of Wyoming. Before the summer sun had climbed high enough to warm the gravel banks of the More than 1,200 acres of state-owned Two Medicine River, two young Blackfeet lands fall within the boundary of the men—boys, really—were killed. park. These inholdings offer some of the most spectacular scenery and wildlife- Two centuries later, in 1982, the US viewing opportunities imaginable. Driving it’s possible this deal will not be completed in government returned to those very same by these lands, travelers assume these time. Wyoming’s leadership has proved a river banks, to the Blackfeet’s most sacred acres are part of the park, as pristine and willing partner in negotiating the transfer land, and sold it for oil drilling at a dollar unimpaired as the surrounding landscape. and has authorized the federal government to an acre. That’s in large part because the state has purchase these lands either through a cash been a fine steward, managing these lands sale or an exchange for other federal mineral That river’s headwaters spill from the carefully ever since the inception of Grand lands in the state. But despite good intentions “Backbone of the World,” the Rocky Teton. Yet, if the Department of Interior on both sides, the progress has been slow Mountain heights known today as the fails to complete a time-sensitive land and the state’s patience is wearing thin after Badger-Two Medicine. Adjacent to Glacier exchange by January 6, 2016, these numerous extensions over many years. National Park’s southeastern boundary, critically important inholdings will be Without immediate action over the coming the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, months, all bets are off. If the transfer and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, the on their way to the public auction block. agreement expires, the lands could be sold to 160,000-acre Badger-Two Medicine is If these parcels are sold for commercial home to the Blackfeet culture’s origin and residential development, herds of continued on page 3 stories—it is the center of their spiritual pronghorn and bison will be displaced Top: Flowers of Grand Tetons National Park universe. and ancient migration routes and scenic ©f11photo | Shutterstock Above: Moose in Grand continued on page 3 views obstructed forever. Teton National Park| Lilyling 1982 |Dreamstime.com FIELD REFLECTIONS FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, BART MELTON REPORT his past winter, snowmobiles and snowcoaches rolled into Yellowstone, Summer 2015 Tguided by a brand-new, balanced and flexible winter-use plan that NPCA helped shape through decades of persistent advocacy. Northern Rockies Regional Office At Grand Teton, as a result of NPCA volunteers P.O. Box 2007 • Livingston, MT 59047 and their good work, park pronghorn migrated (406) 222.2268 freely in areas where fencing had prevented Bart Melton their migration in the past. And up in Glacier, 400,000 acres of park-adjacent wildlands— REGIONAL DIRECTOR an area larger than Zion, Bryce, Acadia, [email protected] (406) 223.9902 • Arches, Carlsbad Caverns, and Great Sand Holly Sandbo Dunes national parks combined— were placed REGIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR off-limits to mining and drilling leases, the [email protected] • (406) 222.2268 conclusion of a multi-year legislative campaign. Here in NPCA’s Northern Rockies Regional Glacier Field Office park for the first time—whether they are 5 or Office, Tim Stevens—NPCA’s longtime 50—leaves with a lasting memory. These Michael Jamison Northern Rockies Regional Director and experiences shape us, and help us to SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER architect of all our wintertime victories— understand that protected parks and their [email protected] • (406) 862.6722 decided it was time for a change, and moved surrounding landscapes are, like our on to pursue new challenges in conservation. victories, no accident. They are a choice. Sarah Lundstrum And as Tim stepped down, I stepped up, GLACIER FIELD REPRESENTATIVE The visionaries and the leaders who came changing out my job in NPCA’s Yellowstone [email protected] (406) 862.6722 before us chose to create these special • office to take over as Regional Director. places, and we, in turn, must step up and Stephanie Adams, in turn, snatched up my choose to protect them. That’s why I’m so Grand Teton Field Office old desk at Yellowstone, where I’m certain excited to work with you in my new role, Sharon Mader she will have many good winters to come. partnering to protect Yellowstone, Grand SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER Teton, Glacier, and the parks of NPCA’s [email protected] (307) 733.4680 • Northern Rockies Region. Meghan Quinn In Glacier, 400,000 I have inherited a talented team from Tim PROGRAM COORDINATOR acres of park-adjacent [email protected] • (307) 733.4680 wildlands—an area larger Stevens, and that team includes you. NPCA needs your help if we are to have another than Zion, Bryce, Acadia, Yellowstone Field Office winter like the last. As we build toward the Arches, Carlsbad Caverns, 100th birthday of the National Park Service Stephanie Adams and Great Sand Dunes in 2016—and NPCA’s own centennial in PROGRAM MANAGER national parks combined— 2019—we are asking each of you to “Find [email protected] • (406) 224.8661 were placed off-limits to Your Voice.” That is to say, to find your way mining and drilling leases. of making a difference on behalf of America’s Paul Balle national parks. Stand up with us, here in the REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Northern Rockies and across the country, [email protected] (206) 276.2597 • and choose to act—attend an event, write Kati Schmidt Tim Stevens left some darn big shoes to fill, a letter, call a member of Congress, spend a MEDIA RELATIONS and I’m humbled and honored to have been day volunteering. Up in Glacier, you can join [email protected] • (415) 728-0840 chosen to take over leadership where he left us for a summer celebration in honor of the off. National parks have played a central role legislation that protected all those acres Kristen Brengel in my life for as long as I can remember. In next to the park. In Grand Teton, we’ll be GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS fact, one of my first memories— I couldn’t spending a September afternoon establish- [email protected] • (202) 454.3380 have been more than 5 at the time—is being ing new wildlife connections across the landscape. And, north of Yellowstone, you Natalie Levine wakened in the dead of night by a park ranger. I was with my family, in Great Smoky can help us modify fences so that during GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Mountains National Park, and a mama bear next winter’s migration, park pronghorn [email protected] (202) 454.3326 • with cubs had taken up residence in a tree have even more range to roam. Newsletter Design by kelleyalbertdesign.com near our tent. Later, we spotted the bears— my parents insist it was from a safe distance— Together, we can find our voice and protect and that moment has remained with me to our National Parks. this day. I’ve made many more park memories since then, some with friends and some with Above: Bart Melton and his partner, Caitlin, skiing family. I suspect that anyone who visits a in Yellowstone on New Year’s Day. npca.org Bart Melton Sacred Ground - Protecting the “Backbone of the World” continued from page 1 cultural homeland, recognizing the natural Now, it’s time for you to add your voice. and cultural importance of this powerful We cannot do this without you. It also is critical habitat for many of Glacier place. But 18 leases totaling 40,000 acres Park’s most iconic and sensitive species still remain, and one oil developer recently including wolves, wolverines, grizzly bears, filed suit to gain access to drill. Please drop Sen. Tester a line and tell him and bighorn sheep, and it links together key thank you. Follow Pearl Jam’s social media wildlife corridors between the park and the We are fighting that suit, and we are working messages on this issue, and thank them, too. wilderness complex. hard to cancel, swap, or buy all remaining Visit our website to learn more and to sign leases in the Badger-Two Medicine. Our allies an online petition. Write to Sec. of Interior Blackfeet Chief Earl Old Person, in a recent include the Blackfeet, of course, the entire Sally Jewell, and ask her to reconsider the letter to President Obama, wrote that “The Blackfoot Confederacy, every Native American legality of those dollar-an-acre leases.