Minnesota Indian Education Conference Presentation

Interwoven Waters: Collaborative Stewardship and Indigenous Youth Experiences in Voyageurs National Park

How can National Parks move beyond traditional land acknowledgment and into active, youth-centered co-stewardship? This panel explores the unique partnership between Voyageurs National Park, the Voyageurs Conservancy, Wilderness Inquiry, and Indigenous Community Partners.

The session highlights the Teen Ambassador Program, an initiative that supports Indigenous youth in (re-)claiming relationships with their ancestral lands through career mentorship, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), and cultural craft. Featuring a multi-generational panel of park staff, nonprofit leaders, Indigenous educators, and youth ambassadors, panelists will reflect on the evolution of this program through recent co-stewardship opportunities and the development of a dedicated joint Tribal Program. Panelists will share how they’ve navigated the complexities of federal-tribal relations, highlighting the support of a "Friends Group" and of Tribal community partners. These collaborators are catalysts for the transformative power of centering Indigenous craft and storytelling as core components of environmental education. Join us to hear more about how this quad-partnership model and culturally responsive pedagogy have supported the evolution of our relationships and shared work.

Voyageurs Conservancy will also be tabling at the conference; we look forward to connecting with you!