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- By Native News Online Staff
With transformative support from the Mellon Foundation, the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) is advancing a bold vision of Tribal co-stewardship at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area (MGRA), known traditionally as Áakʼw Tʼáak Sít’ and Sít’ Aant’aakú. This historic investment marks a significant milestone in the Tribe’s growing leadership in managing and interpreting one of Alaska’s most visited public lands.
A $2.35 million grant from the Mellon Foundation is powering a range of initiatives under the landmark 2023 Co-Stewardship Agreement between Tlingit & Haida and the U.S. Forest Service. The agreement establishes a government-to-government partnership, committing both entities to shared stewardship of the ancestral homelands of the Áak’w Ḵwáan people.
“Thanks to the Mellon Foundation, we’re able to carry out work that centers our stories, our language, and our relationship with the land,” said Ralph Wolfe, Director of Tlingit & Haida’s Indigenous Stewardship Program. “This partnership is about healing past injustices and ensuring our voices are part of the landscape—for generations to come.”
Key projects underway or planned include:
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Totem Poles: Five totem poles will be raised at the MGRA—four representing the Áak’w Ḵwáan clans and one representing Tlingit & Haida as a whole.
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Visitor Center Renovation: In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center will be redesigned to elevate Lingít history and perspectives (targeted for 2025).
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Signage & Place Names: Installation of interpretive signage that centers Lingít knowledge and language (2025–2030).
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Cultural Ambassador Program: Launched in 2024, this initiative places tribal citizen ambassadors at the MGRA to share Lingít culture, language, and values with over 1.5 million visitors annually. Ambassadors receive training in traditional knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and visitor engagement.
These initiatives are part of a broader vision for culturally grounded and equitable co-management of public lands. Tlingit & Haida is also exploring a formal strategic planning process with the U.S. Forest Service, modeled after the Haida Nation’s Land-Sea-People Plan—a comprehensive, values-based approach to stewardship rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing.
“This $2.35 million investment ensures the voices and presence of the people of this land remain strong, guiding how our history and future are told,” said Chief Operating Officer Roald Helgesen. “Tlingit & Haida has committed deeply to the success of Tribal co-stewardship, and with the Mellon Foundation’s support, we’re building a model that can inspire other Tribes across the country.”
The Co-Stewardship initiative is overseen by Tlingit & Haida’s Executive Council, led by President Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson, with operational leadership from COO Roald Helgesen and collaboration with Alaska Regional Forester Monique Nelson of the U.S. Forest Service.
“Beautiful things are happening at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area,” said Fran Houston, Seikoonie, Lʼeeneidí, and spokesperson for the Áakʼw Ḵwáan. “We have a good future ahead—not only for the visitors, but for our people.”
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