Some Tribal Members Can Now Pick Plants In National Parks
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The federal government says tribes can now begin entering into agreements with the National Park Service to allow members to pick plants on protected land.
The new rule went into effect Thursday, after Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced it in June. Under the rule, tribes must have a culturally significant tie to the land that makes up a national park in order for its members to forage the park’s foliage. And Native Americans or Alaskan Natives must use the plants for traditional reasons, such as using a root for medicinal purposes, or bark to make a basket.
There are 58 national parks in the United States, with some covering vast expanses within proximity to Native American reservations, including the Navajo Nation, the largest reservation in the country.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
