The ancestral lands conservation corps FY24 project will engage indigenous youth and young adults in meaningful conservation projects at national parks service sites across the country and address…

This $666,665 cooperative agreement award from the National Park Service (CFDA 15.931 - Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program) will engage Indigenous youth and young adults in meaningful conservation projects at National Park Service sites across the country. The project is operated by Conservation Legacy and its Southwest Conservation Corps program, which specializes in delivering workforce development, training, and hands-on conservation experience on public lands. Over the performance period from July 2024 to December 2026, the project will support existing Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps programs and help catalyze new opportunities in other tribal nations. Participants will complete critical infrastructure and maintenance projects at national parks adjacent to or historically connected to local tribes, while also connecting them to career pathways and providing professional development opportunities. The project aims to reconnect participants to culturally significant landscapes and support the Department of the Interior and National Park Service's priorities.

The ancestral lands conservation corps FY24 project will engage indigenous youth and young adults in meaningful conservation projects at national parks service sites across the country and address priorities outlined by department of the interior and NPS director chuck sams. This project is modeled on the ancestral lands conservation corps (alcc) program operated by conservation legacy since 2008. Alcc was created to bring conservation service opportunities to indigenous youth, young adults, and tribal communities. Alcc operates programs in the pueblos of acoma, isleta, and zuni, navajo nation, and hopi nation. Alcc has collaborated with other corps programs to help them catalyze new programs that center and serve indigenous participants and communities. This project will continue to support existing programs with tribes and corps partners and will help catalyze new opportunities in other tribal nations. Multiple native american participants will complete projects that address critical infrastructure and cyclic maintenance at national parks adjacent to or historically culturally connected to local tribes while simultaneously connecting participants to career pathways and opportunities, support their professional development, and reconnect them to culturally significant and sacred landscapes.