Trails on tribal lands in the United States

Abstract

This paper investigates the status of trails on American Indian lands in the United States and their contribution to quality of life in Indian Country. Although American Indians have been using trails for centuries and trails have been the subject of considerable scholarly inquiry, very little research explores community trails on American Indian land. However, such research could serve an important purpose: American Indian communities, and reservations in particular, face a suite of social challenges related to land tenure, economic disparity, health epidemics, and transportation safety. Meanwhile, the social benefits of community trails have been well documented. This paper seeks to fill this knowledge gap by describing the current existence and uses of trails on American Indian land; the benefits they bring to tribal and non-tribal users; the potential benefits of expanding trails; and potential obstacles to trail development. To develop this understanding, we conducted informational interviews with 21 tribal representatives and resource managers from across the United States. Our results shed light on the important role that trails can play in strengthening American Indian communities. We find that trails (1) help strengthen and preserve cultural identity and natural heritage; (2) directly address some of the most pervasive social challenges that American Indian communities face; and (3) spur the creation of constructive partnerships with individuals, organizations, and various levels of government. These results provide strong incentive for continued and improved funding and development of trails not only in American Indian communities but also on indigenous lands across the globe.