The Yurok Tribe, the nonprofit Save the Redwoods League, the National Park Service and California State Parks have signed a landmark memorandum of understanding, a historic first step toward transferring ‘O Rew, a 125-acre ecologically and culturally important property, from Save the Redwoods League back to its original steward, the Yurok Tribe. The agreement also established the four partners’ shared vision for long-term co-management of the site, making the Yurok Tribe the first Native American Tribe to co-manage land within a National Park. The partners envision building a new visitor and cultural center and trails at ‘O Rew that will highlight the distinct histories and cultures of local Tribes.
“On behalf of the Yurok people, I want to sincerely thank Save the Redwoods League for committing to repatriate this critical part of our homeland. Together, we are creating a new conservation model that recognizes the value of Tribal land management,” said Joseph L. James, the chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “We are also appreciative of Redwood National and State Parks’ participation in this truly one-of-a-kind partnership.”
The vision codified in the agreement is for Save the Redwoods League to convey ‘O Rew to the Yurok Tribe in 2026 after the Redwoods Gateway and Prairie Creek Restoration project, currently in progress, is completed. Conveniently located off U.S. Highway 101 at the base of Bald Hills Road in Orick, California, the site will become a southern gateway to Redwood National and State Parks. The ‘O Rew Redwoods Gateway will be the first co-management model whereby the National Park Service and California State Parks will support visitation and stewardship on land owned by a Tribe.
“Today we acknowledge and celebrate the opportunity to return Indigenous guardianship to ‘O Rew and reimagine how millions of visitors from around the world experience the redwoods,” said Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. “Today’s agreement starts the process of changing the narrative about how, by whom and for whom we steward natural lands. There’s a lot of important work to be done in the coming years to realize our shared vision. But the League and our partners are fully committed, and we’re honored to collaborate with the Yurok Tribe, the National Park Service and California State Parks to create a new model of shared environmental and recreational stewardship.”
Along with new recreational opportunities, such as new trails and exhibits, the Yurok Tribe aims to construct a visitor center highlighting the distinct history and living culture of the Tribe and the extraordinary natural, cultural and recreational resources of the parks. The Yurok Tribe also plans to build a traditional village on-site, including plank houses and a sweat house.
“This is a first-of-its-kind arrangement, where Tribal land is co-stewarded with a national park as its gateway to millions of visitors. This action will deepen the relationship between Tribes and the National Park Service,” said Redwoods National Park Superintendent Steve Mietz. “The restoration efforts completed by the partners on this site link the large-scale watershed restoration upstream by the Redwoods Rising collaborative with downstream landowner-led efforts to restore the Redwood Creek Estuary, healing the land while healing the relationships among all the people who inhabit this magnificent forest.”
“This agreement further strengthens California State Parks’ relationship with the Yurok Tribe, and we welcome the opportunity to forge additional actions that support Indigenous land management with state, federal and nonprofit resources,” said Armando Quintero, director of California State Parks. “This historic agreement provides a pathway for the addition of Indigenous lands to the suite of values employed in co-managing and protecting Redwood National and State Parks lands for the enjoyment of public and Indigenous peoples in the region.”
View more articles for the Native Origins Community here.
