My Public Lands: Nuestra Tierra Comunal

By Jose Gonzalez, NewsTaco

Recently, the Hispanic Access Foundation (HAF) coordinated a program to get 100 Latino youth out to Joshua Tree National Park. This was in conjunction with the Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance and with the attendance and support of Representative Raul Ruiz (CA 36th). Beyond just an event, the outing was another example of engaging Latino communities with national parks, and public lands in general, from being active participants in these natural landscapes to framing it as part of our issues in the political leadership landscape.

Photo Credit: National Park Service.
Photo Credit: National Park Service.

Public Lands for All

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) uses a social media hashtag and Instagram name mypubliclands. The U.S Forest Service has a “Discover the Forest” and accompanying “Descubre El Bosque” campaign. The National Park Service’s phrase is “Experience Your America”. And overall the Department of Interior has a fantastic Instagram account that highlights the splendor of U.S public lands.

These all point to communicating the idea that public lands should be enjoyed and protected by and for the public. This also necessitates that all communities that encompass the definition of the public have the opportunity to do so. This has been part of the ongoing dialogue about how parks matter and need to connect with the changing demographic spectrum of America. It is not a new question or a new problem— we have been pointing to this story over several years and much of the reason it keeps coming up is because the demographics are not going to magically reverse.

Thus, the outing by the HAF was a good illustration of what it looks like to have a variety of communities enjoy the public lands and spaces we promote. In several cases, many communities that live near national parks are not the first to enjoy them. The last National Park Comprehensive Survey of the American Public in 2010 noted “Hispanics accounted for 9% of visitors” across the system and even a popular park like Yosemite had an 11% visitation rate. This is despite Yosemite being close to many Latino communities in California’s Central Valley, where Latinos have been growing as the largest ethnic group, in some regions up to 46%. Similarly, Joshua Tree National Park is close to the other quickly changing valley of California: Imperial-Coachella Valley, where Latino demographics ranging from 50-80% (U.S Census). Coachella, half an hour away, is 96% Latino with 89% speaking a language other than English at home.

Though there is no easily accessible visitation rates by ethnicity for Joshua Tree National Park, their 2010 Visitation Report does include language, which notes that 96% of visitors during the study preferred English as the language to speak during the visit. In the remaining percentages, Spanish came behind German.

Connect that with the NPS survey that noted that “Hispanic respondents interviewed in Spanish had more negative opinions than did those interviewed in English”—a point to note that Spanish-speaking Latinos have more concerns and reasons, perceived or real, to stay away from visiting national parks.

This is not to simply imply that no Latinos, especially bilingual and predominantly English-speaking Latinos, are visiting Joshua Tree National Park. But there is some disconnect that can be followed on—especially looking at how local Latino communities access, enjoy, and perceive their local national park.

Thus again, the powerful message and imagery of 100 Latino youth from the Coachella Valley, accompanied by one of their congressional representatives. It was a message to say, these are our public lands too. We belong here like everyone else, our culture and history have a place here, and we have a responsibility to steward places like this.

As Rep. Ruiz stated:

“Today’s hike is a great opportunity to help instill in our young people the important cultural, spiritual, and historical connection we desert dwellers have with the lands around us. They are the next generation of stewards who will work to protect and preserve our national parks and monuments.  It is critical we work together to help ensure future generations have the opportunity to enjoy these remarkable landscapes through essential legislation like the Antiquities Act.”

En Liderazgo

An outing like this was further an opportunity to reach for and work on the political ownership of access, enjoyment, and responsibility to these public lands. To go beyond the programming of getting more Latino kids outdoors and into the connection and representation with the growing Latino leadership.

Hence a last point to stress is the importance of Rep. Ruiz taking this as an issue—conservation themes ranging from the protection of the Antiquities Act, supporting the Land & Water Conservation Fund, and increasing opportunities with renewable energy jobs. Much like Rep. Raul Grijalva from Arizona (3rd District), the Latino political leadership has a role to play along with the growing conservation-focused Latino leadership in non-profits and other organizations. Put it another way, the Latino political leadership needs to keep reflecting the value and importance that conservation has with Latino communities. To paraphrase a colleague, “we need to own our political power, not just in the broader political landscape, but with our own leaders as well”. Cierto.

The youth are current and future leaders. Connecting with the beautiful and historical landscapes found in our public lands, as well as the needed political leadership, is important to have these continue to be public lands—especially as the demographics of the public change.

As Maite Arce, President and CEO of HAF stated, “These youth are our next generation of conservation champions. Through this experience, these youth recognize the importance of our public land heritage and embrace our moral obligation to preserve it.”

Estas son Tierra Comunales, Public Lands for All.

Jose Gonzalez is the Founder/Director of Latino Outdoors. 

[Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service]

 

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