Mellon Foundation Supports Tlingit & Haida’s Historic Co-Stewardship of Mendenhall Glacier

With crucial, transformative support from the Mellon Foundation, the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) is vigorously advancing a bold vision of Tribal co-stewardship at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area (MGRA), known traditionally as Áakʼw Tʼáak Sít’ and Sít’ Aant’aakú. This historic investment marks a significant and influential milestone in the Tribe’s growing leadership role in the management and cultural interpretation of one of Alaska’s most highly visited public lands.

A substantial $2.35 million grant from the Mellon Foundation is fueling a comprehensive range of initiatives under the landmark 2023 Co-Stewardship Agreement forged between Tlingit & Haida and the U.S. Forest Service. This agreement formally established a robust government-to-government partnership, committing both entities to shared, mutual stewardship of the ancestral homelands of the Áak’w Ḵwáan people.

Ralph Wolfe, Director of Tlingit & Haida’s Indigenous Stewardship Program, emphasized the cultural significance of the funding. “Thanks to the Mellon Foundation, we’re able to carry out work that centers our stories, our language, and our relationship with the land,” he stated. Wolfe underscored that the partnership transcends resource management, asserting that it is fundamentally "about healing past injustices and ensuring our voices are part of the landscape—for generations to come.”

The funding supports several key projects that integrate Lingít history and cultural knowledge directly into the visitor experience at the MGRA:

• Totem Poles: Plans are underway to raise five totem poles at the MGRA—four will represent the distinct Áak’w Ḵwáan clans, and one will represent Tlingit & Haida as a unified entity.

• Visitor Center Renovation: In a direct partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is slated for a major redesign (targeted for 2025) specifically to elevate Lingít history and perspectives throughout the space.

• Signage & Place Names: The implementation of new interpretive signage is planned (2025–2030) that will centrally feature Lingít knowledge and language.

• Cultural Ambassador Program: Launched in 2024, this innovative initiative places trained Tribal citizen ambassadors directly at the MGRA to share Lingít culture, language, and values with the more than $1.5$ million visitors who arrive annually. The ambassadors receive rigorous training in traditional knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and visitor engagement techniques.

These initiatives form part of a broader vision for the culturally grounded and equitable co-management of public lands. Tlingit & Haida is also currently exploring a formal strategic planning process with the U.S. Forest Service, with the effort being modeled after the renowned Haida Nation’s Land-Sea-People Plan—a comprehensive, values-based approach to stewardship deeply rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing.

Chief Operating Officer Roald Helgesen highlighted the long-term impact of the grant. “This $2.35 million investment ensures the voices and presence of the people of this land remain strong, guiding how our history and future are told,” he said. Helgesen affirmed that Tlingit & Haida has committed deeply to the success of Tribal co-stewardship, and with the Mellon Foundation’s support, they are confidently "building a model that can inspire other Tribes across the country.”

The Co-Stewardship initiative is supervised by Tlingit & Haida’s Executive Council, which is led by President Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson, with operational oversight from COO Roald Helgesen and ongoing collaboration with Alaska Regional Forester Monique Nelson of the U.S. Forest Service. Fran Houston, Seikoonie, Lʼeeneidí, and spokesperson for the Áakʼw Ḵwáan, celebrated the progress, noting, “Beautiful things are happening at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area," and expressing optimism that they have "a good future ahead—not only for the visitors, but for our people.”