Plant Gathering for Traditional Purposes

In a letter dated August 4, 2022, the Bridgeport Indian Colony, on behalf of the seven tribes traditionally associated with Yosemite National Park, requested to enter into an agreement with Yosemite National Park to conduct traditional gathering of plants and plant parts throughout the park. The seven traditionally associated tribes that Yosemite National Park regularly consults with and are included in the Plant Gathering for Traditional Purposes Environmental Analysis include, Bishop Paiute Tribe, Bridgeport Indian Colony, Mono Lake Kootzaduka'a Tribe of California and Nevada, North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians.

The formal request from Bridgeport Indian Colony is pursuant to 36 CFR 2.6, Gathering of Plants or Plant Parts by Federally Recognized Indian Tribes (the NPS rule). The rule requires that the activities outlined in any agreement are evaluated through an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the anticipated impacts of traditional gathering activities on park resources. The impacts of the proposed activities are analyzed in this EA.

Contact Information

Erin Gearty
Deputy Branch Lead, Environmental Planning and Compliance
Yosemite National Park
(209) 379-1038