Abstract
Aboriginal Trail Mapping: A Tribal Approach Track: Ecology and Conservation Author(s): David Schwab The aboriginal territories of the Salish, Pend d'Oreille and Kootenai tribes are extensive and span across many states. The gathering of foods, medicines and social activities required extensive travel. The ancestral trail network established in the mountain ranges, plateaus and plains of the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions connected all natural resource areas used by the tribes. Many of the ancestral harvesting areas continue to be used and cherished by tribal people today. The trails are direct evidence of our peoples' tie to the land and its environment. The trails encompassed routes through varied landscapes with diverse types of natural resources. Mapping, research and protection of pre-contact trails are essential in understanding the history and life ways of tribal people and their cultural landscape. This paper will demonstrate approaches the Culture Preservation is taking in an effort to manage their heritage properties through the mapping of aboriginal trail systems. David Schwab Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Preservation Department P.O. Box 278 Pablo , MT 59855 US Phone: 406-675-2700 Fax: (406) 675-2629 E-mail: daves@cskt.org |