Chuck Sams, the current Director of the National Park Service (NPS), marked a historic moment on his first day in 2021 when he became the first Native American to hold this position.

Sams is a member of the Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes and is also part of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Additionally, he has family ties to the Cocopah and Yankton Sioux tribes.

His tribal background and experience as a U.S. Navy veteran have greatly influenced his leadership style over the past three years at the NPS.

Before concluding his time in office, Sams spoke with YSL News about his legacy and his aspirations for the National Park System.

This interview has been revised for brevity and clarity.

Question: What accomplishments are you most proud of in your tenure?

Sams: When I joined this agency with the support of the Great American Outdoors Act, what stands out the most is the significant investments we’ve made to enhance park infrastructure across all 50 states and several U.S. territories, including Washington, D.C. Each year, we’ve allocated $1.3 billion for infrastructure improvements, and while it takes time, we’re now witnessing the results. From new roads and trails to revitalized visitor centers that date back to the 1950s and 1960s, it has been rewarding to see these transformations. I’m incredibly proud of the dedication shown by the staff throughout the Service to ensure that every dollar invested yields substantial benefits for the American public.

Infrastructure might not seem thrilling, yet it plays a vital role in visitor experiences in parks.

Absolutely. In my role, I’ve encountered more water treatment facilities than I ever expected. While these issues may not excite the average American, if a visitor finds a restroom nonfunctional or a water refill station out of order, it directly impacts their park experience and enjoyment.

Could you elaborate on accessibility initiatives you’ve led?

Accessibility was a major focus for me upon my arrival, especially regarding our investments. One crucial question we kept asking was how we could improve accessibility for individuals with different abilities or disabilities, allowing everyone to experience the parks in their preferred way.

We’ve launched numerous projects aimed at this, such as creating tactile replicas of statues and structures so that individuals who may be blind can touch and understand what they would see if they had their sight.

What efforts have been made to share more inclusive stories of the American experience within the parks?

You know, when I was sworn in last December on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Secretary (Deb) Haaland emphasized the importance of uncovering and sharing underrepresented stories within our monuments, memorials, and parks. Over the past three-plus years, we’ve worked diligently to ensure that every American can see themselves reflected in our parks.

For instance, we’ve focused on the story of Chinese immigration at Yosemite, which had been overlooked for years. Some of the earliest concessionaires at Yosemite were Chinese Americans who set up shops and provided services. We are also exploring stories like that of Emmett Till, which connects Illinois to Mississippi and serves as a multifaceted interpretive park. This challenging narrative is essential for Americans to confront, ensuring history does not repeat itself. Moreover, we are examining the histories of Indigenous people, who have been here for thousands of years, and what stories we can share through Indigenous knowledge.

Additionally, I encourage immigrants recently granted citizenship to share their stories in the parks, fostering connections so that generations of new Americans will continue to enjoy and recreate in these spaces for years to come.

How has your Native American identity influenced your leadership?

I am continually impressed by the staff at the National Park Service. They understand our mission of providing a service to visitors, which can sometimes feel rather transactional, as it has in the past.

We strive for transformation, which comes from building relationships. I am proud of how our staff has embraced diverse stories from communities that may not have historically been represented in the parks. They are working to foster change by including individuals with firsthand knowledge to collaborate with our interpreters and present in the parks. This approach has been revitalizing and has significantly altered how we narrate our stories.

It’s important to acknowledge that various experiences lead to different narratives, and all should be shared within a broader context. The United States is a fusion of countless cultures and backgrounds, which I believe is our greatest strength. Therefore, the National Park Service should continue to celebrate our rich tapestry of stories. I have witnessed this evolution, influenced by my upbringing that taught me to listen and appreciate the connections individuals have with the land, water, and environment.

Co-stewardship has played a significant role in your work; could you explain that?

It’s about nurturing relationships and engaging with tribes, as well as actively contacting tribes that have been relocated from their ancestral lands. I take pride in how our parks work to connect with these communities.

For example, parks in Ohio have reached out to the Miami tribe and other tribes relocated to what is now Oklahoma. They are now collaborating to tell more comprehensive stories. Additionally, these partnerships have allowed parks to learn from Indigenous knowledge, which enhances our landscape preservation efforts.

For instance, at Redwoods National Park, we’re closely collaborating with the Yurok Tribe to learn about their cultural heritage related to coastal lands, which is crucial for effective stewardship and shared storytelling.

We are reflecting on what the management of redwoods looked like and how we can improve our efforts. In the Everglades and Biscayne parks, we collaborate with both the Miccosukee and Seminole tribes in a co-management approach. This collaboration stems from the initial legislation that designated these parks, allowing them to work alongside us in addressing the challenges posed by rising ocean levels. Additionally, in Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, we focus on bison management in partnership with nearly 45 different tribes. This partnership is built on 30,000 years of Tribal knowledge regarding the landscape, flora, and fauna, ensuring that this invaluable insight is passed down to future generations of park stewards. I have witnessed these efforts evolve over the past three years.

I take pride in our scientists who are bridging Western science with Native and Indigenous knowledge. It’s crucial to acknowledge that all forms of science are based on observation and testing these observations. The wealth of knowledge accumulated over thousands of years serves as a fundamental reference point for what we are learning today.

How has your identity as a veteran shaped your leadership?

I am grateful for my time in the United States Navy, where I learned vital lessons from my remarkable leaders. They taught me that caring for your team is paramount, and this philosophy has significantly influenced my approach in the National Park Service.

I recognized that the mission could only be fulfilled if our staff felt supported and fulfilled. As such, we have implemented measures to enhance their work experience, such as ensuring psychological safety, improving pay, optimizing working conditions, and considering the cost of living adjustments, particularly in housing.

Interestingly, nearly one in five employees in the National Park Service are veterans themselves. It has been wonderful to connect with fellow veterans, as many share similar experiences.

What initiatives have you implemented to encourage exploration of national parks and other national sites?

We approach this goal in several ways. For starters, most people are within a 50-mile radius of a national trail in our National Trails System. While not everyone can visit a national park directly, many can easily access a national trail, which offers a gateway to outdoor experiences. We aim to inspire people to explore these trails and, in turn, lead them to the national parks.

Over the past three years, I have visited 108 national park units across the U.S., emphasizing lesser-known parks that may not be on most people’s radar. For instance, I visited Fort Necessity, which commemorates the only battle lost by General Washington during the French and Indian War. This site might not be on the main tourist route, but it’s certainly worth a visit and often within an hour’s drive from your location.

What measures have been taken to manage crowds at popular parks during your tenure?

I believe we are taking effective steps to address this issue. About a year and a half ago, we assessed our national strategy for visitor management planning. It is essential to ensure that every visitor enjoying a national park has a positive experience. Luckily, we have robust social science data that provides insights into visitor patterns, such as how long people typically stay and which areas attract the most visitors. This information enables us to implement effective crowd control strategies.

In some cases, these insights prompted us to introduce timed entry for certain parks or permit systems for specific trails. While there may be some dissatisfaction with these changes, our goal is to enhance the experience for both American citizens and international visitors by preventing overcrowding. Overall, I believe these initiatives are progressing well.

Are there any initiatives you hope will continue after your departure?

I am proud of the co-stewardship and co-management projects we’ve initiated. We have successfully formalized nearly 150 such projects, with another 100 in the process of being formalized.

To witness that over half of our parks are now connected with various tribes is beneficial for both the ecological system and fulfilling our stewardship responsibilities. Furthermore, these projects uphold treaties and executive orders that have been relevant to the tribes for generations. I hope to see this commitment continue.

Treaties made with tribes by the United States hold supreme authority under the law, and it is our constitutional duty within the National Park Service to honor these treaties.

Looking ahead, I strongly advocate for increased base operational funding for the National Park Service. This is a non-partisan issue; every member of Congress I’ve met expresses a love for the parks in their states. To ensure we can manage deferred maintenance effectively and operate successfully, enhanced financial support is essential.

What would you say to potential national park visitors or those who have yet to visit?

National parks are assets that belong to everyone; they offer incredible opportunities for inspiration, recreation, and learning. We invite everyone to explore and connect with their national parks.

The National Park Service serves to protect these parks on behalf of the American people, which is a collective responsibility. We encourage visitors to be stewards of these natural treasures. We hope each visit to the parks creates cherished memories, but it is essential to plan ahead and ensure safety during their adventures. We ask everyone to contribute to the protection and preservation of these special places for future visitors for generations to come.