EEOP - Career Manual, Chapter 1, Section 1: For Students

Overview of Environmental Professional Opportunities
Tribal environmental professionals become experts in two fields: first, they study their traditional tribal land wisdom, mostly with their families and elders; second, they learn the science of Earth’s processes in college. Armed with these two ways of knowing the land, tribal environmental professionals can create unique American Indian resource management programs that expand and preserve tribal sovereignty and health. Make no mistake about it: your tribe needs environmental professionals with college degrees.

In the year 2000, the Navajo tribe employs over three hundred workers in managing its land and resources, about half of these are American Indians. The Hopis have about 50 tribal environmental professionals and the White Mountain Apaches also have approximately fifty. In total, Arizona tribes employ about one thousand environmental professionals. State and federal governments now have policies to hire many more American Indians in environmental positions than they have in the past. Many others work for private firms. The demand for college-educated American Indian environmental professionals is strong. The tribes want and need college graduates who comprehend both traditional and scientific approaches to resource management. Even non-indigenous employers would benefit from environmentalists educated in both traditional and scientific knowledge. This manual can help you find your way if you choose to become one of these professionals.

Bringing Back the Green
The homeland of the Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Indians in southernmost California had been stripped of plant life. The creeks were dry. Overgrazing by livestock denuded the hilly terrain and wind and storm erosion cut into the landscape. The banks of Campo Creek were barren and no water ran most of the year. After the band established its own Environmental Protection Agency, restoration of the creek became a priority. The Campos became experts at riparian restoration.
Thanks to the efforts of the Campos’ new corps of environmental workers, the creek now has a steady flow of water that feeds a 15-acre pond. Two hundred types of grasses and other streamside plants create a green corridor along the creek. People swim and fish where they could not, and tribal gatherings are now held on 30 acres that have been newly restored to life.

NAU || EEOP || ITEP || AIS

Environmental Education Outreach Program (EEOP)
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)
PO Box 5768 Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5768 Phone: (928) 523-1275 Fax: (928) 523-1280
E-mail: eeop@nau.edu