Oftentimes, the choices we pursue don't lead us down the roads we imagined, but they do often take us down a path some would say we are destined for. In the case of Cameran Bahnsen, Community Engagement Associate at Grand Teton National Park, the path she chose led her to reveal parts of her family history she might have never discovered.
Bahnsen’s native name is Ochangu Walkan Agan Mani, which means Walks Upon The Sacred Path, which is reflected beautifully in her journey. She is of the Assiniboine tribe, and like most indigenous people she has a strong connection to the earth and natural spaces. That connection sprouted from her culture, but also from spending time with her family on the beaches of Southern California where she grew up.
The love she fostered for her surroundings led her to work as an education intern at the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. Her main duty in the role consisted of helping facilitate field trips for 4th graders in low socio-economic elementary schools in Los Angeles.
“The kids would come to the park and we would do a field trip with them and teach them about conservancy,” she said. “Experiencing that really showed me what parks can do for minority communities. I was really inspired by my experience there and then I found out about NPS Academy.”
The NPS Academy is a branch of the American Conservation Experience, a non-profit working to provide environmental service opportunities for youth and young adults. The NPS Academy focuses on getting participants from communities of people historically underrepresented by the national parks and placing them into careers within the NPS itself.
Bahnsen saw the opportunity, applied for a position, and got stationed as an interpreter at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park during the summer of 2020. It was during her work there that she uncovered a piece of her family history that had been lost to time.
About a decade ago, Colter Bay was still home to the Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum that opened in 1972. It has since closed, but while working in the visitor center there, Bahnsen was still able to see many beautiful works and learn about the history of the museum’s inception.
What she learned is that her great grandfather and great uncle had donated items to the park and were a part of the opening ceremonies all those years ago. Her mother was there as well –as a twelve year old girl– present for the historical moment. The items were donated on behalf of the Assiniboine tribe, which comes from the Fort Peck reservation in present day Montana, and is one of the 24 tribes affiliated with Grand Teton.
“I didn't even know about that history until I got that position last summer and started talking to my family about it,” Bahnsen said. “I think my ancestors brought me back here, to reconnect with them and our sacred land.”
Positions like the ones that Bahnsen has had these past two years have not only allowed her to connect with her tribe and strengthen her relationship with nature, they have also created a space for more native people to be a part of the work at NPS and have a say on what happens in their ancestral homes.
“When I am here in this park that my tribe has connections with, I think of my ancestors and what they might have done here,” she said. “I think about that when I'm working here and living here and playing here, these are my ancestral homelands and where I belong.”
This message is something that Bahnsen wants all indigenous people to hear and understand, but it’s also something she wants all to acknowledge.
Many of the visitors who enjoy recreating in public lands don’t know about, or don’t acknowledge that the lands they are on are only public and accessible because they were stolen from indigenous tribes. Bahnsen believes that it is the duty of federal government agencies, like the NPS or Bureau of Land Management, to acknowledge the dark histories of the park and work to rectify them. She hopes parks continue to form meaningful and honest relationships with the tribes of the land that they occupy.
“I think that if you're visiting a park it’s important to educate yourself on which tribal lands you'll be stepping foot on.” Bahnsen said. “In general all communities should pay attention to who’s story is being told and portrayed in the park and from which perspective.”