Cover Page

Contents

Preface
Letter

SECTION I

Orientation
Summary

SECTION II

History
Needs
Geography
Historic Sites
Competitors
Economic Aspects

SECTION III

Federal Lands
State and Interstate
Local

SECTION IV

Division of Responsibility
Local
State
Federal
Circulation

SECTION V

Educational Opportunities

Indian Reservations

In a few instances Indian reservations include areas of outstanding scenic, scientific, historic, or prehistoric value that would be eligible for consideration as national parks and monuments if they were on unappropriated public domain. In such cases it would seem proper for the Indian Service to decide whether or not the interest of the Indians could best be served by having such areas designated as national parks or monuments, and calling the National Park Service into cooperation in the administration of these specific areas.

The possible objects to be gained would include—

1. Beneficial contact between the Indians and an increased number of white visitors.

2. Increased opportunity for the sale of products of Indian craft.

3. Added employment for Indians in the development and operation of the area, such as employment on roads and other construction and maintenance work, employment in connection with furnishing food, accommodations, and supplies to visitors, and employment as guides.

If such national parks or monuments were established, they should be administered by the National Park Service, under an interdepartmental agreement which would outline the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the two bureaus. Canyon de Chelley National Monument is now operated on this basis.

Other recreational activities on Indian reservations, both for the use of Indians and for white visitors, would be under the administration of the Indian Service.

The report to the National Conference on Outdoor Recreation suggests that Indian lands are not public property, but are reserved for the benefit of the Indians and not for the general public. Some forms of public use, however, such as wilderness recreation, may be utilized by visitors with resultant benefit to the Indians.

The following extract is taken from the above mentioned report:

Many Indian reservations offer unusual opportunities for the development of wilderness recreation for general public enjoyment. This is a form of use that can not only become profitable to the Indians but one that is peculiarly appropriate to Indian genius and life. It is, too, a form of land utilization that can well be coordinated with the management of the forest, grazing, and wildlife resources of the reservations. The policy governing the administration of the Upper Mississippi River Wild Life and Fish Refuge under the administration of the Department of Agriculture may well be considered in this respect. It is to be hoped that the duplication of commercialized popular outdoor resorts, however enticing financially, will be wholly avoided. The spectacle of Indians selling "hot dogs" and fake trinkets cannot be viewed with complacency. The restricted application, however, of the wilderness policy of recreation, would seem wholly appropriate.²⁰

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²⁰ Joint Committee on Recreational Survey of Federal Lands, Recreation Resources of Federal Lands, Washington, D. C., National Conference on Outdoor Recreation, 1928, p. 115.

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Reclamation Projects

The Reclamation Service administers areas that have been reserved for the construction and operation of irrigation and drainage projects. These projects are usually of such magnitude as to be impracticable for development by private enterprise. The recreational features of these reclamation projects may include boating, bathing, fishing, and other forms of recreation associated with a large lake. These reclamation projects are usually unsuited for national parks or monuments.

In the case of the Boulder Dam, it has been suggested that the National Park Service might cooperate with the Reclamation Service in supervising recreational and educational activities which are not the primary objective of the Reclamation Service. The public takes a natural pride and interest in this project and some provision must be made for the handling of visitors to the dam. A need may arise to provide boat trips on the reservoir, to enjoy the scenery of the area, including the lower part of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River, which has heretofore been accessible only to an adventurous few. Fishing may offer recreational possibilities. Accommodations for the public may be needed on Government land. The National Park Service might cooperate in some of these operations, but the project should remain primarily as a reclamation project and not be classified as a national park or monument. The administration should remain primarily with the Reclamation Service.

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Last Modified: Fri, Sep. 5, 2003 10:32:22 am PDT
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