All across The World there is an Indigenous presence that is integral to every space. Natural formations are looked at as family members and hold a strong cultural significance. Sacred Sites and Indigenous spaces continue to hold a massive amount of cultural and spiritual importance to multiple Indigenous communities. Even though every site may not yet be recognized by local and federal organizations, they are still held with the highest respect and significance to the Indigenous people. There are many reasons a site may not be recognized or federally protected. Some of them are due to lack of funding, or if there is no potential for development they will not do a cultural resource survey. As you navigate through spaces with presently imposed geopolitical boundaries, do your part to honor and respect these places with significant and irreplaceable cultural history.

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The Indigenous Field Guide (IFG) is a centralized guide for individuals and organizations. IFG provides public education to prevent the damage of nonrenewable cultural resources, address access concerns for public and private lands, and create an online platform to amplify and integrate Indigenous worries regarding cultural land resources. The IFG will connect individuals and organizations with Indigenous guides, underrepresented communities, and advisors who are able to help ethically navigate outdoor spaces. 

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How we met and why we wanted to create this resource:

The founders met through the SCARPA Athlete Mentorship Program. Throughout the program we were connected with more indigenous folks and people who were searching for ways to recreate more respectfully. After a climber installed bolts over petroglyphs in Utah, and we saw previously published guide books being sold that were saying petroglyphs were not real without consulting with an Indigenous individuals or archaeologists, we felt compelled to create a set of ethics and resources that were created by indigenous people that could help create more responsible, thoughtful stewards. We hope this platform can assist any outdoor enthusiasts, who are searching for a way to ethically and responsibly explore new spaces while taking the time to recognize, acknowledge and learn from  local non-profits, indigenous leaders and land managers who are active in these spaces.