Perspectives from the Blackfeet Nation on Developing a Tribal Park

Tribal Parks are a tool used by Indigenous groups in North America to protect culturally and environmentally significant areas and support sustainable tour-ism. The functional components are similar to other Indigenous, and communi-ty-led conservation efforts; however, the lack of research on conservation areas employing the Tribal Park title has led to limited guidance for Indigenous groups interested in designating a Tribal Park to achieve cultural, economic, and envi-ronmental goals. This research explores the perceived benefits and concerns of Tribal Park development from the perspective of members of the Blackfeet Na-tion in Northwestern Montana when considering a Tribal Park designation. The findings demonstrate that Tribal Parks share many common traits identified as crucial in sustainable tourism development, such as planning for economic ben-efits to community members and cultural interpretation; while also highlighting unique aspects of Tribal Parks (i.e., sovereignty and repatriation of land, envi-ronmental and cultural resource conservation, and wildlife habitat connectivity). This research guides Indigenous and Tribal communities who may consider a Tribal Park as a sustainable tourism and/or land conservation tool. The findings also highlight the importance of collaboration and partnerships with adjacent protected areas and stakeholders.