Acadia National Park Seeks Local Feedback on Wabanaki Tribe's Sweetgrass Gathering Practices

The National Park Service (NPS) has published an Environmental Assessment (EA) on sweetgrass gathering by the five federally recognized tribes in Maine, known as the Wabanaki. The Wabanaki have historical connections to Acadia National Park. Initially, the park's policies, established in 1916, banned traditional tribal practices like sweetgrass gathering. Now, the NPS is collaborating with the Wabanaki to reestablish these practices.

In 2016, the NPS introduced new rules permitting park units to negotiate agreements with federally recognized tribes for plant gathering. These tribes must be federally recognized, have a cultural link to the park, and provide information about culturally significant plants. The EA was created to assess potential impacts of traditional sweetgrass gathering before finalizing agreements with the tribes.

The EA presents two options. The preferred option would allow the five federally recognized tribes of Maine to negotiate individual agreements with the NPS for sweetgrass gathering in Acadia National Park. Gathering activities would follow the terms set in each agreement between the Tribal Nation and the NPS. Each Wabanaki Nation would manage sweetgrass gathering through a permit system defined in each agreement.

Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider said that since 2015, park managers, tribal scientists, and gatherers have been testing a co-stewardship approach for sweetgrass harvesting. The EA would enable this pilot project to progress through direct agreements with each Wabanaki tribe.

The public can comment on the EA until June 5, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time. Comments can be submitted online or by mail. After the comment period, the regional director will make a final decision on the proposal.

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