FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The National Association of Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) condemns the erasure of Indigenous history as the Department of Interior implements "Secretarial Order 3431 - Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." One of the first documented instances of this implementation reported in SFGate, involves the removal of signage adding important historical context at Muir Woods. The information on the removed signage included references to "1769, when Spanish missionaries began enslaving Native Americans," as well as "that John Muir, the park’s namesake, used racist language in his writings about Native Americans in 1869."

"The removal of historical information at Muir Woods confirms our fears the Administration is actively working to erase evidence of the pain and suffering Indigenous peoples experienced at the hands of the United States Government and other colonial powers," said NATHPO Executive Director Dr. Valerie Grussing. "You cannot heal a wound by pretending it does not exist, and we cannot honor Americans' shared history by sweeping it under the rug. NATHPO calls on the Administration to rescind this order, restore signage at Muir Woods and any other places this erasure has occurred, and work with Tribal Nations to ensure we truly do justice to the History of the United States of America by telling it in its entirety."

As one former park ranger who worked on the sign in question told SFGate: "One of the most underrated aspects of the National Park Service is that we are the largest federal institution tasked with telling American history ... That includes good history, bad history, boring history, ugly history — it’s all history."

NATHPO has raised concerns about Secretarial Order 3431 since it was issued. In June, NATHPO wrote to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to express concerns about the order and urge him to reconsider it. In the letter, NATHPO Executive Dr. Valerie Grussing wrote, "The Secretarial Order appears to instruct federal agencies to obscure the efforts on the part of the government to eradicate vibrant Indigenous cultures, which led to the deaths of untold numbers of people and threatened the very existence of peoples who have called this land home since time immemorial."

Who we are – NATHPO is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization, founded in 1998, of Tribal preservation leaders protecting culturally important places that perpetuate Native identity, resilience, and cultural endurance. Connections to cultural heritage sustain the health and vitality of Native peoples. We provide guidance to preservation officials, elected representatives, and the public about national historic preservation legislation, policies, and regulations. We promote Tribal sovereignty, develop partnerships, and advocate for Tribes in governmental activities on preservation issues. For more information visit our website at www.nathpo.org.