National parks remove signs about Native Americans and history

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 12:33 · Archive

The Trump administration has ordered the removal of interpretive signs about Native Americans, slavery and climate change from national parks nationwide, describing the materials as disparaging to American history.

At Acadia National Park in Maine, 30 markers have been removed under this campaign. Among them was a sign at Cadillac Mountain's summit explaining the mountain's sacred significance to the Wabanaki people. The sign stated 'Today, visitors from everywhere find meaning on the mountain'. Cadillac Mountain draws over four million visitors annually and is, according to the removed marker, the first place to see the sunrise in the continental United States from October to March. The Wabanaki people, known as 'the people of the dawnland', have inhabited the northern seaboard for over ten thousand years and were the first stewards of land now comprising much of the national park. They know the mountain as Wapuwoc, meaning 'white mountain of the first light'.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered the removals. Some of the removed signs had been developed over years of partnerships between Acadia National Park, Friends of Acadia, the Schoodic Institute and the Native Plant Trust, with consultation from Wabanaki Nation citizens. Park staff say the removal of the summit sign has damaged trust that took decades to build between Acadia and the Wabanaki people.

How it is being reported

• At Cadillac Mountain, a missing Wabanaki marker and the fight over what national parks should tellSigns and exhibits about slavery, climate change, and Native Americans have been removed from national parks across the country as part of the Trump administration’s campaign to eliminate what it calls disparaging material.News4Jax · 22 Oct, 12:08
• At Cadillac Mountain, a missing Wabanaki marker and the fight over what national parks should tellSigns and exhibits about slavery, climate change, and Native Americans have been removed from national parks across the country as part of the Trump administration’s campaign to eliminate what it calls disparaging material.Clickorlando · 22 Oct, 12:08

In this story: Acadia National Park · Cadillac Mountain · Wabanaki Confederacy · Doug Burgum · Maine · Trump administration

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