1) The Yellowstone to Yukon initiative aims to restore connectivity across the landscape for biodiversity by reconnecting habitats that have been fragmented by human activities. 2) Connections between people through relationships, cooperation, trust and understanding are crucial for the success of large-scale conservation projects in the region. Community education programs and citizen science efforts have helped foster support. 3) Indigenous communities' traditional ecological knowledge and involvement in decision-making is important for equitable relationships and restoration success, as seen in examples where this was lacking originally.

1. MAKING CONNECTIONS
IN THE Y2Y
Wild Rockies Field Institute
ABSTRACT
The Yellowstone toYukonInitiativeismade possible
onlybythe differenttypesof connectionsmade inthe
region.Connectionsbetweenpeople andconnections
to the landforge strong foundationsforrestoration
and conservationseffortsthroughoutthe Y2Y
Sara Welge
SummerSemester

2. Welge 1
Introduction
The Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) initiative was new to me as I began preparing for a two
month trip with 6 other strangers through the southern portion of the region. There had been
assigned readings and references that talked of connectivity in the region, but all I was really
concerned about was getting to Missoula everything after that didn’t weigh to heavily on my mind
yet. It wasn’t until about half way through our travels that I begin to realize the scope and
importance of connectivity in the Y2Y. Over the course of two months myself and the four other
students were introduced to the importance of land connectivity, and as we journeyed across the
landscape I began to see how the relationships between people and their investment in the land
played a crucial role in the Y2Y efforts.
The Y2Y is an initiative of mind blowing proportions. Spanning the hot springs of
Yellowstone up to the Peel River in the Yukon, this landscape encompasses valleys, rivers,
mountains, 11 national parks, 2 countries, countless species of plants and animals (Chadwick,
2001). The landscape is cut by high ways, cities, towns, old roads, resource extraction and all
manner of human activity. This is where the ecological problem begins. Human activities have
divided the land into much smaller pieces that cannot sustain their original biodiversity. Y2Y uses
the grizzly bear as their mascot for a very
good reason, the grizzly bear is a
quintessential umbrella species. Grizzlies
require many different types of habitats,
and vast amounts of relatively un-
fragmented land for individual and
species survival. Many other species live
Bear tracks inthe Snow
Crests

3. Welge 2
within the grizzly bear range so restoring and conserving for the grizzly bear means that many
other animal and plant species will benefit. The goal of the Y2Y is not to create a super park but
to restore connectivity across the landscape so that the original biodiversity may flourish.
Why is it that small parks like Yellowstone or Waterton are not enough to save the myriad
of species in the Y2Y region? Biodiversity requires much larger landscapes than could ever be fit
into a national park. There are four key processes
that affect biodiversity. First stochastic events,
random natural events like disease or landslides, can
wipe out large portions of wildlife populations
(Hilty, 2006). If those populations are limited to
small areas like parks stochastic events have the
potential to wipe out whole populations and affect
the ecology of the land. The second issue is an
inbreeding depression. If there are not enough males
and females to prevent inbreeding then the
populations overall fitness will decrease over time
and eventually the population will become extinct. Although Yellowstone has a strong population
of grizzly bears because it is disconnected from the grizzly bears in Canada the US may begin
importing Canadian bears to prevent and inbreeding depression. The final two, genetic drift and
genetic mutation lead to changes in the gene pool which are crucial parts of adaptation and survival
of species especially when they face changes like global climate change. The Y2Y has recognized
the dangers of the disconnect habitats humans have created and using the Grizzly bear as an

4. Welge 3
umbrella species they hope to reconnect the landscapes and foster healthier populations in not only
grizzly bears but also the animals that rely on the same habitats.
To promote connectedness of landscapes they need to look at more than just the plants and
animal and their habitats, the Y2Y also looks at how communities interact with the land.
Communities that are disconnected from the land or other communities are major road blocks for
the initiative. During our travels we were lucky enough to meet people involved in regional and
community level efforts in the Y2Y. Beginning in Yellowstone and moving north through
Montana, up into Canada and finally ending in the Purcell range. Each effort was as different and
inspiring as the next but one theme that ran through each was connecting with other people and
connecting with the land. Although landscape connectivity is the goal of the Y2Y initiative the
connections between people and peoples’ connection to the land will ensure the success and
longevity of the initiative by building strong foundations for future efforts.
Connecting Peopleto People
Although the focus of Y2Y is for the wildlife and the general health of the land the
successes of the initiative is dependent on the decisions and actions of people and organizations.
It all comes down to coordinating regional efforts across the range of the Y2Y. During our time
with Karsten Heuer he emphasized that an action taken in one place will only be affective if
coordinated actions are being taken in surrounding regions. Within the Y2Y there are numerous
stake holders with different values: national governments, local governments, ranchers, small
businesses, corporations, institutes, communities, children, elders, activists, researchers, First

5. Welge 4
Nations, Native Americans, universities, NGO’s, the list goes on. Here I look at how some people
are connecting through the scope of conservation and restoration projects they are involved in.
Within the 1.3 million square kilometers of the Yellowstone to Yukon region there are five
U.S. states, two Canadian territories and two Canadian provinces. This means that state provincial
and federal governments will have to work together. The concept of governments working together
in a timely manner seems a little farfetched to many people but our political and bureaucratic
borders mean very little to the landscape. As the ideas of Y2Y are realized governments of all
types will have to coordinate efforts and find common ground for conservation efforts to stand on.
The Y2Y its self provides an example of how nations connect. The conservation area of
the initiative covers landscapes over the United States and Canada. The two nations have had to
connect efforts regardless of national
borders because wildlife and landscapes do
not recognize (or care for that matter) about
the lines our governments have drawn in the
sand. The Wateron-Glacier International
Peace Park is the first of its kind, in 1932 the
governments of Canada and The United
States passed legislation to change the status of the park to a Peace Park.
Representing more than just cooperation between countries it also stands as “symbol stewardship
in a world of shared resources” (WPIS 2001). Prioritizing cooperation and stewardship will
promote the end goal of the Y2Y initiative. This peace park should serve as an example for
relationships not only between governments but also between other people and organizations.
Glacier-WatertonPeace Park

6. Welge 5
Seeing places like the parks of Glacier and Waterton as one whole landscape and not as two
independently functioning area fits in with the landscape scale ideas of Y2Y.
Although the Waterton-Glacier Peace Park represents a symbol of a strong relationship that
puts the environment first the Glacier side of the park has a much darker past in terms of
relationships. The United State is infamous for their relatively poor relationships with Indigenous
peoples. Glacier provides an example of how a connection between two factions failed. This failure
is not unique to the area of Glacier or even the United States for that matter. Indigenous people are
often marginalized by Colonial governments. In the example of Glacier and the Indigenous that
lived there it comes down to the equity of power, or lack of (Houde 2007).
The Pikunis, otherwise known as the Blackfeet, have called the land Glacier covers home
for thousands of years. Even after having been put on a reservation the U.S. government ceded
more land from them when they decided to create the park. They were cut off from traditional
activities like hunting and resource gathering by the Park and a relationship that was already tainted
by resentment and dishonesty grew even more heated. The U.S. government failed to identify the
needs of the tribe and selfishly took away even more cultural and historical lands and rights. During
discussions between the government and the Pikunis Little Dog said something that is key to the
failure of the relationship “The Indians did not ask the Government to come buy their land”(Spence
1999). The government knew they had the power in this situation, and they took full advantage of
it. By marginalizing people for the government’s personal gain they created distrust and distain.
Equitable power relationships are the most important when it comes to connecting people.
This does not mean that relationships between governemnts and other factions have to be a
constant power struggle, or a constant back and forth of establishing rights. Cooperation, trust and
understanding are crucial parts of any relationship be it between governments or people.

7. Welge 6
On our travels we visited many different communities. One in particular that stood out to
me was the community of ranchers in
Butte Montana, that live along the
Clark Fork River. In 1908 floods
washed toxic mining debris From
Anaconda mining operations down
the river poisoning much of the land.
Today there is a massive restoration
and remediation effort that involves
the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), local land owners, NGO’s like the Clark Fork
River Coalition, local contractors, British Petroleum and many other players. Because there are so
many stakeholders the longevity of the Clark Fork river super fund project depends on the support
and cooperation between each and every stake holders. If one stake holder is to back out or not
participate in restoration it could set the whole project back and have extreme consequences for
down stream restoration efforts. This means that all of the players will have to work together and
understand what the local ecology needs and what the other stake holders want and need. Maggie
Schmidt, from the Dry Cottonwood Creek Ranch has worked very hard to understand the different
needs of each community and stake holder involved and has tried to find common ground they can
connect on.
Schmidt is the ranch manager at the Dry Cottonwood Creek Ranch and has put in a lot of
effort to get to know her community and has become very much a part of it. The ranch is owned
the Clark Fork River Coalition and is a part of the Clark Fork River superfund project. The Clark
Fork River Coalition is not the only proponent working on remediation and restoration however
Restorationonthe Clark Fork River

8. Welge 7
their methods have proved successful in terms of building relationships with local impacted
communities. They bought up the ranch and continued managing it as a working ranch but in a
more ecologically sound manner. When Schmidt became ranch manager she worked closely with
other ranchers in the area. By immersing themselves in the local community Schmidt and the Clark
Fork River Coalition have slowly been developing relationships with local land owners.
Schmidt first began at the ranch other ranchers saw them as a hobby ranch, and “for the
god damn fish”. She knew that the only way to get other ranchers to understand the goals of the
project was to get on their level. She spent time at the local bar getting to know the other ranchers
on a personal level. She hosts “superfund supers” where the community gets together and can talk
about the high school football team, or how their son is learning to ride a bike, mostly casual
friendly conversation and talk a bit about the superfund site. This type of comfortable atmosphere
allows people to get past what few values they font agree on and find common ground. In terms
of how people see the Cry Cottonwood Creek Ranch the success Schmidt’s ecological ranching
methods speaks for its self. Other ranchers see the high productivity of the land and the mother
cows. Breaking ground like this in the ranching community has allowed her to educate the other
land owners and foster support the restoration projects. Her approach has been to understand the
values of the other ranchers and land owners, learn about what they want and what they need.
Shmidt has been making more progress with the ranchers than the Department of
Environmental Quality. A local rancher expressed their frustration with the DEQ, the rancher
believes the DEQ is “making a mistake by not involving private land owners, [the land owners]
feel pushed aside.” Understanding other stake holder values and developing trust is key to
progress. Distrust of the government and misunderstanding between the DEQ and the ranchers is
clear. Maggie had talked about how her cows would go to the exact same spot every year to calve.

9. Welge 8
Cutting cows off from their usual calving areas can stress the cows and effect their productivity.
Brian from the DEQ had clearly failed to get to know the ranchers when he suggested that ranchers
move the cows to a different area to calve. It became clear that the DEQ had not made sufficient
efforts to forge connections and relationships with the local land owners. Because the DEQ failed
to involve the local land owners in their decisions they created even more barriers to the project.
When looking at large scale restoration projects with multiple stake holders like the Clark
Fork River restoration things have to move at the speed of trust. This may not be fast or easy but
nothing that is worth it ever is. Every land owner is key to the success of the project and without
a mutual understanding and mutual respect regional and large scale success is not possible. Maggie
Schmidt’s relationship building efforts of emersion and understanding should serve as an example
for efforts across the Y2Y.
On the Flathead Reservation in Montana Germaine White is working on the Jocko
Watershed restoration. She has taken a different approach than Maggie however it still involves
reaching out to the other stake holders and getting on their level. White has developed an education
project where children learn about the importance of bull trout and the role of the Jocko River in
a cultural, scientific and historic context. The Jocko River supported populations of bull trout that
are an integral part of not only their subsistence but also their culture (Smith 2010). After the
development of dams, introduction of non-native species, and differing management strategies the
bull trout population had been depleted. Newer generations were not able to see the splendor the
river used to hold and White recognized that rekindling this knowledge in younger generations
would be a crucial part of restoring the Jocko River ecosystem.

10. Welge 9
She developed the interactive program with the elders that emphasized their culture, their
language and future generations.
As part of the program children
not only learn the science of a
healthy river but also the role the
river and the bull trout play in their
culture. They learn the Salish
words relating to the river and the
bull trout. As with many Native
Peoples they don’t think of just their generation they think of how their actions will impact future
generations. White’s efforts are connecting people across generations through education. By
turning to generations of the future Germaine White has ensured the longevity of the Jocko
restoration. This concept of investing in future generations can provide longevity across the
entirety of the Y2Y. It’s great if we can connect the people that are in the here and now but what
about when our generation is gone? Efforts to educate and connect future generations to the current
restoration efforts will ensure that efforts today can serve as foundations for future efforts.
Yet another type of connection that we looked at was between the community of Pincher
Creek and the Miistakis Institute in Canada. Pincher Creek is a major wildlife travel corridor,
however it is also an area of significant human development and transport. This combinations of
wildlife movement and human development has led to a significant number of human caused
wildlife deaths. Rob and Lorretta have lived in this community for many years and have personaly
witnessed the carnage that occurs when wildlife movement corridors are crisscrossed with
highways. The Miistakis institute fancies themselves ferries of knowledge, and they connected
Germaine’s educational book

11. Welge 10
with Rob and Lorretta to provide them with the tools necessary to reach the end goal of building
wildlife fencing and underpasses.
Rob and Lorretta have developed “Road Watch in the Pass”. It is a type of community
conservation program that utilizes citizen science. They use two forms of collecting data. First,
people drive through the pass and record the number of road kills and blood splatters they see.
Second, several land tracts have been established by the high ways where people can go record the
number of off high way animal deaths they see (Miistakis Institute, 2014). Miistakis has provided
them support by creating apps for phones that people use to document what they see. The institute
then crunches the numbers and turns the data into usable information so that it can be taken to the
provincial government.
The Miistakis Institute has empowered Rob and Lorretta to inspire change in their
community, and Rob and Lorretta have done on the ground work to educate and involve the public.
This relationship exemplifies one of equal
power and efficient cooperation. They play
to each other’s strengths and meet each
other half way. Both science and local
knowledge are important, “ultimately we
need knowledge bridges that work from
local knowledge as well as from science.”
(Cruikshank 2001) Both types of
knowledge have been crucial to problem solving. Local knowledge the little idiosyncrasies of an
area. Applying this knowledge to science allows the information to be more easily transferred from
Big Horn sheeponthe highway

12. Welge 11
region to region. This connection between local knowledge and science can apply passion and
science to efforts in the Y2Y region.
Throughout the course we were able to see many different ways people connect with each
other. Communities were defined by many different aspects beyond geography. Most communities
come together because of common goals and common values. This hints at what it takes to build
successful relationships. There are several themes that have come up. First, in any relationship one
party should not have more power than the other. Although this is an area where governments have
struggled in the past and currently struggle with it is something that will play into the over success
of the Y2Y initiative. Second, relationships take time. It doesn’t matter who you are you cannot
develop a relationship overnight they take a personal investment. People like Schmitt invested time
and passion in their community. When she was met with resistance she developed ways to bring
people together and bridge the gaps in understanding. Every relationship, be it regional or national,
built in the Y2Y corridor is like a link in chain. They need to be strong but flexible one broken
link and the whole chain becomes disconnected.
Connecting People to the Land
While connecting people is crucial those connection wont bare much weight if people are
not also connecting to the land its self, after all the goal of the Y2Y is to preserve, conserve and
restore landscapes. People connect to the land in different ways, there is no one way to do it.
Throughout our travels we saw the many way people connected to the landscapes around them.
For some it was through culture, for others it was through observation, some connected through
their livelihood and others connected by investing personal time. Here I will explore how
connections with the land promote the type of land stewardship that will ensure the longevitity of
the Yellowstone to Yukon initiative.

13. Welge 12
We began our travels in Yellowstone, the southernmost edge of the Y2Y region. Here we
met with the brilliant yet soft spoken Rick
McIntyre. He has devoted much of his time to
watching the wolves of yellow stone. Over the
years many have joined in and wolf watching has
become something people have planned their
whole lives around. They wake up as early as
three in the morning to watch the wolves through
scopes in the brisk Yellowstone cold. But none are as devout as Rick. He knows almost all of the
wolves that now reside in the park and can identify them based on personality traits. He even told
us “its like watching Game of Thrones… the most common death is in battle.” His passion for
these wolves stems from the immense amount of time he has invested in watching them. While
some of us spend countless hours on the internet or watching reruns of our favorite shows on
Netflix Rick and the other wolf watcher observe the wolves with same vigor and excitement some
of us have when it comes to HBO shows like Game of Thrones.
How do these creatures, who seem not care about the goings on of humans, have a
following rivalled only by the Beetles? It is their history of expulsion and reintroduction to the
park. They keystone species was removed
from the park to promote elk populations.
However, this turned the ecosystem on its
head and started a trophic cascade of
massive proportions. First went the
willows, then the beavers, then the song
Kaitlynn and I admiringthe tribute to the druidpack
Watching a mother wolfandher pups in the Lamar valley

14. Welge 13
birds, the list goes on. The idea of a wolf reintroduction was met with massive resistance that still
exists today, but these wolf watchers help provide crucial support and information. They serve as
the wolves cheer leaders.
As people observed them more and more they get to know the wolves and developed an
attachment and an understanding of the key role they play on the landscape. The power of simple
observation is incredible. It has driven people to invest months of their lives for the simple joy of
catching a short glimpse into the lives of the wolves. Observing the world around us can help us
form deeper connections with it, and in the Y2Y observation of landscapes could serve as the first
step to connecting those who do not feel connect to the land. Even if they just observe a rocky
mountain sunrise, or a prong horn darting across the plains, or even some songbirds nesting in their
back yard. Observation often leads us to new conclusions and new connections.
Maggie Schmitt makes her living off the land. Her connection is forged in a deep
understanding and reliance on the land. She must know every inch of the ranch, she must
understand the seasons, and how her cattle use the land. The health of her cattle is directly related
to the health of the land. This is where
her connection is truly forged. She
has developed a sense of stewardship
over her land. She has developed
sustainable practices by decreasing
how many head of cattle she runs. She
uses closely monitored pivots to
water her fields. Most importantly she
is actively involved in the restoration of the Clark Fork River that runs through her property. The
Red angus calves at the DryCotton WoodCreek
Ranch

15. Welge 14
longevity of this Clark Fork River Restoration relies on the investment of the land owners that
have property on the river. Ranchers are often closer to the land than people realize because their
livelihoods are directly dependent on the natural cycles. In terms of restoration ecology in the Y2Y
Private land owners will have a huge role to play. If land owners are not connected to their land
restoration efforts will fail. This type of connection is crucial in the Y2Y, landowners that make
their living off the land often have the sense of land stewardship that will guarantee the success
the initiative.
On our visit to the Flat head reservation we learned how Germaine White had not only
connected to future generations through educations but how she had reconnected children to the
land through their culture. After facing many years of turmoil and culture strife caused by western
colonization pressures many tribes including those on the flathead reservation became disconnect
from the land. She fostered the concept of stewardship of the land in children at a young age so
that they might teach their children about reciprocity with the land. She did this through what is
now referred to as Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). TEK is a western construction used
to define the knowledge passed down through generations of indigenous people about the land
they live on (Devin, 2004; Menzies, 2006). It is a dynamic type of knowledge that incorporates
history, beliefs, and interactions with the land. Because of this it is deeply imbedded in indigenous
cultures and should not be readily taken out of its culture context. White was able to mesh together
the modern lives of children on the reservation with their deep cultural history. There are several
parts to the education curriculum. Part of it is compatible with a classroom setting, the children
learn about the science behind a healthy river. Then they learn about how the bull trout is a crucial
part of their history on not only a subsistence level but also a cultural level. During the next portion
the children actually get to participate in the physical river restoration. By intertwining culture into

16. Welge 15
the restoration efforts White has given this project a culture importance. By doing this restoration
efforts will continue to be implemented and the river will continue to be looked after for many
generations to come.
In restoration projects like the Clark Fork River and The Jocko River there is always the
question of what happens after the restoration work is done. How do we ensure that the land will
maintain its restored integrity? Maggie Schmitt was able to show that investment in the land
through ecological sound practices is also an investment in ranching operations. She was able to
begin connecting a community to the land to provide more support for the restoration project. By
investing youth in the land through a cultural perspective White has ensured that land stewardship
will continue for many generations. Community, generational and cultural investment in the land
provide stronger plat forms for restoration to ensure that landscape health will continue even after
the landscapes have been repaired and reconnected.
Citizen science opens up a way for people who may not connect through culture or
livelihood to connect with the land. In Paul’s analysis the Miistakis road watch program and found
it to be relatively successful as far as citizen science goes. He identified four reasons that make
citizen science a useful tool for analysis. First citizens become more aware of local conservation
efforts. Second community efforts that work towards conserving the land promote environmental
stewardship. Third it empowers the public in decision making. Fourth data can be collected at a
much cheaper cost. Although the fourth is purely for pragmatism, the first three provide examples
of how citizen science connects people with the land. The road watch program designed by the
Miistakis institute and their community liaisons Rob and Lorretta opens up doors to community
members. There data collections methods allow people to get involved with the landscape through
observations. Then the data is used to give validation for building wildlife over passes and

17. Welge 16
underpasses. The community comes together and becomes the catalyst for change, they are the
driving force behind local conservation movements. Because of this the community in pincher
creek provides a great example of what successful community based conservation looks like. The
community gets involved with the land and is empowered because their efforts actually lead to
results.
Citizen science that empowers communities can serve as a powerful tool in the Y2Y. Some
people that have never been exposed to conservation restoration, or any activity that connects you
with the land may find it hard to invest in the Y2Y. People understand the problem and become
connected to it because they themselves are working towards the restoration solutions. The road
watch example shows the importance of seeing change when you invest in the land. The knowledge
that your community’s investment has made a difference means that the efforts will grow and
continue.
At the risk of sounding redundant peoples connections to the land will make or break the
success of the Y2Y. Through culture, livelihood, observation science and myriad of other avenues
people can learn the importance and value of the land. During the scientific revolution a dichotomy
developed, man became separate from nature.
The gap needs to be bridged, people are as
much a catalyst on the landscape as anything
else. By seeing value in the land people are
more likely to invest in it on personal and
community levels. Most importantly as
people forge their relationship with the land a
Crossing over the Yellowstone River

18. Welge 17
passion for the land begins to grow. People see something worth fighting for. This passion and
drive is what will initiate change and maintain stewardship ideals in the Y2Y.
Conclusion
We ended our journey in Jumbo pass in the Purcell mountain range. This area seemed to
sum up the lessons we have learned on our journey through the southern portion of the Y2Y. The
landscape of Purcell’s and Jumbo pass is defined by the glacial movements of today and the past.
In this glacially carved landscape Glacier resorts Ltd. has been trying to build a year round ski
resort complete with homes and shops for year round residents. They claim that it will rival that
of European ski resorts. As we hiked we were able to look across at Jumbo glacier where they
would be putting the village bigger, the gondola system, and the 23 lifts (Kirkby 2011). It was a
beautiful place, and although humans had left small marks like roads and a few logged areas the
valley, the mountains and the glacier also held a splendor and a remoteness that struck me. Looking
across this complex intricate landscape I thought of how complex this Resort issue had become.
There are countless stake holders: locals and the city of Invermere, R.K. Heli-skiing, Panorama
Ski resort, the Ktunaxa tribe, the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO), the grizzly bears that
call this place home, and many other. For the most part aside from the EAO and Glacier Resorts
Ltd. every stake holder has something to loose. The public doesn’t want to lose such a wild place,
the grizzlies can’t afford to have their land fragmented, Panorama and R.K. Heli-skiing can afford
to lose the business, the Ktunaxa for their land, its cultural significance, and the safety of the
grizzlies. Although the building of the resort has been delay for 20 years by local efforts they are
on the cusp of change, they are at a point in their efforts where the connection they make will be
crucial.

19. Welge 18
Throughout the conception and delay of this massive development project people have
connect with the land and connect with each other. However there are clear disconnects in some
of the relationships between stake holders. The Ktunaxa have made it clear that this development
would affect their historical rights and responsibility to protect this land for the grizzly bears.
Jumbo Wild has worked for almost 29 years to prevent this massive development. R.K Heli-skiing
and Panorama Ski Resort know that their business are at risk. Although their connection with the
land have driven their passion to protect the Jumbo Valley they have failed to connect to each
other. Although the individual action of each stake holder is important with out them connecting
they’ve created holes in their efforts.
The Jumbo issue covers many of the themes I looked at in this essay. The Ktunaxa do not
have the power in the relationship they deserve, and are now trying to defend their cultural
relationship with the land. The locals and Jumbo Wild have found intrinsic value in the land are
now utilizing community based efforts to defend the valley. R.K. Heli-skiing is connect to the land
through livelihood and they know this landscape like the back of their hand. Regardless of why
people here are connected enough to the land to fight for it. But they need to reach out to each
other and learn each other’s values and goals. By working together and creating an even larger
community that connects through a passion for the land. This is a great example of the connections
that will make or break the effort in the Y2Y.
The Y2Y works to not only connect landscapes but they also facilitate relationships
between people. By the end of our trip it became clear that the most successful restoration and
conservations efforts were ones where communities were empowered, well connected with each
other, and well connected with the land. These types of healthy connections are the key stone of
any conservation or restoration effort. In our personal efforts we developed connections with each

20. Welge 19
other by understanding and appreciating our different values and strengths. We strengthened our
relationships by supporting each other through the physical and mental challenges we faced. When
we hit major turning points in our journey we turned to each other and worked together.
Throughout our travels we saw many success stories, we also saw places like Jumbo where efforts
have reached a major turning point, and the future of the area is incredibly uncertain. Working
together is the only way to ensure successful conservation and restoration. If at the end of the day
the basic values of another stake holder are the same as your why wouldn’t you join forces in the
fight? This is where the Y2Y needs to focus its efforts. Facilitating relationships in places like
jumbo could give those local efforts a step up. If the Y2Y is going to be successful we are going
to have to work together.

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Works Cited
"Bull Trout’s Gift." Flathead Conservation District ICal. Confederate Salish and Kooteny
Tribes, n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2014.
Chadwick, D. (2001). “Introduction: The Vision” National Geographic: Yellowstone to Yukon,
p. 6-31.
Cruikshank, J. (2001). Glaciers and Climate Change: perspectives From Oral Tradition. Arctic,
54(4), 377-393
Devin, S. & Doberstien, B. (2004). Tradition Ecological Knowledge in Parks Management: a
Canadian Perspective. Environments, 31(2), 47-69
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