Trump Admin Censored Indigenous Content in Wildlife Materials

Trump Administration's Censorship of Indigenous Content in Wildlife Materials

In a surprising revelation, documents obtained by the Sierra Club through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request have exposed the Trump administration's efforts to censor content related to indigenous peoples in materials produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

The documents, which include recommended changes to materials at the FWS headquarters in Virginia and at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, shed light on the administration's contradictory approach to implementing executive orders and policies related to indigenous peoples and cultural resources.

The censorship attempts come as a shock to many, as the Trump administration has previously claimed to support and protect indigenous cultures and their heritage. The documents reveal that the administration ordered the FWS to remove or alter references to indigenous peoples, their history, and their cultural significance in various materials, including educational resources and public outreach documents.

One of the most notable examples of the administration's censorship efforts is the removal of a section on the history and cultural significance of the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, which is located on land that is sacred to several indigenous tribes. The section, which had been included in the refuge's official materials for years, was ordered to be removed or significantly altered to downplay the role of indigenous peoples in the refuge's history.

The documents also reveal that the administration ordered the FWS to remove or alter references to the agency's own policies and guidelines related to the protection of indigenous cultural resources. For example, one of the recommended changes to a FWS policy document would have removed a section on the agency's commitment to consulting with indigenous tribes on matters related to the protection of their cultural resources.

The censorship attempts are particularly concerning given the Trump administration's previous statements and actions related to indigenous peoples and their cultural resources. In 2017, the administration issued an executive order that directed federal agencies to prioritize the protection of cultural resources, including those of indigenous peoples. The order also directed agencies to consult with indigenous tribes on matters related to the protection of their cultural resources.

However, the newly revealed documents suggest that the administration's commitment to these principles may have been more rhetoric than reality. The documents show that the administration was willing to order the FWS to censor or alter materials related to indigenous peoples and their cultural resources, despite the agency's own policies and guidelines on the matter.

The documents obtained by the Sierra Club are just the latest example of the Trump administration's efforts to censor or alter scientific and educational materials related to climate change, indigenous peoples, and other controversial topics. In 2017, it was revealed that the administration had ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remove climate change-related materials from its website, and had directed the National Park Service to censor or alter materials related to climate change and other controversial topics.

The censorship attempts are also concerning given the Trump administration's track record on environmental and cultural resource protection. The administration has rolled back or weakened numerous environmental and cultural resource protection policies and regulations, including those related to the protection of endangered species, the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, and the protection of cultural resources on federal lands.

The documents obtained by the Sierra Club are a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government, particularly when it comes to matters related to the protection of our environment and cultural resources. The documents also highlight the need for continued vigilance and advocacy on the part of environmental and cultural resource protection organizations, as well as the general public.