An Analysis of Community-Based Values Informing Land Management on the Midwestern Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation of Kansas, USA

The focus of this study is to examine the interface between land management practices and values within a tribal community in rural midwestern North America. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) reside on a tribal reservation with a checkerboard distribution amongst private, non-tribal landowners. Previous studies have indicated that landowners may have different value-systems leading to variations in land-management practices. This can impose discontinuous land management in areas within shared biological boundaries, such as watersheds, especially between tribal and non-tribal entities. Preliminary spatial analysis in and around the PBPN landscape determined that the tribally-managed lands present more vegetative cover per unit land tenure than non-tribal lands. Furthermore, tribally-managed lands have more miles of intact riparian buffers present along streambanks compared to non-tribal streambanks. These factors indicate a difference in management approaches between both groups, yet the values that drive these management approaches have not been examined. To better understand PBPN land-management approaches, we coded and analyzed surveys conducted with tribal members about stream use, management, and values (n=76). Furthermore, we coded and analyzed every issue of the community newsletter Rez Recycler published within 2008-2014 for values-based themes. Our analysis demonstrated the PBPN community prioritize native land cover and ecosystem services for community benefit. Primary themes include stream condition, fish and fishing, culture and community, riparian knowledge, restoration and education. Additionally, healthy streams and healthy aquatic populations were most valued. This demonstrates tribal awareness and prioritization of the connection between land management and stream conditions. We have presented an examination of community values, and desired outcomes, in a way that can help multiple stakeholders (e.g. Federal, state, private and tribal) approach land management. This type of understanding can facilitate collaborative planning that allows the tribal community to define their own version of success and support self-determination and sovereignty