The argument for granting Native Americans guardianship over all national parks and returning the trillions of dollars the U.S. government holds in fiduciary responsibilities is rooted in both legal precedent and historical justice. Native American nations, as sovereign entities, possess not only the moral authority but the legal standing to reclaim stewardship over lands that were historically their own. This proposal would not only honor treaty obligations but also correct centuries of systemic exploitation, returning the value that has been extracted from these lands while re-establishing Native legal systems.

The national parks, many of which are located on ancestral Native lands, are symbolic of the deep connection between indigenous peoples and the environment. For centuries, Native Americans acted as guardians of these landscapes, managing ecosystems sustainably through traditional ecological knowledge. When the U.S. government established the National Park Service in 1916, Native peoples were forcibly removed from their lands, denied access to sacred sites, and excluded from decision-making processes regarding land management. This exclusion is not only historically unjust, but it also overlooks the fact that Native stewardship aligns with the modern goals of conservation and environmental sustainability.

Returning fiduciary funds held in trust by the U.S. government to Native American nations is an essential component of economic justice. The U.S. has long mismanaged tribal trust funds, failing to disburse the vast wealth generated from natural resources such as oil, gas, timber, and grazing land rights. These funds, worth trillions of dollars, belong to Native American nations under treaty obligations and should be returned in full. This capital could serve as the foundation for economic independence, allowing Native nations to build self-sufficient economies, improve infrastructure, invest in education, and enhance healthcare for their people.

In conjunction with these economic reforms, the legal system governing Indian nations must be expanded, not contracted. Native American sovereignty is recognized by the U.S. Constitution and affirmed by numerous treaties and Supreme Court decisions. However, the erosion of tribal legal authority over time has weakened Native nations’ ability to govern themselves effectively. Expanding tribal courts and legal systems would restore justice and empower Native nations to handle civil and criminal matters within their territories, reinforcing their status as sovereign states. This would not only provide legal equity but also affirm the government-to-government relationship between Native nations and the United States.

By recognizing Native guardianship of national parks, returning fiduciary funds, and expanding tribal legal systems, the U.S. would be taking a decisive step toward honoring its commitments and restoring true sovereignty to Native American nations. This vision repositions Native peoples not as passive recipients of historical wrongs but as active leaders in shaping the future of the land, economy, and justice system.