What would Teddy Roosevelt Do?
He Would Fight!
Would T.R. be appalled by the dismissive behavior of the National Park Service (NPS) to the history of the region of North Dakota that literally shaped T.R.’s life and lead him to become president of the United States? Historians who are experts in T.R. say yes.
This is an opportunity for the National Park Service (NPS) to step up to the challenge of preserving the history of a way of life as no other park can, to educate and instill a deep respect for the historical and cultural significance of this region. To protect our children from “an unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations.” ~T.R. 1916
With the insatiable demand on our public lands by encroaching civilization, the NPS could be the last stronghold against total historical annihilation of an animal that originated in North America—the animal that provided for the first peoples and a dying way of life—ranching. This animal, the horse, undeniable played a pivotal role in both of those cultures, and my history and yours. This genetically unique herd of horses that call TRNP home, threatened to extinction, clearly represent the bygone days of a harder but grittier and wild time in North Dakota’s history!
“Surely there never was a fight better worth making than the one in which we are in. It little matters what befalls any one of us who for the time being stands in the forefront of the battle. I hope we shall win, and I believe that if we can wake the people to what the fight really means we shall win.” ~Theodore Roosevelt
1. Roosevelt, Theodore (1901), Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London.
2. Collins, M.L., The Education of Theodore Roosevelt
CALL
We invite you to use your voice. Take a moment to CALL the North Dakota Federal Legislators and be heard for the next generation.
We have provided a suggested conversation but add your own genial talking points. Don't be afraid to let the legislators know what this herd means to you, but do so with grace—which we know you will.
SUGGESTED SCRIPT
"Thank you for taking my call today.”
“Will you please let Senator/Representative (insert last name) know that I do not support the removal of the historic, genetically unique, herd of horses free roaming in Theodore Roosevelt National Park since before the park's inception.
I believe that removing this genetically unique herd of horses is a profound loss to a direct, historical link to T.R. himself. I also believe this is a significant loss of tourism revenue for North Dakota. In addition, this herd of horses would be an overwhelming loss of an intangible cultural heritage for the state of North Dakota and America and for our future generations.
I do support creating a new wildlife management plan that will ensure the herd will remain a genetically viable and productive herd, and will continue to thrive and co-exist with all other species as they have been doing since the introduction of bison and elk to that historic landscape, 65 years ago.
Thank you so much for your time. I know you would not want to be known as the legislator who lost this direct connection to TR on your watch.”
LISTEN
Jan 12, 2023
6:00 PM/7:00 PM Mountain
The meeting will start with a brief presentation by NPS staff followed by a Q&A session with a panel of NPS staff and subject matter experts. It should be noted that comments can only be accepted through our Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website, or by U.S. mail, and will not be recorded or documented during the presentation.
COMMENT
COMMENT BY: Jan 31,2023
We are asking you to thoroughly read the Proposal and the FAQ’s and provide science or law based solutions that will counteract what is currently being proposed OR at the very least put it on hold.
The current proposed options are:
Alternative A — No Action Alternative: Continued herd management under the 1978 EA and 1970 Management Plan with a population objective of 35–60 horses.
Alternative B — Action Alternative: Expedited Reduction of Herds to No Livestock
Alternative C — Proposed Action: Phased Reduction of Herds to No Livestock
Read the FAQ page where much is revealed regarding the NPS stance on horses.
*Please keep in mind emotional comments are not considered during the public comment period. Comments that are science or law based with supporting citations, clearly showing the relevance of an argument for or against what is being proposed, are what are weighed and considered for the next phase by the outside contractor who is facilitating this process.
WRITE TO FIGHT
Email your story info@wildlandswildhorses.com
DEADLINE: January 23, 2023
1000 Stories! We want them!
If you answer yes to ANY of the questions below, you can help!
1. Have you been to TRNP? YES OR NO
YES
a. Write what you ‘felt’ when you witnessed the horses free roaming. How did seeing the horses affect you? Why did you go see the horses?
b. Email your story to WLWH at info@wildlandswildhorses.com.
2. Do you have plans to visit TRNP? YES or NO
YES
a. Tell us why? Is it for a specific reason? To see the park itself, or the bison, or is it the horses? Why are you going to see the horses?
But I have never been to TRNP. How can I help if I have never been to the park?
1. Do you follow social media accounts that focus primarily on the herd in TRNP? YES OR NO
YES
a. Write what the impact of following the herd located in TRNP (TRNP only) has on you. Why do you follow social media accounts that tell stories of the free roaming horses of TRNP?
b. Email that story to WLWH at info@wildlandswildhorses.com.
Let your heart tell your story! Your story of visiting TRNP! What did it mean to you?
It doesn't have to be a fancy tale or polished...we want the experience from your heart!
We will be using your stories to highlight the cultural impact of the herd via social media. In addition, we will be submitting formal comments to the livestock management plan, based on your stories.
We define a cultural object as a social construction that is able to function as a producer and vector of meaning, reflecting a way of relating to the world that is common to members of a community. It can be further characterized by its mediating functions within a given socio-historical context. (Diet, 2010)
We argue here that the horse, as an animal, can be defined as a cultural object, constructed by societies within their space/time frameworks and in this way, a producer and vector of meanings that are proper to a community. As the horse can be identified as a cultural object, we can also speak of the existence of ‘equine cultures’ which in turn can be defined as a system of practices and representations related to equines, shared by a community that unites around it. (Pickel-Chevalier, 2020)
WLWH is a non-profit that advocates for change in how we perceive and manage our intangible cultural object, the free roaming horse.
WLHW is presenting formal comments to the TRNP Livestock Management Plan in a good faith effort to elicit the changed needed to ensure that the current free roaming herd of horses can co-exist with other ungulates in TRNP by, once and for all, given the respect, funding, and staffing needed to manage the historic landscape, so it can thrive and support ALL life, for future generations.
WLWH will be demonstrating the intangible cultural heritage the herd of horses who free roam in Theodore Roosevelt National Park had on T.R. himself (citing his own experience), and to the peoples of that region of North Dakota, the state of North Dakota, America, and the world (using personal stories of those who have visited and those who follow remotely via social media platforms).