Chuck Sams shares journey to become nation’s first Indigenous Parks director

Former National Parks Director Chuck Sams pauses while sharing his family's history in the region during the Walla Walla County Democrats Power of Community fundraiser. Credit: Kate Smith, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

An enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, former National Parks Director Chuck Sams said his deep understanding of his place as a human being came from his native roots, growing up on the waters of the Umatilla and its tributaries.

Sams told the story of the “Keepers of the Salmon,” or Wakanish Naknoowee Thluma, at the Walla Walla County Democrats Power of Community event on Wednesday, June 18.

In the creation story, the Creator descends Pahto, Mt. Adams, and asks the local animals to contribute gifts for the creation of humans. The salmon is the only animal to contribute two gifts.

"I will give up my voice completely, so it'll have a language it will be able to speak. And two, I will give up my body completely, so it will be able to nourish itself," Sams recited. “But before I do so, I want it to keep a promise. I want it to have a covenant that it will be our keeper, Wakanish Naknoowee Thluma, the Keeper of the Salmon, but more importantly, the keeper of flora and fauna.”

Sams first heard this story at age 5 or 6.

“(It was) the foundation of my understanding that I was responsible to be a good steward of these resources, that, if indeed that I'm built of these things of the natural world, that I must protect and preserve them,” Sams said.

Shortly afterward, his grandfather gave him a stone, which he asked Sams questions about from time to time: Where do you think it came from? How do you think it was made? Is it alive? Who do you think walked or swam over it? This, Sams said, was part of his education.

“I was learning science, I was learning math, I was learning history, I was learning an understanding of how to go from the specific to the general. How does the interconnectivity of the world work, and what is my place in that to ensure that interconnectivity continues to thrive and not just survive on the landscape?” Sams said.

Sams shared his unlikely journey — not on his bingo card, as he put it — from the Umatilla to being the nation’s first Indigenous director of the National Park Service from 2021-2025.

From where Sams left off, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as an intelligence specialist.

He then got a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Concordia University, and later a master’s degree of legal studies in Indigenous peoples law from the University of Oklahoma School of Law.

His lifelong work was his salmon and watershed restoration work in the Columbia River Basin, as well as environmental work in other parts of the country.

“The vast majority of nearly 25 years of my career in doing salmon and watershed restoration was mostly throwing rocks at the Department of Interior,” he said to laughs. “I'm not joking — literally throwing rocks at the Department of Interior, being very angry … pushing for community rights, pushing … to ensure that they were fulfilling their obligation to flora and fauna.”

He said he laughed when he was offered the position of Parks director. The offer came at the request of his mentor Bob Anderson, the director of the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington School of Law and the then-solicitor for the Department of Interior.

“He said, ‘Hey, we’re tired of you throwing rocks at the building. Why don’t you come on inside?’” Sams said.

Sams was unanimously confirmed to the role by the Senate. He had the opportunity to choose where he was sworn in.

His first pick — the Washington Monument, where he would be the “Indian Savage” on the Mall, an allusion to a grievance in the Declaration of Independence — was rejected.

His second — the Lincoln Memorial — was approved, with the caveat that it be on the second landing, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

From the Walla Walla stage, Sams recounted stories from a road trip he took with friends, visiting every national park, historical site, monument and memorial between Maine and Florida.

“As director, I learned that everywhere I go, your civil servants who are still out there in the field, whether they do administration, whether they do interpretation, whether they do natural resources, they know their park, they know their historic site, and they are deeply in love with the storytelling that goes on there,” he said.

He also talked about his work with the Antiquities Act as director, “telling a more fierce story,” at five different sites. These stories included those of Emmett Till, Frances Perkins, the race riots in Springfield, Illinois, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and boarding school initiatives.

“These weren't easy stories to tell, but we knew that the American people wouldn't shy away from it, because it's part of who we are that we build on our democracy,” Sams said.

He said there are challenges ahead, with proposed funding cuts, job eliminations and QR codes posted at Park sites for visitors to report what the Trump administration calls “disparaging” language on historical storytelling signage.

Sams said it was an honor to serve with Parks employees “who were willing to do more with less in order to ensure that they were protecting flora and fauna, that they were protecting American history."

“We can only ensure that continues by voicing our concerns with our government, by standing up to ensure that our history isn't erased, that our history isn't changed, that our history isn't glossed over," he said.

The event also included speeches from Gov. Bob Ferguson, State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, a video message from Attorney General Nick Brown, and comments by local party leaders Amy Schwab and Mark Thompson.

Governor's comments

At the fundraiser, Gov. Bob Ferguson, former attorney general for the state of Washington, amplified his record against President Donald Trump’s administration during Trump’s first term, saying, “There is no better state taking on the Trump administration than Washington state.

“The first state to take him on in court and the first state to beat him was Washington state. We were first and got it done. And in 2025 once again, the first state to take him on in court and the first state to beat him once again in court was Washington state, again, doing it again."

He said the Office of the Attorney General and his own Governor’s office continue to work to defend civil rights, environmental rights and economic decisions, through filing lawsuits against the administration and other preparations.

“When you see a headline and you're outraged by it, I just want you to know there's a lot of hard-working people out there in state government who are channeling that outrage into action,” he said.

Ferguson also addressed the crowd about a 2026 goal of his: fighting a second term by freshman Congressman Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane representing Walla Walla in the 5th Congressional District.

He said Baumgartner voted for Trump’s budget bill, which was approved by the House and proposes significant cuts to Medicaid among other federal programs.

“So look, I know you may get tired of writing to him, but please write to him again. Please call him again, because (that bill) is going to come back to the House,” Ferguson said.

Party Chair Kari Isaacson said the event raised a net $10,000 for the local party through ticket sales, donations, and a silent auction. The event sold out twice — first at 250 seats, then at 300, she said.

Kate Smith, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin