As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4, ABC News anchor David Muir is highlighting the nation's natural landmarks and their enduring connections to Indigenous populations. Muir's reporting journeyed to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California, focusing on the ancient stories preserved within these landscapes.
At the Grand Canyon, where rock formations date back nearly 2 billion years, the park's history is intrinsically linked to the Indigenous peoples who have inhabited the area for at least 12,000 years. Ed Keable, superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, stated that the park actively works to ensure visitors learn about the land's original caretakers. The Havasupai Tribe, whose name means "People of the Blue-Green Water," is a sovereign Native American nation located at the canyon's base and has long advocated for the preservation of the canyon's pristine environment and waters. Eleven federally recognized tribes are associated with the Grand Canyon, holding ancestral ties stretching back thousands of years and considering the land sacred.
Carletta Tilousi, a Havasupai tribal member, emphasized the tribe's continued presence and commitment to protecting the Grand Canyon. "We want America to know that we're still here and we're still gonna fight for the protection of the Grand Canyon," she told Muir, noting her tribe has lived within the canyon for at least 800 years.
Muir also explored the towering redwood trees in Northern California, some of which are over 2,000 years old and have existed in the region for at least 20 million years. Ben Blom, director of stewardship at Save the Redwoods League, noted that some of these trees were already mature when the Declaration of Independence was signed, having been cared for by Indigenous peoples for millennia prior.
The Redwood National and State Parks are the ancestral territory of the Yurok Tribe, California's most populous tribe, which actively participates in park co-management and land restoration. In a significant 2024 agreement, the Yurok Tribe regained 125 acres of its ancestral land through a pact involving the tribe, Save the Redwoods League, the National Park Service, and California State Parks.
Joseph James, chairman of the Yurok Tribe, shared his perspective with Muir, advocating for learning and growth from history. "We can't change history, but we can learn from it and grow from it. Every person grows, no matter how old you are. And it's a growing moment, not just for the tribe, not just for the environment, not for this project. It's for everybody," he said.
ABC is commemorating America's 250th anniversary with a 24-hour programming event called "Disney Celebrates America," spanning across ABC, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN, National Geographic, FX, Freeform, and ABC News Live. The multi-platform broadcast, led by Muir, will feature coverage from all 50 states, beginning at 10 p.m. ET on July 3 and continuing through July 4.