Press Release
October 14, 2025
New York State Parks Welcomes New Interpreter of Native American History
Amber Bedard to help support the agency's Our
Whole History initiative
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation (State Parks) is pleased to welcome Amber Bedard to the Division
for Historic Preservation as the Interpreter of Native American History. A
member of the Piikani First Nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy in Alberta and
Montana, she is an educator and cultural interpreter dedicated to centering
Indigenous voices in the stewardship of New York's historic landscapes. Bedard
brings with her prior experience in program evaluation and higher education.
As the Interpreter of Native
American History, Bedard will support the agency's Our Whole History initiative
by informing and advancing the incorporation of Indigenous stories across 35
state historic sites and state parks with historic resources. In her new
position Bedard will work directly with Indigenous and First Nations communities to
facilitate the inclusion of their voices and perspectives in historical tours,
exhibits, and interpretive signage that reflects the histories and living
cultures of the region's Indigenous nations.
"Amber Bedard's work is essential to our
historic preservation mission and will help create new opportunities for New
Yorkers to explore our state's whole history," said New York
State Parks Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser. "By incorporating Indigenous stories into our interpretive
efforts, we are ensuring that the history we share covers a diverse range of
perspectives and reflects the experiences of all New Yorkers. New York State
Parks is very excited to welcome Amber to our Division for Historic
Preservation."
An advocate for deep learning and
creating space for Indigenous knowledge, Bedard is passionate about ensuring
culturally responsive research and interpretation. She believes this
important interpretive work must center, appreciate, and uplift the strengths
of Indigenous communities and histories by creating pathways that honor
Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Her ongoing connections to
contemporary Native cultures and communities guide her work and will help
ensure that New York's state historic sites honor the past while celebrating
the living presence of Indigenous peoples today.
Bedard will work with historic site
managers and staff across New York, to cultivate and strengthen relations with
Indigenous and First Nations communities by utilizing reflexive research
practice. Through frequent consultation with Tribal Historic Preservation
Officers and official Nation representatives, Bedard will help ensure that
interpretation is guided by the principles of reciprocity, respect, and
community consent.
New York State Office of
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Deputy Commissioner for Historic
Preservation Daniel Mackay
said, "We are thrilled to have Amber join the Division for Historic
Preservation and welcome the expertise and experience she will bring to this
position. She joins a team of colleagues who are actively conducting research,
collaborating on projects, and sharing resources with the public. Her knowledge
and insight will help the Division continue to create authentic representations
and experiences at New York's state historic sites and also help inform the
Division's broader historic preservation work."
Interpreter of Native
American History Amber Bedard said, "Interpretation can be a bridge between the past and the
present, but it must be built on respect, listening, and reciprocity. This work
requires us to approach history not as something to own or define, but as
something to be in relationship with. When we invite Indigenous communities to
lead in how their stories are shared, we begin to transform interpretation from
a one-way telling into a mutual exchange - one that honors the depth of
knowledge and experience that Indigenous nations bring. That's when interpretation
truly becomes meaningful: when it helps people understand that the past is not
behind us, but continues to shape how we live together today."
Our Whole History: Exploring
the Experiences of All People
The Our Whole History (OWH)
initiative seeks to
reveal and share historically undertold stories of ordinary and extraordinary
people across New York State. By providing multiple perspectives on historic
places and events, New York State historic sites and parks encourage the
general public to take a deeper look at our state's history, learn more about
the people who got us where we are today, and explore the experiences of all
people. Launched in 2020, OWH has emerged as the driving force behind several
OPRHP projects, all of which aim to advance ongoing research, share evolving
narratives, and provide opportunities for discovery to visitors.
The mission of the New York State Division for
Historic Preservation is to create meaningful connections to the dynamic
history of the state for all residents and visitors and the Division is
committed to protecting historic and cultural resources. Part of the New York
State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the DHP strives to
raise awareness of the value of historic places for future generations and to
expand the complex narratives in order to tell a more complete story that
represents the diversity of the state's people, both past and present. Learn more about the full
scope of the Division's work online.
The
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees
more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat
launches and more, and welcomes over 88 million visitors annually. For more
information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov,
download the free NY State Parks Explorer
app or call 518.474.0456. Connect
with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn,
the OPRHP Blog
or via the OPRHP Newsroom.