Silent Echoes: History, Ecology, and Yellowstone Park’s Colonial Memoryscape Through a Critical Examination of Wayside Signs Available to Purchase

The National Park Service subtly employs a colonial ideology in managing history, ecological conservation, and public perception, marginalizing Native American histories, notably observed in wayside signs in Yellowstone Park. Waysides reveal that its memoryscape—how the landscape is imbued with cultural and historical meanings shaped by collective memory—is shaped by intricate historical narratives that downplay the Native American presence while promoting the Euromerican notion of “wilderness” through interpretive signage. This unbalanced portrayal not only impedes the recognition of diverse historical and cultural perspectives but also hinders a comprehensive understanding and presentation of the park’s natural environment and the historical role of Native Americans in its ecology. Adding a balanced memoryscape that includes Native American histories is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and accurate representation of the past and the park’s ecology.