The Mountain Institute (TMI) is a secular, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting mountain ecosystems and mountain communities through advocacy, education, and outreach. Based in Washington, D.C., TMI has offices and runs programs in the Andean, Himalayan, Appalachian, and other mountain ranges in the United States. In addition to working with local communities on environmental and cultural conservation issues, the Institute works on the global level as well through its Mountain Forum, Sustainable Living Systems, and Sacred Mountains initiatives.

Based on the belief that environmental conservation programs need to be grounded in deeply held values and cultural beliefs to assure long-term sustainability, TMI initiated the Sacred Mountains Program in 1999. Through this program, TMI works with the National Park Service (NPS) and other conservation organizations to develop innovative interpretive and educational materials based on the evocative associations of mountains and mountain environments in various cultures in the United States (US) and abroad. As the highest features of the landscape, mountains are associated with high ideals and aspirations in many different societies, making them especially suitable for environmental conservation programs. By drawing on spiritual and cultural traditions such as Native American, Native Hawaiian, African-American, Asian American, and Latino, the project helps to diversify the visitor base for National Parks and protected areas in the US and presents multiple perspectives that enrich the general public’s experience of nature and encourage stewardship of the environment. The project also seeks to help indigenous peoples protect their sacred sites and present information about their relationships with Parks and protected areas from their own cultural perspectives. The traveling outreach exhibits, interpretive trails, educational wayside signs, publications, and artwork are intended to resonate with people by connecting to their cultural traditions and to foster deep-seated desires to conserve the environment, in both parks and at home. The content for these materials is based on the role of mountains and mountain environments in major world religions, including: Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and many diverse indigenous traditions.

Specific projects of the Sacred Mountains Program include: a traveling offsite exhibit at Mount Rainier that displays different cultural and spiritual views of mountains along with evocative quotes and images. Park rangers are now taking this exhibit to fairs, community centers, conventions, and other venues in the Seattle-Tacoma area. An interpretive trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park links natural features along the Ococanluftee River to Cherokee stories and traditions through wayside exhibits in English and Cherokee. The “Experience Your America” exhibit at Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite National Parks combines inspirational quotes and photographs to highlight spiritual themes evoked by mountains and nature in major National Parks. Workshops have been created to help interpreters, teachers, and volunteers integrate spiritual, inspirational, and cultural content into traditional physical science programs through workshops. In Hawaii, native elders will select two traditional Hawaiian works of art dedicated to the sacredness of Mauna Loa and Kilauea Volcanoes and the volcano goddess Pele to be commissioned for the newly renovated Kilauea Visitors Center at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

Inter-religious: Indigenous Tradition