Baker leaving Mount Rushmore

One of the most prominent Native Americans in the country is about to take a new job.

Gerard Baker, who's spent much of the past six years as superintendent of Mount Rushmore, is leaving his post to serve as assistant director for American Indian Relations for the National Park Service.

“For the first time in history, the National Park Service has created a position to work with tribes across this nation to accomplish goals,” Baker said in an interview with War Pony Express on Monday. “I am looking forward to this position. This has been on my mind for 34 years (as a National Park Service employee).”

A full-blood Mandan-Hidatsa Indian from western North Dakota, the 56-year-old Baker has been a park superintendent for 15 of his 34 years in the National Park Service. He is widely known as a mediator on issues involving tribes and the National Park Service. He has served as superintendent at the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana and as superintendent of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The latter position put him in charge of planning, development and initial operations for the “Corps of Discovery II: 200 Years to the Future,” the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

Baker also has appeared in the 1997 Ken Burns film “Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery” and in the recent production by Burns and Duncan, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”

He is considered the highest ranking Native American within the National Park Service.

“The National Park Service faces important cultural and natural resource issues with First Americans,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis on Monday. “I’ve asked Gerard to represent me and the National Park Service with tribes across our country to work on issues I believe will further the goals of the National Park Service and goals of First Americans.”

Baker has drawn criticism and support for his efforts to include the Native American perspective within National Park Service programs and sites, having championed an Indian Memorial at the Little Bighorn Battlefield and an exhibit featuring Indian voices on history and culture for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. As superintendent of Mount Rushmore, he has worked to include Native American perspectives of history and culture as well.

Baker will begin his new assignment April 24 and will keep an office in the Black Hills.

“This really is a natural next step in my career and it’s what I’ve been doing all of my life: learning about people, our history and culture, talking to others, sharing stories and learning to appreciate other perspectives,” Baker said.

Jarvis said Baker’s new position will allow him to continue to build relations between tribes and the National Park Service.

“The goal is to bring attention to the National Park Service, as well as the plight and existence of American Indian tribes, and to make sure the National Park Service fulfills its obligations to work with tribes,” Baker said.

To hear an interview with Baker on National Parks Traveler, click here.