The Corps Network’s Post

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." During the 19th century, the mass extermination of buffalo in North America had profound and devastating consequences for Native American communities. The decimation of the buffalo population was not only a result of commercial hunting but also a deliberate strategy employed by European colonialists and the U.S. government to undermine the indigenous way of life, as well as fee-up land for cattle farming, collect hides and for fun. “Kill every buffalo you can! Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone.” - a US Army Colonel (Atlantic, 2016) This cruel tactic aimed to starve Native Americans and force them into reservations, clearing the path for westward expansion. Historical records, such as the accounts of Colonel Richard I. Dodge and government documents from the time, detail the systematic destruction of the buffalo herds as a means of subjugating and displacing indigenous populations. The consequences were catastrophic, leading to cultural disruption, loss of sustenance, and the erosion of traditional Native American lifestyles. Understanding this dark chapter in history sheds light on the intricate and often brutal dynamics that shaped the relationship between colonialists and Native Americans during this period.  . 👍 Follow @yourplanet.earth for more 🙏 Turn on notifications for future updates #YourPlanetEarth #planetearth #saveearth #saveenvironment

Can’t say enough great things about training in the traditional trades! It’s so critical to not only visit and admire beautiful historic homes, but to know the traditional trades such as masonry, carpentry, etc. so they can be maintained authentically.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the St. Louis District. Today, we're not just wearing green we are striving to restore ecosystem structure and processes, manage our land, resources and construction activities in a sustainable manner, and support cleanup and protection activities efficiently and effectively, all while leaving the smallest footprint behind. Here’s a pinch of several ways the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is restoring ecosystem structure and processes to keep our nation green: 🍀Using Engineering with Nature principles to build partnerships and collaborations that extend across Corps of Engineers Districts and Divisions, federal and state agencies, tribal nations, nonprofit organizations, private industry, and academia. 🍀Constructing high-performing habitat restoration, rehabilitation projects that produce state-of-the-art knowledge through monitoring, research, and assessment and engage other organizations to accomplish the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program's vision. 🍀Ensuring the environmental sustainability of the existing Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway System through the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program. 🍀Maximizing benefits with the Sustainable Rivers Program to modernize the operation of water projects to improve the social, economic, and environmental benefits they provide. The St. Louis District uses these programs and many more to keep green spaces green and environmental stewardship thriving. #StPatricksDay | #EngineeringExcellence | #USACE | #EnvironmentalStewardship 🌍💚

🌲 Let's Talk History and Conservation 🌲 I recently came across an intriguing article by Alexis Clark from the History Channel about the critical role of the Buffalo Soldiers in protecting our nation's national parks. These soldiers, hailing from segregated Black regiments, added "park ranger" to their titles and played a crucial role in building and safeguarding the infrastructure of our public lands. Despite facing immense challenges and discrimination, the Buffalo Soldiers stood as stewards of our natural heritage, contributing significantly to "The American Conservation Story." The story of these brave soldiers highlights not only their courage and dedication but also the historical context of their service. After the Civil War, Congress enacted legislation that paved the way for the inclusion of African American soldiers in the regular Army, leading to the formation of the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry, known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Starting in the 1890s, these soldiers had already earned valor in the Indian Wars and Spanish-American War. Their service as park rangers in our national parks added another layer to their already impressive legacy. The article sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of our country's history and underscores the importance of diversity in conservation efforts. I encourage you all to read the article and share your thoughts on how it contributes to our understanding of "The American Conservation Story." Link to the article in the comments below! #DiversityInConservation #BuffaloSoldiers #AmericanConservationStory #DJV

The legacy of FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps lives on through The Corps Network (TCN), providing environmental justice and economic mobility for 25,000 young adults and veterans each year. TCN's commitment to racial equity began at the grassroots level, leading to the launch of the Moving Forward Initiative in 2017. Key benefits of this initiative include: - A deeper understanding of structural racism and unconscious bias - Rethinking post-service opportunities for Corpsmembers - Formal investments in racial equity programming - Creation of advisory councils to prioritize Corpsmembers’ experiences Navigating a network of 139 organizations, TCN's approach demonstrates how complex networks can engage in meaningful racial equity conversations. Learn more about TCN’s journey and how it can inspire your organization to move forward with equity and justice: https://wkkf.co/mjsd

I have been able to work for organizations with amazing missions. And organizations whose purposes are frankly uninspiring. Ultimately, for me, so much of what makes work workable, less gruesome (capitalism is crushing, y’all), and even ** meaningful ** are the leaders at the helm. I respect Tjada's leadership and encourage you to tune into this short podcast full of great insights. 🔵 On Mercy Corps’ role in dismantling white saviorism: “Our industry is really reckoning with a history of white saviorism and colonialism that persist today and perpetuate the power imbalances with communities in the backseats when it comes to resource allocation. At Mercy Corps, we are reckoning with those power imbalances. The vast majority of our staff, almost 90%, are from the communities that we serve. Our goal, and what we’re working for, is that communities design their own solutions to the problems they face.” 🔵 On localization: “We work really hard to be in constant partnership with local organizations. And right now, we think about partnership beyond the sharing of money. It really is about an equal distribution of power and decision-making.” 🔵 On the best way to support nonprofits: “Longer-term or multi-year investments can be transformational. A lot of grant support sometimes is for one or two years. But to be truly innovative, you need time and space to iterate. Just like businesses, nonprofits need the flexibility to experiment.” Thank you, Cisco for your exemplary partnership and leadership on this front, and many others.

Happy #MonarchMonday!  Some states are starting to see caterpillars, so it’s a perfect time for a caterpillar identification refresh! Monarch caterpillars have a few look-alikes, making it more difficult to identify different species. Pictured are a black swallowtail caterpillar, a queen caterpillar, and a monarch caterpillar. An easy way to tell a queen and monarch apart is by the number of filaments. Monarchs have two sets, whereas queens have three. To differentiate between black swallowtails and monarchs, note the dots in the black swallowtail’s pattern versus the stripes of monarchs. What are your go-to ways of identifying caterpillars? #Monarch #MonarchButterfly #monarchcaterpillar #MorethanMonarchs #monarchhabitat #pollinatorhabitat #gardenformonarchs #Pollinators #Insects #PlantNative #PlantDiverse #PlantMilkweed #insectidentification

Collaboration is an essential element of operational readiness!

Check out the next blog in our Redefining Eldership series "The 'Difficult' Kids" by Director of Communications Katie Rainey: https://ow.ly/ucg250Pgu9t #creativegeneration #redefiningeldership Image ID: Image 1 is text on a light blue and navy blue background that reads "Redefining Eldership" and "The 'Difficult' Kids by Katie Rainey"