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 tribes and nations 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.