Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is one of three national monuments outside Flagstaff, Arizona. Park interpretations at the Visitor Center focused on geologic processes and provided the public a narrow, Euro-American view of native relationships with the volcanic landscape. In addition to disseminating cultural misinformation to the public, this viewpoint confused American Indian children who visited the park because it contradicted what they were taught at home about certain traditions and their relationship with the land. While the interpretation included mention of the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation, it ignored the relationships of six tribes who have an extensive history with the landscape - the Yavapai, Hualapai, Havasupai, San Juan Southern Paiute, Western Apache, and Zuni.

A traditional use study was conducted to provide the Park with a comprehensive view of the various cultural relationships with the landscape. Representatives from the six previously ignored tribes provided ethnographic accounts that addressed the cultural significance of plants, animals, water sources, evidence of traditional uses, geologic features, and the landscape itself. The accounts were compiled as a management document for the Park to refer to in its decision-making.

Final reports often hit the shelf never to be seen again. In this case, however, the report has influenced consultation practices and the redesign of the Visitor Center. The interpretation of native relationships with the volcanic landscape now comprises 25% of the displays. One section deals with the variety of human responses to the eruption, and another section highlights past and present cultural aspects of the landscape. The new visitor center exemplifies how contemporary traditional knowledge can influence park interpretations, promote native heritages, and transform geologic processes into dynamic, living, multi-cultural landscapes.