Our mission: To inspire discovery, acknowledgment and conservation of Native American sacred places and culturally modified trees.

Our Vision: We envision widespread awareness, respect, understanding, and appreciation of Native American sacred trees and places.

Our purpose embraces:

  • Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs)
  • Modified stones, stacked rocks, rock art, and rock writing
  • Ceremonial landmarks and landscapes
  • Native American natural science and western science
  • Stewardship of the earth, land, water, and sky.

We Value:

  • Cultural appreciation
  • Experiential learning
  • Multidisciplinary research Inclusivity
  • Mentorship
  • Stewardship

Board of Directors

Dr. James Jefferson
Dr. James JeffersonPresident and Cofounder
Southern Ute elder. Ignacio, Colorado (Nuuchiu/Ute)
Cindy Goodburn
Cindy GoodburnVice President
Jan Haley
Jan HaleySecretary
Marlene Brown
Marlene BrownMember At Large
Mike Vitek
Mike VitekTreasurer
Sister Jan Ginsky
Sister Jan GinskyMember At Large
Vida Clark
Vida ClarkMember At Large
Nathan Elk
Nathan ElkMember At Large

Co-Founders

John Anderson
John Anderson Co-founder
MBA, TEDx Speaker, Published Author. 30 years public safety experience, including eight years as Sheriff of El Paso County, Colorado and ten years corporate experience. Multiple-book author including: Ute Indian Prayer Trees of the Pikes Peak Region and Native American Prayer Trees of Colorado.

Dr. James Jefferson
Dr. James JeffersonCo-founder and Southern Ute Elder
“As I look at it, we indigenous people have a different view about life that has been taken away from us by the government, that is lost by the majority of the Native American society. Only a few of us retain this different view, but we are not able to express to anyone. Everything is changing with time as we try to retain our original Sovereignty that was given to us by Creator. No one person or Tribal group believes the same way as story tellers change the original version depending on where they live. Language, customs and traditions change from the original version as we get more modern.”
Janet Shown
Janet ShownCo-founder
MSW, Social Work, BS, Journalism. 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, training, event management and writing.

Advisory Council

John Anderson
John AndersonFounder, Advisor and Author
Stephen A. Bain
Stephen A. BainAdvisor, Legal Counsel
Retired Attorney
Kathy Budney
Kathy BudneyAdvisor, Membership Co-Chair
Vickie Danielsen
Vickie DanielsenAdvisor, Artist, Editor
Susie Petersen
Susie PetersenAdvisor
Lee Recca
Lee ReccaAdvisor
Writer, Gardener, Naturalist, Traveler, Native plant mentor, Teacher
Janet Shown
Janet ShownAdvisor
Co-Founder
Barry Trester
Barry TresterAdvisor
Becky Siegel
Becky SiegelAdvisor, Membership Co-Chair
Vansan Vicenti
Vansan VicentiAdvisor
Heidi Wigand-Nicely
Heidi Wigand-NicelyAdvisor, Tour Leader, Author