Wednesday, November 2, 2022 3:30–5:00pm
Speakers
Matthew Nelson, Executive Director, Arizona Trail Association
Matthew J. Nelson has worked as the Executive Director of the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) since 2012, but his connections to the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) go back over 20 years. Some of his contributions include trail design, archaeological surveys, volunteer trail construction and maintenance, youth engagement, as well as personal explorations of the AZT on foot, mountain bike and horseback.
Before taking a leadership role with the ATA, Matthew has worked as an outdoor educator, archaeologist, tribal liaison, Grand Canyon backpacking guide, and photojournalist. He has more than 500 published articles to his credit and is the primary author of Your Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail and the Arizona Trail Junior Explorer Handbook.
Growing up in Payahuunadü (the Owens Valley of California) gave Matthew a deep appreciation for breathtaking landscapes, public lands, and indigenous culture. Before his commitment to the ATA, Matthew served as the Bishop Paiute Tribe’s Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Coordinator. In 2018, he produced a project in collaboration with traditional Hopi singer Clark Tenakhongva called Öngtupqa, which features Hopi cultural connections to Grand Canyon through music and video.
He is proud to work with indigenous communities throughout Arizona on a variety of Arizona Trail projects that help reconnect people to ancestral homelands, and empower individuals to continue a long history of public lands stewardship.
Melissa Twaroski, Coordinator, Trail of Tears MOA Implementation, U.S. Forest Service
Melissa works for the U.S. Forest Service as the Coordinator for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail on National Forest Lands in the Southern Region. She began her 30 year Forest Service career as an District Archaeologist. She has also held positions as an Integrated Resource Analyst, Forest Archaeologist and Tribal Liaison, and a Regional Archaeologist / Regional Heritage Program Leader.
