Tiana Cachini
Congratulations to Tiana Cachini of Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps for winning a 2026 Corpsmember of the Year Award! Awardees will be recognized at The Corps Network’s virtual National Conference – #CorpsCon26 and May 2026 in-person Action Summit in Washington. The conference will be held March 24 – 25, 2026. Click here to learn more about #CorpsCon26. Click here to learn more about the in-person Action Summit. Click here to learn more about #CorpCon26 awards. Click here to learn more about the
2026 Corpsmember of the Year nominees.
“Tiana Cachini’s term as the Indigenous Mapping and Research Intern resulted in a profound and positive impact.”
Tiana Cachini’s service with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) stands as a powerful example of how Corps programs and national service can elevate Indigenous voices, strengthencultural representation, and contribute to lasting, community-centered conservation outcomes. As the Indigenous Mapping and Research Individual Placement supporting Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM) and Native Lands, National Trails (NLNT), Tiana combined technical skill-building with deep cultural responsibility to produce work that will shape how tribal histories are respectfully shared for years to come.
Tiana entered her role with no prior experience in GIS or mapping technologies. Her 52-week AmeriCorps term included an intensive eight-week training program, during which she developed a strong foundation in ArcGIS Online, ESRI StoryMaps, research ethics and protocols, data sovereignty, National Trails 101, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) processes. This training positioned her to take on a project of creating a GIS-based resource highlighting the tribal nations connected to the Old Spanish Trail National Historic Trail and Indigenous perspectives that have historically been excluded from public land interpretation.
One of Tiana’s most significant accomplishments was initiating and sustaining a respectful partnership with the Pueblo of Zuni. Recognizing the importance of proper authorization and cultural protocol, she worked closely with the Zuni Cultural Resource Advisory Team (ZCRAT)–a formal collective of cultural leaders authorized to speak on Zuni cultural ties–to secure permission to document and share community stories. She also collaborated with Zuni youth from the Zuni Royalty Organization (ZRO), promoting intergenerational participation and learning throughout the project.
Tiana organized and led multiple in-person site visits to CANM, fostering meaningful connection and reconnection to cultural landscapes and public lands. For many participants, these trips marked their first visit to the monument and their first camping experiences, making the opportunity both culturally and personally transformative. Drawing on the stories and experiences gathered during these visits, Tiana independently created a professional-quality ESRI StoryMap, an extraordinary achievement given her lack of prior mapping experience. Throughout the editing and review process, she worked closely with ZCRAT and Zuni youth to ensure stories were presented in culturally appropriate and authentic ways. The project successfully passed review by the BLM and Conservation Legacy and gained approval for public viewing. As the inaugural intern dedicated to NLNT, Tiana also helped establish critical benchmarks for the position by offering actionable, strategic feedback and guidance for future project implementation.
Tiana’s influence extended beyond her project work. Over the course of 1,752.5 service hours, she served as a vital representative of a Zuni woman in conservation, bringing cultural insight to interagency collaborations with CANM and BLM staff at both local and national levels. She actively engaged with ALCC crews and peers, leading mock interviews and encouraging others to pursue professional development opportunities. Her participation in ALCC Monthly Individual Placement calls also helped elevate awareness of Indigenous connections to public lands and the importance of cultural representation in conservation spaces.
Following her service term, Tiana deepened her civic engagement through her continued leadership with the ZRO. She played a key role in helping the organization secure 501(c)(3) status, successfully establishing Zuni Royalty Organization Incorporated (ZRO Inc.). Tiana now serves on the organization’s Board of Directors as Secretary and Treasurer and is preparing to welcome her first child in December 2025.
Tiana’s Corps experience not only expanded her technical skills but also reshaped her career interests–sparking a strong desire to continue working in mapping and Indigenous land-based research. She plans to use her AmeriCorps Education Award to further her education in mapping, building on the foundation she developed during her service with ALCC. Through cultural leadership, technical excellence, and deep respect for Indigenous communities, Tiana’s service demonstrates how elevating Indigenous voices can provide crucial cultural insight and create more inclusive public lands.
