Cover photo taken by Bethany Sonsini Goodrichat the Sustainable Southeast Partnership Retreat in Sitka.
In Southeast Alaska, the vast, pristine Tongass National Forest—home to diverse ecosystems and Alaska Native nations—represents more than just a natural resource. It is a living entity, an enduring source of cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance. But like many of the world’s most vital ecosystems, the forest faces complex challenges as its management enters a new era. The revision of the U.S. Forest Service’s Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan offers a unique opportunity to embrace a new, more inclusive approach—one that centres Indigenous knowledge and fosters deep, transformative collaboration.
At the heart of this change is Spruce Root, a Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), whose mission is to support and nurture a regenerative economy across Southeast Alaska. Working in collaboration with Reos Partners and the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP), Spruce Root has spearheaded a community-driven process to shape a sustainable future for the Tongass and its surrounding communities.
Spruce Root was born out of a deep understanding of the need for community-driven development in a region with complex geography, diverse stakeholders, and a long history of colonial disruption. As Alana Peterson, Spruce Root's Executive Director, reflected in this interview:
"We recognised early on that to support local economic development, we needed a process rooted in relationships—not just top-down solutions. The people who live here, the communities that call Southeast Alaska home, must shape the path forward. Our job is to create a space where those voices can be heard, amplified, and respected."
In those early years, Spruce Root faced significant challenges, not least of which were the barriers to building meaningful relationships across the region’s communities. The diverse mix of actors—Indigenous nations, conservation groups, businesses, NGOs, and local governments—often operated in silos, hindering collaborative progress. Over time, Spruce Root joined the SSP, a grassroots network that brings together diverse voices to address the region's interconnected social, environmental, and economic issues.
Through SSP, Spruce Root learned the value of collaboration—not as a one-time event, but as an ongoing process of relationship-building, shared learning, and collective action. This network became the foundation for everything they do.
"Over the past decade, we’ve worked hard to break down barriers and build trust," Alana Peterson says. "This network has allowed us to bring people together to focus on what we share in common—the desire to see our communities thrive and our lands respected."
Collaborating for Southeast Alaska's future at the Sustainable Southeast Partnership Retreat in Sitka. Photo: Bethany Sonsini Goodrich.
The collaboration that Spruce Root has fostered is grounded in the principles of Indigenous knowledge systems, which have long guided the stewardship of the land and waters of Southeast Alaska. These systems emphasise holistic, relational ways of knowing that honour the interconnectedness of all life. Indigenous peoples of the region, including the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian, have stewarded the Tongass for millennia, and their knowledge remains vital today. As Peterson notes:
"We are deeply informed by Indigenous ways of being. These aren’t just old ways of thinking—they are living, breathing systems of knowledge. Our work acknowledges that the wisdom of Indigenous people is the best guide for sustainable management of the land. Our approach isn’t about bringing in outside experts to 'fix' things—it’s about listening and learning from those who have always known how to care for this land."
Spruce Root’s work with Reos Partners reflects this ethos, incorporating a place-based framework for decision-making.
When Spruce Root turned to Reos Partners to support them in imagining new futures for Southeast Alaska, they chose transformative scenario planning (TSP) as the tool to engage the full diversity of perspectives in the region. TSP prioritises long-term vision, such as considering the needs of the land and community over short-term gains. It is a participatory process that invites stakeholders to explore multiple possible futures and examine how different actions today might shape those futures. The aim is not to predict a single outcome, but to create a shared understanding of the forces shaping the future and develop strategies that can respond flexibly to those forces.
The Sustainable Southeast Partnership Retreat in Sitka. Photo: Bethany Sonsini Goodrich
For Peterson and the SSP, transformative scenario planning offered a way to move beyond the traditional linear planning processes and embrace the complexity and uncertainty of the future:
"The traditional methods of planning are often too rigid. They assume one path forward, one set of solutions. But in Southeast Alaska, the realities of our environment and communities are constantly shifting. Scenarios give us a way to explore different futures and ask: 'What if?' What if we take this path? What if we take that path? It’s about making decisions today that are more flexible, more creative, and more in tune with the community's needs."
Working with Reos Partners, this effort brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from across Southeast Alaska, including Indigenous leaders, business owners, conservationists, government representatives, and others, to co-create several distinct scenarios for the region's future. Over the course of a year, these scenarios were developed and refined through a series of collaborative workshops, each designed to bring out the collective wisdom of the group.
"The scenarios we built are challenging," Peterson says. "There’s something to love and something to hate in each one. But that’s the point—they push us to think critically about the future we want to create, and to consider how our actions today connect to those possible futures."
One of the most significant applications of this work is in the revision of the Tongass National Forest Plan. The Forest Service has engaged with communities across Southeast Alaska to gather input on their priorities for the forest. However, the revision process has been fraught with political and social tensions, making it difficult to create a unified vision. Spruce Root is using the scenarios as a tool to bridge these divides, helping stakeholders think creatively about how to integrate diverse perspectives into a cohesive, long-term strategy.
Participants at the Tongass Implications Workshop in Juneau. Photo: Val Massie
The collaborative implications workshop, facilitated by Reos Partners, was a key moment in this process. It brought together Forest Service officials and regional stakeholders to explore how the scenarios can inform the forest management plan over the next 15 years. The goal was to create a space where participants could engage in open, creative dialogue—without the constraints of political pressure or bureaucratic concerns.
"This is a safe space to explore new ideas," Peterson notes. "We’re asking people to think beyond the traditional framework, to step outside their comfort zones. We’re not just trying to ‘tweak’ the Forest Plan—we’re asking how we can truly transform the way we think about forest management in a way that honours the land, the communities, and the future generations."
One of the key outcomes of the scenario planning process has been the capacity-building that has taken place. Through workshops and training, Reos Partners has not only facilitated the creation of the scenarios, but also empowered local leaders to continue using them in their own work. Spruce Root has integrated the scenarios into their own strategic planning and is working to ensure that communities across the region have the tools to use them as well.
"This work has been transformative in building local capacity," Peterson says. "Reos didn’t just come in, do the work, and leave—they’ve worked with us to ensure that we can continue using these methods and tools in the future. We’re creating a network of leaders who can carry this process forward."
Spruce Root is also sharing the scenarios with other organisations across Southeast Alaska, including non-profit groups, businesses, and local governments. The scenarios are now being used in strategic planning, helping organisations think about the future in a more unified, connected way.
"We’re already seeing the impact of the scenarios in strategic planning," Peterson notes. "Organisations are using them in SWOT analyses and other decision-making processes. The scenarios are helping us see that, despite our different missions and goals, we all share a common vision for the future of this place."
As the revision of the Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan moves forward, the collaboration fostered by Spruce Root, the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, and Reos Partners is reshaping how forest management decisions are made. By centring Indigenous knowledge, embracing diverse perspectives, and using transformative scenario planning, this collaborative approach sets a new standard for how communities can come together to tackle complex challenges.
"What excites me most about this work is the potential for real systems change," Peterson says. "This is not just about changing a policy or a plan. This is about changing the way we think about the future. It’s about creating a future that is regenerative, sustainable, and deeply connected to the land and people."
In the forests of Southeast Alaska, a new chapter is unfolding—where communities, ecosystems, and governance unite, guided by Indigenous wisdom and a shared vision for the future. This transformative collaboration paves the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and thriving future for the Tongass.
Is your region facing challenges with land stewardship? Reos Partners can help you navigate these complex issues through collaborative strategies tailored to your specific needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can work together to address your unique challenges.