About the Tracking Project

About The Tracking Project

Founded as a non-profit organization in 1986 by John Stokes, The Tracking Project ® in Corrales, New Mexico, has worked with community educators and Native elders from around the world to design a series of teachings which connect individuals directly to the natural world. Our programs of natural and cultural awareness include a wide range of skills—from traditional tracking and survival skills to music, storytelling, dance, peace- making and martial arts training. The name Arts of Life ® was chosen to describe these programs, which emphasize indigenous knowledge, the lessons of Nature and the power of art.

Group Tracking
Dreamtracking—The girls and staff on some coyote tracks in a dry wash.
Ramah Firemaking
John Stokes breathes life to fire in Ramah, NM. Arts of Life program.

Since 1986 a team of artist/educators and traditional Native elders from TTP have shared this unique awareness program with more than 100,000 people of all ages. We provide: Arts of Life programs for schools and communities; wilderness camps for youth; tracking/awareness classes for adults; Tracking the Roots of Peace ® gatherings. Through Nurturing the Roots (NTR), a community mentor program, our work with the international community now includes partners/programs in Hawai‘i, Brazil, the Philippines, Colombia, Sweden, Spain, Japan and Australia.

Children, the preservation of wildlife, biodiversity and the integrity/vitality of Native cultures in the global indigenous network have been the focus of our work. Our programs actively support cultural survival and community revival.

Tom Brown and John Stokes
John Stokes (front right) in natural headgear and attire with wilderness teacher Tom Brown (front left)
John Stokes (right) and Karl Telfer playing the didjeridu.
John Stokes (right) and Karl Telfer playing the didjeridu.
Poets Gary Snyder (left) and Nanao Sakaki (right)

As educators, we seek to:

– Enhance the awareness, self-reliance and self-confidence of our students.

– Provide training for youth in a wide range of life skills, including wilderness      survival, tracking, and nature awareness, through school visits, camps and      special programs.

– Offer an understanding of the importance of cultural survival/revival                  through  music, storytelling, dance, painting and other arts.

– Offer an understanding of the importance of cultural survival/revival                  through music, storytelling, dance, painting and other arts.

– Encourage cultural respect and understanding by focusing on our shared         human needs.

– Provide trainings and mentor programs for educators.

– Promote community education programs which bring together people of          all ages, especially elders and youth.

– Encourage people to appreciate, understand and share in their                            responsibilities to the natural world.

– Work toward a future peaceful and sustainable society.