The Preservers are an ancient race (or group of races), known for transplanting humanoid people-groups from their indigenous planet to remote locations, to prevent "cultural extinction." They placed several tribes of Native Americans on the world Amerind (Epsilon Aurigae IV), who were discovered by the USS Enterprise in 2269. The Preservers, known as the "Wise Ones" to the transplanted tribes, also left behind an obelisk, which emitted a tractor beam, deflecting asteroids from the planet.