2023 Schedule – Pacific Time

For many of us, 9th grade US history is but a dim memory of patriotic founding fathers resisting British tyranny, manifest destiny guiding our forefathers’ efforts to “tame” the West and waves of immigrants creating a grand melting pot. We now know that wasn’t the whole story or even a particularly accurate story. We see time and again, those who hold power bury or brush aside painful and difficult events in American history and create systems that limit access to land and its benefits. Additionally, many narratives exclude the leadership and expertise of Indigenous Peoples throughout the history of land conservation. In this seminar presenters will unlock key moments in history that shape private land ownership and the conservation landscape we work in today, focusing on Indigenous Peoples. We will explore strategies to disrupt these systems and advance equity in our conservation practice. We will take a new look at the common land conservation tools and explore alternatives that center Indigenous leadership and access. Through stories and conversation, participants will begin to imagine what a new future for private land conservation might look like. The morning and afternoon sessions will have some content in common, but we will present it in different contexts.