Generations of Feminist Ecologies in Land Stewardship and Restoration Featuring Native Voices from around the Salish Sea

Earth-toned tapestry weaving with text overlay "Generations of Feminist Ecologies in Land Stewardship and Restoration""

Date

To

Location

(Zoom begins 4:30 p.m.) In-Person at WWU in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room, and Online on Zoom

Event Description

Watch an archived video of this event.

Join us as historian Alexandra Peck moderates two panels consisting of tribal leaders from the Salish Sea bioregion. Panels will bridge generational gaps and explore the traditional roles of indigenous women in land stewardship. Our speakers will also reflect on historical challenges, triumphs and knowledge systems while fostering dialogue about current and future environmental and indigenous initiatives.  

The first panel of elders will discuss the history of land stewardship that has been deeply woven with feminism since time immemorial. Coast Salish women played pivotal roles both on the water and ashore—engaging in trade with tribal allies, tending camas prairies, harvesting medicinal plants, and weaving intricate basketry (Littlefield, 1995: 52). 

In the second panel, young tribal leaders will discuss a resurgence and revival of cultural practices. Through these discussions, the longstanding significance of women in land stewardship will be explored. These young women, including an activist, a scientist, and an author/storyteller, will each share their unique perspectives of the present and future of indigenous women in stewardship and restoration. 

Read about the speakers and RSVP for this free event that is open to the public via The Foundation for WWU & Alumni's website. 

This event is organized and presented by the WWU Ecological Restoration Club and sponsored by the WWU Ecological Restoration Club; WWU College of the Environment; Salish Sea Institute; WWU Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; WWU Community Service Center; Sustainability Engagement Institute; Fairhaven College; WWU Honors College; Children of the Setting Sun Productions; WECU; and The Foundation for WWU & Alumni.

Image description: Detail of weaving titled “Third Eye Listening” by Dr. Susan sa'hLa mitSa Pavel
"The story of the weaving is for humans to dismantle our known ways of seeing, hearing, speaking, smelling, and feeling.  The title attempts to point to that by listening through our sight.  Makes one pause to understand the title and hopefully leads to a deeper questioning.  Also, it is all naturally dyed with mushrooms indigenous to this area."