The Cultural Conservancy

🚴‍♀️ Climate Ride this Saturday, August 17th at Kendall Jackson Winery in Santa Rosa. A one-day ride through the scenic backroads of Sonoma County!

Register today!

Climate Ride Wine Country A one-day ride through the scenic backroads of Sonoma County with a great afterparty. Whether you race for time or ride to complete one of four route distances, the planet wins.

New podcast episode! 🌱🌿 In this episode, TEK is a Verb: Activating Indigenous Ecologies at ESA, Melissa K. Nelson interviews Native scientist colleagues Frank Lake and Lydia Jennings at the annual 2023 Ecological Society of America conference in Portland, Oregon, where they discuss converging Indigenous ecologies, the history of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) at the Ecological Society of America, and data sovereignty.

🎧 Listen to this episode here: https://www.nativeseedpod.org/podcast/2024/ep27-frank-lake-lydia-jennings
📷: by Alexandru Salceanu

TEK is a Verb: Activating Indigenous Ecologies at ESA — The Native Seed Pod TEK is a Verb: Activating Indigenous Ecologies at ESA In this episode, Melissa Nelson interviews two Native scientist colleagues at the annual 2023 Ecological Society of America conference in Portland, Oregon where they discuss Indigenous ecologies, the history of the TEK section, and data sovereig

The first tomatoes (Ruth's perfect) were harvested today at Heron Shadow!

TCC at Indigenous Red Market today! 🌱🌿

Happy summer solstice to all our relatives 🌱🌞🌾🌸🍃

While the U.S. industrial food system relies on monocultures, where a single crop is grown, the Indigenous approach uses polycultures of two or more crops grown together. Scientific studies show that growing in polycultures can make crops less susceptible to pests and diseases, while enhancing ecosystems, biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and soil and water conservation.

“Those are examples of how traditional Indigenous agricultural practices have historically been more sustainable and how to work toward that goal," says Melissa K. Nelson, professor of Indigenous sustainability in the Arizona State University School of Sustainability and TCC Board Chair." Nelson believes bringing an Indigenous perspective to the industrial agricultural system could yield big benefits in sustainability and human health.

More:

The hidden cost of the American food system | ASU News Editor’s note: This is the third story in a series exploring how ASU tackles complex problems to help transform entire systems for the better. Read the first story, about the role of the university in changing the world, and the second story, about about solving the CO2 problem.

Join American Indian Cultural District of San Francisco Community Visions Focus Group Seven: Economic & Workforce Development on June 26th from 5:00 PM-8:30 PM.
📍The Lab 2948 16th Street San Francisco, California 94103

To ensure we can provide enough food for our guests and track community engagement please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/RV5oKD3dQH22MzPD9

Focus Group Seven is centered on gathering community feedback to identify what essential resources, support, and spaces are needed to bolster the economic and workforce development of our local American Indian/Alaskan Native community. This event is being hosted in partnership with the Native American Health Center , Friendship House Association of American Indians , American Indian Cultural Center of San Francisco, The Cultural Conservancy, and SFUSD Indian Education Program, Title VI.

Feedback will help shape an official community-driven strategies report that will be adopted by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Mayor to guide the allocation of resources and support to meet the needs of the local American Indian community.

Please help us increase community participation and elevate more Native voices by sharing with your local community networks!

San Francisco Giants Native American Heritage Night on Friday, 6/14!

Join us at Oracle Park and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of Native American communities across California. Enjoy an evening filled with Native American pregame performances, cultural music and specialty food options.

Game Ticket: Friday, June 14 vs. Los Angeles Angels
Special Event Item: Hat designed by Jesse Hernandez

Discounted tickets available here: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/NativeamericanHC2024

Opening today (May 24) "California: State of Nature" new permanent exhibition at California Academy of Sciences explores California’s unparalleled biodiversity, spectacular landscapes, and Indigenous science through immersive experiences, animal specimens, hands-on displays, and more.

Be sure to check out the Urban Restoration Ecology portion of the exhibit which features TCC Board Chair and California Academy of Sciences Trustee, Melissa K. Nelson, video about The Cultural Conservancy's work in the Presidio!

This is the Academy’s first major exhibition crafted in collaboration with numerous Indigenous advisors representing diverse communities across the state. In a continued effort to embrace and honor Indigenous cultures, complimentary tickets are being offered to community members through the American Indian Cultural District of San Francisco, extending a warm invitation to engage with the museum's offerings.

Huge congratulations to all the beautiful contributions and voices that came together for this incredible exhibit.✨

Press release: https://www.calacademy.org/press/releases/new-academy-exhibition-california-state-of-nature-brings-the-state%e2%80%99s-forests-coasts

Words from Redbird Edward D Willie on this past Saturday’s TEK tule basket weaving workshop at Heron Shadow, “We had another successful TEK class here on the land. Everyone came to weave and despite the heavy rain in the morning (we got a whole inch in a few hours!) I am always thankful for the greenhouse, our multipurpose house. The best classes are the ones where I do an intense teaching at the front end and then the students just take that and run with it. In one of these photos you can see when that happened. Everyone is sitting there weaving away focused on their baskets. I just get to sit there and watch. That's when I know I said all the right things.”

Thank you so much to our instructor, all participants, helping hands near and far, and the basket weaving enthusiasts for making this workshop happen! The next TEK workshop hosted by The Cultural Conservancy will be in early August with more details to be announced.

This Saturday, learn to weave a burden tule basket using traditional California techniques with traditional Pomo weaver Redbird Willie at Heron Shadow. All weaving supplies and tools will be provided!

🗓️Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 9am-4pm
Workshop fee: By donation

There are a limited number of participant spots available and an RSVP is required to attend. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tek-basket-weaving-workshop-registration-881489397517?aff=oddtdtcreator

Once you have reserved your spot through Eventbrite, you will receive an email with additional details about the day. If you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected].

We're excited to share this special space with you!

Come celebrate and join us at the opening reception of the new exhibit, Kay Key Ya | Nature, Natives, and California Regalia featuring artworks by Redbird Willie. Paintings, regalia, and sculpture will be on display in The Cultural Conservancy's Coyote Room and Community Resource Library through the end of Summer 2024.

🗓️Date: April 26, 2024
⏰Time: 5:00-8:00PM
📍Location: The Presidio, 1016 Lincoln Blvd., STE 120, San Francisco, CA 94129

RSVP today! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kay-key-ya-nature-natives-and-california-regalia-exhibit-opening-registration-883745535687?aff=oddtdtcreator

This exhibit was made possible in part through a generous grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission, Creative Work Fund, and Walter and Elise Haas Fund.

Artworks by Redbird Willie

The Cultural Conservancy preserves Indigenous tradition, food cultivation The CEO of The Cultural Conservancy Sara Moncada is committed to revitalizing Indigenous agriculture and transcending non-nutritious food diets towards more healthy ways of living.

“We want to be a place for global Indigenous leadership to come and gather in solidarity,” said Melissa K Nelson, chair of the board of Sogorea Te' Land Trust and The Cultural Conservancy, at a celebratory news conference last Wednesday (March 13, 2024). “We want to educate, we want to restore and we want to heal.”

Native people rejoice after Berkeley returns sacred land The 2.2-acre parking lot is the only undeveloped portion of the shellmound in West Berkeley

👏 An Indigenous nonprofit Alliance For Felix Cove with family ties to a long-neglected piece of national park land on the Marin County coast wants to restore and return the parcel to Indigenous stewardship — and has asked federal officials to join as partners in the effort.

The proposal is part of a national Indigenous-led movement, known as Land Back, that has reached the Bay Area in recent years and resulted in some high-profile land agreements, including in Oakland and Berkeley.

Indigenous stewardship sought for national park site on Marin County coast An Indigenous nonprofit with family ties to a parcel on Point Reyes National Seashore has proposed a cooperative agreement with federal park officials.

Spring is here 🌱🌸🌿🪴
Happy Spring Equinox! ✨🌞
🍓🪴🌼🪻🌱
From community volunteer day this past Sunday at Heron Shadow:
-Volunteers and staff cleaned up our strawberry beds and repotted many baby strawberry plants to give to the Bay Area Native Community.
- The volunteer team weeded some of our Native plant beds, making more room for mugwort, skullcap, and gooseberry and more.
-Folks re-potted plants in our growing Native plant nursery, giving larger trees and bushes room to grow.

Thank you to the many hands and hearts that helped nurture and tend to our plant relatives!

👏👏👏 The city of Berkeley has reached a landmark agreement and will transfer the contested Spenger’s parking lot in West Berkeley to the Sogorea Te' Land Trust, making it among the first cities in the country to return land to Indigenous people. Huge congratulations!! ❤️

Berkeley will buy Ohlone shellmound site, return it to Indigenous land trust The city council today could approve the purchase of the contested parking lot in West Berkeley at the site of an Ohlone shellmound.

Words from Redbird Willie, traditional Pomo weaver and Heron Shadow Land Manager, on leading yesterday's TEK Tule Basket Weaving Workshop: "One of my favorite aspects of teaching an ancestral skills class is the coming together part. I tell people social dialogue is an ancestral skill too. A ancestral skill we can all use practice on. Sitting around weaving and visiting is the best. One of my challenge practices is to explain some aspect of the process using only words, no hands, no fingers, no lips, no whiteboard. It's a fun practice."

Thank you to all participants, helping hands, and those who expressed enthusiasm for this event! We encourage folks to stay on the lookout for future TEK workshops The Cultural Conservancy will announce throughout the year!

ASU News spoke to Sara El Sayed and Melissa K. Nelson about the origins of the "Knowledge Symbiosis: Can Biomimicry and Indigenous Science Harmonize” series recently produced by The Cultural Conservancy’s Native Seed Pod in collaboration with Arizona State University. This five-episode podcast series invites dialogue from multiple perspectives — including practitioners in biomimicry, elders and Indigenous scholars.

You can listen to "Knowledge Symbiosis" on The Native Seed and Learning from Nature Learning from Nature: The Biomimicry Podcast with Lily Urmann. All episodes are available wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & Google.

New ASU podcast looks at biomimicry through an Indigenous lens | ASU News The topic of biomimicry isn’t your typical water cooler conversation, but two Arizona State University professors are attempting to make the subject more accessible to the public and explore if it can facilitate more inclusive pathways to science. “Knowledge Symbiosis: Can Biomimicry and Indigen...

📢 Now hiring! The Cultural Conservancy is now seeking applicants for the Seasonal Farmer role. The Seasonal Farmer is a temporary, full-time position that supports the Farm Manager in TCC’s agricultural work and supports community engagement with the Native Foodways Program. To learn more and apply, please visit: https://www.nativeland.org/seasonal-farmer-2024

Please share widely with your networks!
- Seasonal April 2024 - December 2024
- Work location will be at Heron Shadow, our land base in Sebastopol and the Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden (IVC) in Novato, CA
- Temporary full-time, non-exempt, hourly
- Compensation: $25.00/hour
- Reliable personal transportation
- Native/Indigenous, Two-spirit, q***r, and GNC/trans* relatives strongly encouraged to apply
-We will accept applications until the position is filled

📢 Now hiring! The Cultural Conservancy is now seeking applicants for the Native Foodways Program Coordinator role. This is a permanent part-time position that supports and coordinates the development and implementation of the vision and goals of the Foodways Program, in particular our regional food justice program. To learn more and apply, please visit: https://www.nativeland.org/-foodways-coordinator-24

Please share widely with your networks! ✨
📍Work location will be at Heron Shadow, our land base in Sebastopol, CA
- Compensation $27-$28/hour
- Permanent part-time, non-exempt
- 24 hours/week
- Reliable personal transportation
- Native/Indigenous, Two-spirit, q***r, and GNC/trans* relatives strongly encouraged to apply
-We will accept applications until the position is filled

This Sunday, please join us and learn to weave a utility tule basket using traditional California techniques with traditional Pomo weaver Redbird Willie at Heron Shadow in Sebastopol, CA. All weaving supplies and tools will be provided!

🗓️Sunday, February 18, 2024 from 10am-4pm

Workshop fee: By donation

Please bring a lunch, snacks will be provided.

There are a limited number of participant spots available and an RSVP is required to attend!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tek-basket-weaving-workshop-at-heron-shadow-registration-827630594387?aff=oddtdtcreator

Lovely day at the 13th annual Bay Area American Indian Two Spirit Powwow BAAITS at Fort Mason on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone lands. Thank you for a great event and to all who stopped by our table and chatted about our passion for seeds, the Native Seed Pod, and how to volunteer at our land base Heron Shadow in Sebastopol! Always such a gift to see a multi-generational crowd that have traveled from close and far, the dancers, vendors, drummers, community orgs, event planners that made it all happen, and the many familiar and new faces at this community gathering. 🌱🪶

New 🎙️ episode! 🌱✨ In the fourth episode of our limited series Knowledge Symbiosis: Can Biomimicry and Indigenous Science Harmonize?, Roxanne Swentzell and Anne LaForti engage in a conversation hosted by Sara El-Sayed, converging Indigenous ideologies and scientific understanding of soils, seeds, regenerative versus sustainable terminologies, and steps to healing ourselves and our ecosystems.

This limited series, Knowledge Symbiosis: Can Biomimicry and Indigenous Science Harmonize?, is produced by The Cultural Conservancy’s Native Seed Pod in collaboration with Arizona State University and Learning From Nature: The Biomimicry Podcast with Lily Urmann. We invite dialogue from multiple perspectives—practitioners in biomimicry, and elders, practitioners, and Indigenous scholars—so we might better understand each other and explore opportunities to weave these learnings. These conversations delve into the ethics of science, human-nature connection, regenerative design, and our relationship to all other kin on this planet. 🌎

Listen to this episode here: https://www.nativeseedpod.org/podcast/2023/ep26-roxanne-swentzell-anne-laforti

📷: Cover artwork by John Jairo Valencia

Knowledge Symbiosis with Roxanne Swentzell and Anne LaForti — The Native Seed Pod Knowledge Symbiosis with Roxanne Swentzell and Anne LaForti In the fourth episode of our limited series Knowledge Symbiosis: Can Biomimicry and Indigenous Science Harmonize?, Roxanne Swentzell and Anne LaForti engage in a conversation hosted by Sara El-Sayed, converging Indigenous ideologies and

'Let's Get the LANDBACK' booklet written by PennElys Droz is a roadmap and resource guide for getting land back to tribes! 👏

PennElys was also recently featured in the third episode of the Native Seed Pod in our limited series Knowledge Symbiosis: Can Biomimicry and Indigenous Science Harmonize? 🌱✨

Native Seed Podcast: https://www.nativeseedpod.org/podcast/2023/ep25-pennelys-droz-maibritt-pederson-zari

Happy winter solstice! New podcast episode out now! In the third episode of our limited series Knowledge Symbiosis: Can Biomimicry and Indigenous Science Harmonize?, PennElys Droz and Maibritt Pederson Zari engage in conversation hosted by Lily Urmann, exploring cosmologies, paradigm shifts and how to be in good relationship while we co-create and design as humans within creation. They outline principles of regenerative design in communities, and how we all might engage in decolonization as well as learn from Indigenous ecological relationships.

https://www.nativeseedpod.org/podcast

Five episodes will be available on The Native Seed Pod and Learning From Nature: The Biomimicry Podcast with Lily Urmann for listeners!

Artwork by: John Jairo Valencia

Indigenous land trust empowers women to reclaim and restore ancestral land - The Boston Globe Is rematriation the future of the Land Back movement?