Presentation: Indigenous Eco-cultural Revitalization

This talk explores the process of Amah Mutsun eco-cultural revitalization through the stewardship of the Quiroste Valley Cultural Preserve in coastal San Mateo County. Despite colonial impacts that violently disrupted their place-based responsibilities, eco-cultural revitalization efforts have been underway for nearly two decades by the Amah Mutsun. Despite a growing acknowledgment of the importance of environmental stewardship practices grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems, some environmental organizations view Tribal restoration practices as antithetical to natural resource conservation; the presentation will address these tensions.

Alexii Sigona is currently a UC President's Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Native American Studies at UC Davis. He received his Ph.D. in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at UC Berkeley. His dissertation, Revitalizing Stewardship: Amah Mutsun Tribal Band Land Access through Collaborative Caretaking, examines questions of land access and environmental governance for non-federally recognized Tribal nations. He serves as the chair of the Lands Committee of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust, as a leader of the Amah Mutsun Youth Group, and is on the Native American Advisory Council for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Elizabeth Rodriguez is an enrolled member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. She is currently at Fresno City College majoring in Anthropology and aspiring to specialize in Archaeology. Elizabeth is involved in the UwiSmak singers group, and regularly attends tribal events related to the Protect Juristac Campaign, tribal wellness meetings, and tribal youth group activities. She has been involved with the Amah Mutsun Land Trust as an intern and a volunteer for the Plant Propagation program. 

Connect with the Amah Mutsun-led Protect Juristac campaign.

Photo courtesy of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.