June 11, 2024
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
This panel will focus on two of the New England Tribal Nations, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. Both sovereign nations work to preserve and protect the natural resources of their communities through their resource management offices and traditional practices. The focus of the panel will be providing historical perspectives, the challenges each community faces, the importance of respecting traditional ecological knowledge, and solutions/pathways forward.
Moderator
Keshia De Freece Lawrence
Indigenous Education Specialist
Harvard Forest
PANELISTS
Rahiem V. Eleazer
Environmental Liaison
Mashantucket Pequot
Michael Johnson
Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Leslie Jonas
Mashpee Wampanoag
Indigenous Land and Water Conservationist
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Research Administrator and Tribal Liaison
Native Land Conservancy Founding Board Officer
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) Advisory Board
Justice40 Advisory Board
Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission
Keystone Cooperator
Jason Steiding
National Resource Director
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe