(CANCELLED) The Future of Indigenous Stewardship: A Yurok Tribal Forester on Melding Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Modern Conservation

EVENT CANCELLED: Due to an unforeseen emergency, our speaker has had to cancel this appearance. If you have purchased a ticket, you will receive a cancellation email and a full refund. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to sharing our next Speaker Series event with you soon.

In the face of growing environmental crises, the modern conservation movement is increasingly tapping into thousands of years of wisdom. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) comes from Indigenous peoples around the globe and has the potential to help heal our ecosystems.

Hailing from the majestic landscapes of upper Northern California and immersed in the rich tapestry of his Native culture, Francisco Antonio Saavedra Jr. — also known as Chpegi, or Osprey, in Yurok — has become an advocate for the melding of traditional Indigenous stewardship with modern conservation practices. As a budding forestry technician and federally recognized member of the Pit River Tribe, Saavedra is dedicated to the restoration of California’s ecosystems and the use of TEK in land management.

In “The Future of Indigenous Stewardship,” Saavedra will share his conservation work and the work of the tribes of his region. Drawing from the disciplines of TEK, ethnobotany, and multilingual storytelling, his presentation will honor injustices of the past and enlighten us on the differences between Western and tribal forestry — as well as how they could come together in a new age of ecological restoration. Afterward, he’ll be joined by Hidden Compass co-founders Sabine K. Bergmann and Sivani Babu to discuss where tribal land management is headed and what gives him hope.

Bio

Francisco Antonio Saavedra Jr. is a federally recognized member of the Pit River Tribe with Yurok and Salvadoran ancestry. Raised in Northern California with a profound respect for the environment, Saavedra has embarked on a path of education and action to safeguard his natural heritage.

Based in Arcata, Humboldt County, Saavedra is an advocate for integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into modern conservation practices. He has spoken at various events and fundraisers, on several podcasts, and is in his second year as a Forestry Apprentice for Save the Redwoods League.

Saavedra is studying Forestry and Natural Resources at The College of the Redwoods and plans to continue his studies in Tribal Forestry, Natural Resources, and Fire Restoration Ecology at California State Polytechnic University in Humboldt. His goal is to become a registered professional forester and champion ecological restoration and tribal land management.

Outside of his advocacy work and formal education, Saavedra enjoys gardening, drawing, and creating art from watercolors and other materials. He creates Native American-inspired jewelry and performs as a storyteller and drum-song singer.