Tribal Nations have unique political, social and cultural equities that inform their stewardship of natural resources in their homelands. During these times when environmental justice issues are coming into increased scrutiny, Tribes and Indigenous peoples are at risk of being left out of the conversation. For us, the fights are personal and are tantamount to an existential crisis. There is hope, however, as increasingly western science and policy making are recognizing that Indigenous peoples and Tribal governments are a necessary part of the solutions to the increasing corporatization of natural resources, climate change, and biodiversity loss. What are best practices in being an ally to Tribes and Indigenous peoples? How can science- based study be broadened to be respectful to Traditional Ecological Knowledge?

About the speaker

Karen Diver is the director of business development for Native American Advancement Initiatives at the University of Arizona. Previous positions include Faculty fellow for Inclusive Excellence at the College of St. Scholastica, special assistant to the President (Obama) for Native American Affairs at the White House, and chairwoman of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Master of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.