Monday, August 7, 2017: 10:15 AM-11:30 AM
Portland Blrm 253, Oregon Convention Center
Each year, the Sense of Place session provides a forum for local indigenous people to share place-based ecological knowledge and cultural traditions around the annual conference theme, and for ESA members to begin the conference in dialogue with people who have been stewards of local ecosystems for thousands of years. Traditional ecological knowledge that has accumulated over millennia forms a deep sense of place within tribal communities. Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest have lived with and adapted to change in natural and socio-cultural systems. They are currently engaged in various initiatives that bridge science and culture to address environmental management challenges. Several tribal representatives will share how their traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices relate to the ESA conference theme: Linking biodiversity, material cycling and ecosystem services in a changing world. This special session will provide an opportunity for ESA members to learn about the experiences and insights of tribal representatives from different areas regarding their collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, and organizations to promote socio-cultural and ecological resilience of ecosystems, habitats, and cultures across the region.