Rematriate the Land: Our Obligations to Truth and Healing - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/HSW)

Recorded On: 10/06/2024

Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge comprises foundational systems relating directly to the practice of cultural activities grounded by human interaction with the land and each other. Our obligations as landscape architects should be to facilitate the restoration and protection of cultural places while working to return Indigenous access to these lands.

Learning objectives:

Recognize why Indigenous communities are critical partners for biodiversity, resilience, and climate adaptation projects.
Promote strategies, policies, and partnerships for co-stewardship of public and private lands.
Understand how Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge is transferred, and how it is inseparable from the people and their culture, language, and spiritual identity.
Acknowledge how Indigenous peoples' connection to land contributes to their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and how landscape architects can develop more culturally safe and meaningful environments.

José de Jesus Leal, ASLA

Principal and Director of Native Nation Building Studio

MIG, Inc.

José is a truth-teller and a Landscape Architect who considers laughter good medicine. His personal and professional journeys have always been spiritual - guided by the understanding that he is still a student with a deep passion for learning. As Director of MIG's Native Nation Building Studio, his work focuses on the power of co-creation and inclusive community-based design and planning that is culturally sensitive. For José, supporting Native community self-determination and capacity building are critical goals. José uses landscape architecture to uncover, explore, and reflect hidden truths that can lead to healing, restoration, and a better path forward.

Kenwani'cahee Kravitz, MLS

Native Nations Liaison

Southern Oregon University

Kenwanicahee Kravitz, MLS Native Nations Liaison, Southern Oregon University
Mrs. Kravitz is a Tribal advocate with a deep personal understanding of Tribal community, culture and protocols. She is an enrolled member of the Pit River Nation and also descends from the Northern Wintu people. She holds a Master of Legal Studies with emphasis in Federal Indian Law and Tribal Self Governance from ASU, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and a BA in Native Studies Leadership from Northwest Indian College. Her advocacy background grew out of a deep desire to effect change and address the issues impacting her Tribal community.

Paul Fragua

Tribal Elder

MIG, Inc.

Paul Fragua is a fire keeper, runner, translator and interpreter. He is keeping the fires of Tribal sovereignty and self-determination burning through his life’s work in Native Nation Building, and in giving voice to the voiceless and bringing visibility to the invisible. Paul specializes in strategic planning, master planning, resource development and technical assistance.He has over 40 years of Native community outreach, community planning and development experience. He is a professional registered architect (inactive) and a Tribal citizen of the Pueblo of Jemez.