Indigenizing Restoration- April 2026

Time:

Day 1 Lecture: 9 am-4pm. (6.5 hours, 30 min lunch) – lunch provided

Day 2 Field Trip: 10am-1:30pm (3 hours, 30 min lunch) – lunch provided

Tickets: $250

Location:
Day 1: Environmental Learning Center at Clackamas Community College, Oregon City Campus, 19600 Molalla Ave, Oregon City

Day 2: Field Trip to Shwah kuk Wetlands (near airport) – meet there at 10 or meet at CCC at 9.

Professional Credit: Clackamas Community College, .95 CEUs; Award of Completion will be provided.

Description:

How can we realign our projects and ourselves to form better relationships with the land and its First Peoples? What are examples of projects that acknowledge this history of the land, its peoples, and include not just ecological restoration but cultural and spiritual restoration?

In this popular and expanded workshop, we will have a dialogue about the history of Native peoples and white supremacy in the Northwest and how it intersects with ecological restoration. Instructors will give examples from experience of ways to engage with Native communities and start successful relationships. We will compare ITECK (Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge) approaches and Western approaches and ways to use “two-eyed seeing”. We will have hands-on activities that explore our own connection to nature and explore our own family histories to the land. We will be acknowledging our shared histories and envisioning paths forward that respect nature, our cultures, and have abundant salmon! Themes of healing will be explored through reciprocity, respect, and relationships. During Day 2 we will visit a restoration site to see examples of these topics at work in the field.

Serina Fast Horse (Lakota & Blackfeet) is a lifelong member and emerging leader of the Indigenous community of Portland. With a foundation of interdisciplinary studies in Community Development and Indigenous Nations Studies, she holds a rounded worldview that prioritizes community-focused and relational approaches. As the owner of Kimimela Consulting, Serina works to cultivate transformative relationships that address social and ecological needs through collaborative relationships between Indigenous communities and regional agencies. She also served as the program coordinator for the Institute for Tribal Government at Portland State University for over three years where she supported the delivery of Tribal relations programming.

She is a gifted communicator and organizer who has been called on to support multiple regional gatherings such as the Changing Currents Tribal Water Summit, Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Climate Camp, and the first Indigenous Land Conservation Summit. Additionally, she serves as a coordinator of the emerging group called the Land Care Collective. Serina is driven by her passion to embrace Indigenous cultural knowledge and empower Indigenous voices to help create a holistic path to healing our ecological and social communities for our future generations. She looks forward to working collaboratively with her fellow Co-Directors and is excited by the potential impact of the Northwest Environmental Justice Center to create just, equitable, and lasting systemic change for our regional communities.

Toby Query is a father, husband, and ecologist. As part of the City of Portland’s Revegetation Program since 1999, he stewards natural areas for all Portlanders. He founded the discussion group Portland Ecologists Unite! which created spaces to learn, discuss, and connect over current ecological issues. Toby is a steward of the Land Care Collective which seeks to build a network of reciprocity between Indigenous leaders and land care agencies and non-profits. Toby believes that a deeper restoration of the land and its waters require us to work towards healing in human and ecological communities concurrently and follow the lead of those whose cultural teachings believe in the interconnectedness of all life. He is a Certified Senior Ecologist from the Ecological Society of America and a current student at Portland State University’s ITECK program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this workshop students should be able to:

· Practice land stewardship that benefits land, its waters and people.

· Discuss our shared histories and elevate the importance of raising Indigenous voices.

· Promote projects that can meld ITECK and western knowledge systems.

· Begin partnering with Indigenous community members in a respectful manner and take steps to foster relationships.

Major Topics:

· General history of Native people in the US and the local area

· ITECK (Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge)

· Land stewardship

· Relationship building and collaboration

Cancellations are allowed up to 1-day prior to the start of class, however, refund amounts vary based on when you notify us of your cancellation.

• >14 days prior to event: Full refund, excluding Eventbrite fees

• 1-14 days prior to event: 50% refund, excluding Eventbrite fees

Please contact [email protected] if the cancellation is due to illness or family emergency. We will work with you on a case by case basis, and may be able to apply your registration fee toward a future workshop.

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Host or Publisher Environmental Learning Center