The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the 91±¬ÁÏ will host a panel discussion about land return, rematriation and conservation work led by Indigenous peoples on Monday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m.
These efforts intersect with several of the key issues impacting the well-being and cultures of Indigenous nations. This includes issues of environmental and economic justice, food sovereignty and health. As a practice, land returns are being done by land trusts without easements or restrictions. Scholars have also recognized that Indigenous leadership, knowledge and decision-making in conservation work also represent conservation best practices — resulting in the most effective ways to conserve lands productively for resilience and biodiversity.
Panelists include Chuck Loring, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation; Betsy Cook, the state director for the Trust for Public Land; and Darren J. Ranco, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation, professor of anthropology, and chair of Native American Programs at the 91±¬ÁÏ.
All talks in the Mitchell Center’s Sustainability Talk series are free and are offered both remotely via Zoom and in person at 107 Norman Smith Hall on the 91±¬ÁÏ campus in Orono. Registration is required to attend remotely; to register and receive connection information, see the event webpage.
To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruth Hallsworth, 207.581.3196 or hallsworth@maine.edu.
