12th Annual Ina and Lewis Heafitz Endowed Lecture: Centering Indigenous Peoples and Nations in Land Protection and Conservation with Dr. Darren Ranco
In this lecture, Dr. Darren Ranco explores the opportunities for Wabanaki-led conservation in what is now Maine. Throughout the conversation, he shares contemporary scholarship about Indigenous conservation practices, and defines the terminology used by Indigenous people for conservation work. Additionally, he identifies best practices for partnerships with environmental organizations and Indigenous peoples. Dr. Ranco describes his efforts to develop a proactive, coordinated response to save the culturally and artistically essential brown ash tree from the invasive emerald ash borer. This collaborative work is leading to new strategies for informing public policy and establishing effective methods of bringing together diverse groups to address environmental threats.
The Ina and Lewis Heafitz Endowed Lecture celebrates leading thinkers in horticulture, landscape design, sustainability, and more. These nationally-recognized speakers address cutting-edge and timely topics, presenting enriching talks centered around their work in nature-related fields. The annual lecture is free for all.
Darren J. Ranco, PhD, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation, is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Chair of Native American Programs at the University of Maine. He has a Masters of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School and a PhD in Social Anthropology from Harvard University. His research focuses on the ways in which indigenous communities in the United States resist environmental destruction by using indigenous science, diplomacies, and critiques of liberalism to protect natural and cultural resources. He teaches classes on indigenous intellectual property rights, research ethics, environmental justice and tribal governance. As a citizen of the Penobscot Nation, he is particularly interested in how better research relationships can be made between universities, museums, Native and non-Native researchers, and indigenous communities.
