Bridging Histories, Cultures, and Conservation: A Dialogue on Indigenous Stewardship and Land Trust Partnerships

At the Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s annual conference on Saturday March 23, Director of Stewardship, Tobias Glaza, and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s Environmental Liaison, Rahiem Eleazer, were co-panelist in a workshop focused on the intersection of Indigenous stewardship, cultural practices, and land conservation. 

The workshop – Bridging Histories, Cultures, and Conservation: A Dialogue on Indigenous Stewardship and Land Trust Partnerships– brought together nearly thirty participants from Connecticut land trusts and other environmental and watershed organizations.  It was an open format conversation in which Rahiem and Tobias shared some of the opportunities and challenges associated with their ongoing collaborative process.   The wide-ranging discussion was enhanced by insightful questions and comments from participants. Topics broached included how to set a foundation for relationship building and the use of cultural easements as tools to ensure access and other ceremonial and harvest related practices, as well as preserve co-management and meaningful consultation associated with both natural and cultural resources on land trust properties.