Virtual Fall Symposium
Theme:Learning From the Land
Time: Monday, November 15th from 10-2PM (PST)
(10 AM PST/11 AM MT/12 PM CST/1 PM EST)
Please RSVP here for zoom link: https://bit.ly/PBDAPIDAFallSymposium

Welcome - PBD President Sharon Joy and PBD President-Elect Virginia Loh-Hagan

10:00 AM - Mai Nguyen (they/them), also known as Farmer Mai, is an independent farm owner-operator who grows heirloom crops, as well as a social justice activist. Nguyen is also co-Director at Minnow, an organization that secures farmland tenure for California's farmers of color while supporting indigenous sovereignty. Her talk is entitled, "Farming As Activism." Farming can be a way of fighting climate change, advancing racial justice, and supporting human and bio-diversity if we choose. Let's talk about how.

11:00 AM - Mark Sung Alapaki Luke is an Associate Professor and the Division Chair of Hawaiian Programs at Honolulu Community College. His teaching is centered around culture and place-based pedagogy. He focuses on native ʻike (knowledge) from the kūpuna (elders) that have given us a foundation of ʻike ʻāina (learning from the land/earth). His talk is entitled, "Native Knowledge Now." Taro has deep roots in Hawaiian genealogy, culture, and land. Luke will address issues of community, sustainability, and food security.

12:00 PM - Margo Robbins is the co-founder and executive director of the Cultural Fire Management Council. She comes from the traditional Yurok village of Morek. She gathers and prepares traditional food and medicine. She is a basket weaver and regalia maker. Her talk is entitled, "Fire is Medicine." Indigenous peoples have used fire to maintain a healthy, productive, and balanced ecosystem. Such practices have cultural and ecological benefits and helps keep communities safer from wildfire. Learn more about Robbins' work in reclaiming fire as a land management tool.

1:00 PM - Dr. Loh-Hagan will lead a book club discussion about BRAIDING SWEETGRASS by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

The event will be moderated by Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan, President-Elect of PBD and Director of the SDSU APIDA Center. Questions? Please contact Dr. Loh-Hagan at vloh-hagan@sdsu.edu.