As part of its annual , 51¸ŁŔűÉç hosted a daylong conference devoted to exploring some of the most pressing environmental issues facing our way of life.

“Sovereignty Through Sustainability” addressed critical topics such as drought and climate change, water law, salmon runs, Tribal history and culture, food sovereignty and natural resources restoration.

The conference included a cross-section of experts such as tribal leaders, scientists, planners, historians, economists, attorneys from state agencies, decision-makers and our own amazing 51¸ŁŔűÉç Faculty.

“Our efforts will work to protect Mother Earth and our students will be better prepared to protect our environment,” says Margo Hill, 51¸ŁŔűÉç associate professor of Urban and Regional Planning and one of the organizers of the event. “We have done our job.”

Speakers included:

• President David May, Opening Remarks
• Elder- Carol Evans, Chair, Spokane Tribe of Indians – Prayer, Land Acknowledgement
• Empero Corral, Spokane-Shoshone Bannock, Song

Historical Salmon Runs, Water Quality and Salmon Restoration

• Warren Seyler, Former Tribal Chair Spokane Tribe of Indians, Tribal Historian
• Dr. Al Scholz, 51¸ŁŔűÉç Biology, Historical fisheries before Grand Coulee Dam blocked runs
• Dr. Brent Nichols, Spokane Tribe Fisheries and Water Resource Division Director
• DR Michel, Columbia River Treaty, or Dr. Michael Marchand, Colville Tribe

Impacts of Climate Change

• Jerry White Jr., RiverKeepers, Spokane River, drought response plan
• Don Sampson, Umatilla Executive Director, ATNI Climate Change – Checking calendar ATNI Climate change
• Dr. Lauren Stachowiak, Forestry, Wildfire ecology and climate change
• Dr. Stephen Tsikalas, Climate Science, the general science of climate change

The Collaborative Road Map to Washington’s Future

• Joe Tovar – WA Bills,1717 GMA (Passed), Salmon (failed), Climate change (Gov. desk)

Tribal, State and Local Water Rights and Responsibilities

• Mary Verner, Former Spokane Mayor, lead for Washington State Department of Ecology Water Resources Program, (she is heading up an effort to bring state, local and tribal governments together to reexamine state water laws).
• Rick Eichstaedt, Growth Management Hearings Board – Discuss Hirst Water law decision PDF of Hirst Water Law Decision
• Maia Bellon, former Director WA Ecology

Natural Resource Damages/Superfund Panel

• Dr. Fred Kirshner, Sovereignty through Superfund
• Patrick Jones – Spokane Indicators – Environmental Quality data
• Dr. Germán IzĂłn – Professor and Chair, 51¸ŁŔűÉç Economics Department, Ecosystem Services
• Caj Matheson, Director of Natural Resource, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Pilcher property

Restoration Ecology and Tribal Food Sovereignty

• Dr. Melodi Wynne, (Spokane Tribe of Indians) –  Community and Cultural Psychology, Spokane Tribal Network’s Tribal Food Sovereignty project
• Dr. Robin O’Quinn, Biology at 51¸ŁŔűÉç, Environmental Science faculty
• Dr. Rebecca Brown – Biology at 51¸ŁŔűÉç, plant ecology or restoration ecology and food sovereignty.  .