The lesson highlights the importance of grizzly bear conservation while centering California Native American perspectives, including insights from the Gabrieleno/Tongva tribe, to deepen understanding of Indigenous relationships with the land and wildlife stewardship. In this lesson, students will investigate the ecological role of grizzly bears and how human activity has affected their habitats and survival.
Through learning from California Native American perspectives, including voices from the Gabrieleno/Tongva tribe, students will explore how these values guide environmental stewardship and cultural practices. This lesson introduces students to core values within Indigenous knowledge systems, respect, reciprocity, and reverence, and their role in fostering sustainable relationships with the environment. The lesson encourages reflection on personal and collective responsibilities to the land and invites students to identify meaningful ways to honor and care for their local environment through everyday actions.
In this lesson, students will explore the importance of habitat restoration and conservation through the lens of grizzly bear recovery efforts. The lesson centers Indigenous knowledge, featuring perspectives from California Native communities, including members of the Gabrieleno/Tongva tribe, to highlight traditional ecological understandings and relationships with wildlife.
Students learn about the ecological and cultural restoration of Cache Creek. They study how the Yurok Tribe combines Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with modern science to rehabilitate ecosystems. Students design their own restoration plans for a local waterway, integrating Indigenous knowledge and environmental problem-solving.
This lesson focuses on the cultural and ecological importance of salmon to the Yurok people. Students examine how environmental changes and human activities have affected salmon populations. Through multimedia and collaborative projects, students explore salmon life cycles, conservation strategies, and the Yurok Tribe’s role in restoration efforts.
Students explore the cultural and ecological restoration of the Presidio in San Francisco. They learn about the site's transformation from a military post to a national park through the lens of Indigenous knowledge and sustainability. Working in groups, students research specific areas of the Presidio and create advocacy campaigns to educate others about the importance of restoration.
This lesson focuses on the Mojave Desert and the Mojave Desert Land Trust's restoration efforts. Students analyze threats to desert ecosystems and develop strategies for habitat restoration and species protection. A hands-on project asks students to research native desert species and propose conservation actions.
Students explore the deep cultural and spiritual connections Native American communities have with their ancestral lands. Through video storytelling and class discussion, students analyze the impact of land loss and reflect on Native resilience and cultural preservation. Activities include journaling, group reflection, and creative writing from Indigenous perspectives.
