The land we now know as North Carolina has one of the largest Indigenous populations in the United States, and many tribal nations call this land home.

Indigenous peoples are the original stewards of the landscapes and waterways of this place, and they continue to take this role seriously today. Although Indigenous peoples are still here, there is a long history – in North Carolina and elsewhere – of ignoring tribal perspectives and voices when making decisions that affect their communities, lands, and waters. In some cases, Indigenous histories and legacies are erased altogether. In other cases, narratives that tie Indigenous peoples to their territories are over-simplified or whitewashed. This presentation highlights some of the Indigenous perspectives that link people to place on North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. It also gives an overview of the ways in which these perspectives have been erased or ignored through colonial practices built into environmental decision-making. Finally, the presentation considers what it might look like to amplify Indigenous perspectives and strengthen tribal participation in the stewardship of North Carolina’s environment.

With Dr. Ryan E. Emanuel, Associate Professor of Hydrology, Duke University.

Hybrid event:

In-person option: A limited number of seats will be available in the NC Botanical Gardens’ Reeves Auditorium, with masks required indoors. Please register all members of your party separately to ensure we have enough seats.

Virtual option: We will stream the lecture live via Zoom Webinar. Links for accessing the program will be emailed to registered participants in advance of the program.