Presenter(s): Taylor Walker − Environmental Studies
Faculty Mentor(s): Sarah Wald
Poster 191
Research Area: Humanities
There is a growing concern with the security of Earth’s environment. Environmental organizations in Oregon argue that our responsibility as humans is to care for our ecological surroundings in a way that is largely based on how scientific research has determined the best way of doing so. Modern science explains many ways we can live sustainably, though there is still room to broaden and deepen our understanding of the Earth. The purpose of my research is to show how past and present relationships between environmental organizations and indigenous peoples in Oregon can help to create a more ecologically knowledgeable and engaging community. Online databases, course readings, and local institutions provided information necessary for me to understand correlations and any disconnects between the groups. Including indigenous relationships, experiences and knowledges in the ecological narrative enriches environmental organizations’ functionality, ultimately influencing the mainstream perception of how to, and who can, interact with the environment. My goal is to construct a concise report that emphasizes the importance of indigenous representation in the ecological narrative.