December 3 or 5, noon – 2:00pm, via Zoom
Jane Jeffries
Dr. Trey Adcock
McCullough Fellowship: Department of American Indian and Indigenous Studies
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) are seeking to extend and exercise their inherent rights to co-steward Cherokee ancestral homelands that are currently under federal management. This process involves community members, non-profits, Tribal governance systems, and federal entities working together to conserve and co-manage public lands and waters. Through attendance at monthly meetings, and discussions, emerging themes and obstacles were identified when entering into co-stewardship
planning agreements between these actors. Relationality was emphasized as the method of this research and is central to the results reported. Active efforts of reparation, re-education, and relationship building are needed when forming costewardship
protocols and agreements between these different entities. Focusing on relationality and responsibility to each other and nature was found to be important when beginning the process of co-stewardship. Long-term systemic changes need to occur and continue to develop to improve the process of co-managing and regaining land rights for Tribal Nations.