Recultivating Indigenous Sovereignty and Stewardship

Friday, March 28th

On March 28^th, WashU hosted the 2025 Recultivating Indigenous Sovereignty Gathering Day-of-Panels – spearheaded by local native community members in collaboration with the Center for the Environment and 12 different partners.  Over 100 campus and community members came together across three panels designed to advance Indigenous approaches to land and food systems.

Featured Panelists

Mariam Al-Mami | Missouri University of Science and Technology, Post Doctoral Fellow
Michelle Bowden | Quapaw Environmental Office, Food Sovereignty Director   
Dail Chambers | Coahoma Orchards, Owner
Deb Echo-Hawk | Pawnee Seek Bank, Keeper of the Seeds
Brandon Gibson | Program Coordinator, Tribal Alliance for Pollinators
Monie Horsechief | Pawnee Seed Bank, Owner Horsechief Catering
Caleb Horsechief | Horsechief Catering
Dana Hummell | Quapaw Environmental Office, Data Analysis Manager
Saundi Kloeckener | Native Women’s Care Circle   
Veronica Pipestem| Braiding the Sacred, Seed Keeper 
Rico Rose | Indigenous St.Louis/Facing Native Working Group 

Panelists, local community members, and key WashU partners continued to connect throughout an overarching four-day gathering designed as a strategic continuation of the Divided Cities Initiative funded Indigenous STL Working Group. In an effort to strengthen relationships and foster collaboration among Native seed keepers, tribal organizations, and Indigenous-led initiatives, participants were able to visit and connect with the WashU Anthropology Department, Tyson Research Center, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, and Living Earth Collaborative partner, the Missouri Botanical Garden.

This gathering was co-hosted in partnership with the Anthropology Department, Center for the Environment, Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity, Environmental Studies Program, Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies, Landscape Architecture Department, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden, Office of Sustainability, American Culture Studies Program, Tyson Research Center, & Midwest Climate Collaborative.