Gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of the land and Indigenous practices and how to engage in a culturally responsible way with Portland State's Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge certificate, a first-of-its-kind program in our state and region.
Indigenous peoples have lived sustainably on their ancestral homelands since time immemorial, relying on Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge (ITECK), a body of observations, oral and written knowledge, practices and beliefs acquired over generations and continually evolving about the relationship of living beings (including humans) with one another and with their environment.
This certificate will provide you with a unique and beneficial skill set at a time when ITECK is being elevated at the federal level and public agencies and nongovernmental organizations are incorporating ITECK into climate change planning and land restoration and management practices.
In this program, you'll critically explore topics such as the impacts of colonization on traditional foods and community health, food sovereignty and self-determination, Indigenous land management and practices, community engagement and development, resilience, and the re-emergence of Indigenous practices to heal the Land and heal the People.
You'll also have the opportunity to engage in hands-on field work and research with our local, regional, federal and tribal partners, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Metro regional government, Portland Parks, Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services, Native American Youth and Family Center, and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
ITECK is not new, but Western science is finally recognizing its intrinsic value to our collective understanding of the natural world. By learning Indigenous ecological practices, centering Indigenous ways of knowing and engaging in community-based projects, you'll participate in a new career pathway and be prepared to serve and work alongside members of Indigenous populations - in Native-centered programs and nonprofits as well as state, regional and federal agencies.
Become part of a new generation of emerging Indigenous leaders, scholars and advocates.