Announcement: Thank you and 2022 Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference Roundup

The Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference announces Announcement: Thank you and 2022 Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference Roundup.

REGITSTER

 

 

Thank you and Roundup

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2022 Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. We had a terrific turnout of over 400 in-person and 150 virtual attendees.

The schedule was jam-packed with over 70 breakouts, plus the opening ceremonies, Inhabitants movie night, Conner Byestewa Jr. Awards Banquet, and closing ceremonies.

Our terrific keynote speakers gave us much to think about and take back to our communities. U.S. EPA Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman, Assistant Administrator for Research, Development Christopher Frey, and Hopi farmer Michael Kotutwa Johnson, a faculty member at the Indigenous Resiliency Center at the University of Arizona, blessed us with their thoughts and wisdom.

Singer and poet Jessa Calderon (Chumash and Tongva) moved and entertained us with her music and words. Washoe Environmental Protection Department Director Rhiana Jones taught us about the lands of the Washoe people with her land acknowledgment. Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada Chairman Serrell Smokey honored us with his welcome and words about the sacredness of Lake Tahoe and Washoe’s ancestral lands.

Opening Ceremonies

Inhabitants Movie Night

Conner Byestewa Award Jr. Banquet

Conner Byestewa, Jr. Award Recipients

Finally, it was a privilege to recognize the work of our three Conner Byestewa Jr. Award recipients: Camilo Perez (Ft. Yuma Quechan), John Flores (San Pasqual), and Mervin Wright, Jr. (Pyramid Lake Paiute) and the Conner Byestewa Jr. Award Artist, Johnny “Bear” Contreras.

2022 Conner Byestewa, Jr, Award Recipients

Session Videos

We hope you all were able to learn, network, and catch up with friends and colleagues during the week.

You will hear from us again once we have edited and uploaded videos of the breakout sessions to the Tribal EPA Region 9 YouTube Channel and the 2022 Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference page.

Conference T-Shirts and Tote Bags

You can purchase the 2022 Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference t-shirts and tote bags in the next couple of weeks. We are setting up a page to make your purchases online.

Youth Art Contest Winners

Thank you to the 24 youths who entered the Youth Art Contest. We are tallying the votes and preparing the prizes, and we will announce the winners soon.

Youth Art Contest Display

2023 Conference

The 2023 Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference will be organized and hosted by the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. The Pala Band of Mission Indians will pass the torch to them in the next few weeks and do everything we can to help them get ready.

Once again, we thank all of you for participating and for all your work to protect the land.