Interactive Learning to Conserve Biocultural Diversity: University Students Engage Tribes

Biocultural diversity is best understood through lived experience: by hearing personal testimony, participating in a hands-on event, or getting to know practitioners. In Dr. Pfeiffer's San José State University Nature and World Cultures class, students focus on the evolution, conservation, and revitalization of biocultural diversity by partnering with Native Californian tribes and tribal communities to complete semester-long group projects. Student projects examine the dynamics of nature-culture connections including sacred sites, culturally significant species, and traditional lifeways. Student groups produce tribally-approved microdocumentaries, articles in newsmagazines, Wikipedia entries, and applied projects of cultural relevance, including bilingual animated stories in endangered indigenous languages. Our presentation will cover the mechanics of effecting successful partnerships and will include excerpts from student films, a copy of our co-authored article, and instructional handouts for educators interested in applying or adapting this approach in their home institutions.