Despite the undeniable fact that Indigenous communities are among the most affected by climate devastation, Indigenous science is very rarely found in mainstream environmental policy or discourse. While holistic land, water, and forest management practices born from a millennia of Indigenous knowledge systems have much to teach all of us, Indigenous science has long been ignored, otherized, or perceived as “soft”—the product of a systematic, centuries-long campaign of racism, colonialism, extractive capitalism, and delegitimization.

Jessica Hernandez (Maya Ch’orti’ and Zapotec), environmental scientist and founder of environmental agency Piña Soul, introduces and contextualizes Indigenous environmental knowledge and proposes a vision of land stewardship that heals rather than displaces and generates rather than destroys. She breaks down the failures of western-defined conservatism and shares alternatives—citing the restoration work of urban Indigenous people in Seattle, her family’s fight against ecoterrorism in Latin America, and holistic land management approaches of Indigenous groups across the continent.

In Dr. Hernandez’s latest book, Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science, she breaks down why western conservationism isn’t working and offers Indigenous models informed by case studies, personal stories, and family histories that center the voices of Latin American women and land protectors.

Join Dr. Hernandez in a conversation about her life and work and explore how to stop the eco-colonialism ravaging Indigenous lands to restore our relationship with Earth to one of harmony and respect.

Jessica Hernandez is a transnational Indigenous scholar, scientist, and community advocate based in the Pacific Northwest. She has an interdisciplinary academic background ranging from marine sciences to forestry. Her work is grounded in her Indigenous cultures and ways of knowing. She advocates for climate, energy, and environmental justice through her scientific and community work and strongly believes that Indigenous sciences can heal our Indigenous lands. She currently holds appointments at Sustainable Seattle (Board Member), City of Seattle’s Urban Forestry Commission, and the International Mayan League (Climate Justice Policy Strategist). She is also the author of Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science. Learn more about Dr. Hernandez and her work at jessicabhernandez.com.

We are grateful to our Bookstore Partner:

Marcus Books is the nation’s oldest Black-owned independent bookstore celebrating its 60th year. Marcus Books’ mission is to provide opportunities for Black folks and their allies to celebrate and learn about Black people everywhere.

This event will be streamed live online with an interactive Q&A. Instructions on how to join will be emailed to registrants shortly before the event. This event will be recorded and will be available to watch on our YouTube channel and portions of the audio will be released on our podcast.

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