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Effectively Collaborating with Native American and Community Partners

Effectively Collaborating with Natie American and Community Partners, a learning series for conservation community. Bald eagle flying over forest in autumnAlliance partners work across the region to achieve a shared Green Vision: creating and protecting a vibrant, accessible region with an inclusive approach to thriving nature for people and wildlife.

To advance that vision, the Alliance provides access to educational opportunities (most at no cost, thanks to generous sponsors) to inform changes that can increase justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in conservation. This included a series in 2021 to create a shared understanding about the foundations of internalized racism and a series in 2023-24 on equity issues impacting the conservation community, as well as shared equity resources.

The next multi-faceted phase is a learning series: Effectively Collaborating with Native American and Community Partners launched in Fall 2024.

This learning series will serve two important needs:
  • Creating shared knowledge among the region’s conservation community about Native American heritage, impact, and influence; and
  • Piloting ways the conservation community can uplift Native American perspectives and knowledge in both planning and action.

Learning Series Components

Native Led Climate Summit January 25, 2025

Native Led Climate Summit

Sold out event: January 25, 2025

The Native Led Climate Summit will bring together Native American and non-Native stewards, growers, academics, and changemakers of the Chicagoland/Great Lakes region and beyond to spend a day learning about the climate issues impacting urban Indigenous communities and how we can work collaboratively to mitigate and adapt to these changes. The vision for the summit includes formulating a Collaborative Climate Action Plan centered in Native perspectives, as well as Indigenous foods and interactive workshops.

Registration is free, thanks to our generous sponsors the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program. 

Learn more about the Native Led Climate Summit. 

Indian Country 101 presented by The Whitner Group; your narrators with three cartoon style drawings of a man with glasses, a woman wearing a knitted cap and glasses, and and older man wearing sunglasses

Participate anytime: free, online training: Indian Country 101

Indian Country 101 is a tuition-free, self-paced training for learners interested in gaining foundational knowledge to use in working and collaborating with tribes; you can go through the course on your own at any time, or join us in Spring 2025 for the facilitated learning sessions.

Chicago Wilderness Alliance Cafes; young Black man in woods typing on laptop

CWA Cafes

The Chicago Wilderness Alliance's Cafe series serves up conversations on topics affecting our region, including Green Vision Initiatives, conservation issues of common concern, new and innovative work, and challenges. Virtually connect with your colleagues to share ideas, pose questions, and find out what's happening around the region.

Registration is always open to the public and is always free. View all our recorded Cafes and webinars. All Alliance partners are encouraged to submit a request to hold a Cafe. 


Get Involved

We are continuing to shape this work in conjunction with Native American and Tribal partners. Contact Laura Reilly, Managing Director, with questions or to learn more.