In episode 3 of “Under the Pala Pala,” six Native speakers came together at the 2022 National Diversity in STEM Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to talk Indigenous-led conservation and how they bring their Native identity to the work that they do every day.
A “pala pala” is a small structure in Chamorro culture that is used as shelter from the sun and rain. There is usually one on a farm or ranch, and after working all day, people come in for lunch to share conversations and laughs. “Under the Pala Pala” is a video series that brings together Indigenous ocean advocates to discuss front-line conservation efforts across the United States. The third episode explores approaches to Indigenous-led conservation through the words of Native experts, including Chief Anne Richardson, chief of the Rappahannock Tribe; Queen Quet, chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation; Joel Moffett, from Native Americans in Philanthropy; Anthony Ritter, from the University of Guam; Haley Case-Scott, from the White House Office of Science Technology and Policy; and Angelo Villagomez, from the Center for American Progress.
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