The Whitney and Anna Harris Conservation Forum offers a unique opportunity for the public to engage with leading experts in conservation and discuss critical environmental challenges affecting our communities. The evening typically features presentations from two or more speakers, a dinner break provided by the Harris Center, and concludes with an interactive Q&A session.
This event is completely free to the public, made possible by the vision of Whitney and Anna Harris, who believed in the importance of connecting the public and students with cutting-edge conservation knowledge. Our long-standing partnerships with the Saint Louis Zoo and Missouri Botanical Garden further enrich the forum’s impact.
In 2024, the Conservation Forum will be part of the Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability Event Series, co-hosted with several local institutions. This year’s theme centers on the Buffalo Treaty and the profound influence of the American bison on culture, the economy, and the environment.
This event was held on October 10, 2024, at the Saint Louis Zoo. Check back later for an audio recording of the event!
Featured Experts
Leroy Little Bear, JD, OC, AOE
Kainai Nation, Blackfoot Confederacy
"The Buffalo as a Cultural Keystone"
Leroy Little Bear is an educator, lawyer, advocate, speaker, author, and political activist. Mr. Little Bear has advised the United Nations, many First Nations, and the federal and provincial governments of Canada on matters related to the constitution, Indigenous Title, justice, and the restoration of the buffalo.
Among his many accomplishments and accolades, Leroy Little Bear was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the 2014 signing of The Buffalo: A Treaty of Cooperation, Renewal and Restoration. The treaty committed four First Nations in Canada and four American Indian Tribes to restore buffalo herds. When buffalo began to arrive and thrive in Alberta and Montana, more signatories were added to the treaty and more buffalo were reintroduced.
Roxann Smith, M. Ed.
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation
"Honoring the Buffalo Treaty"
Roxann Smith is a specialist in K-12 and higher education, in teaching, curriculum, and teacher education. Ms. Smith has served on the Tribal Executive Board at Fort Peck, served one term as council woman, and one term as Vice-Chairman of the Fort Peck Tribes.
Roxann Smith and other dedicated Fort Peck tribal members have done considerable work and local research in supporting the Fort Peck Tribes’ buffalo restoration efforts. Their P’te Group (P’te is female buffalo in the Dakota language) consists of elders and local community members along with colleagues from Montana State University and the World Wildlife Fund. The collaboration with Montana State University and Fort Peck Community College's community-based participatory research is focused on the return of our "Buffalo Relations," and the healing impact it has on the community, land, and fourteen natural resources. The buffalo's return helped define food sovereignty, which has emerged as a common concern among tribes.
Chance Weston
Oglala Dakota
“Bison Health Effects in Indigenous Community Health”
Mr. Weston is Director of the Food Sovereignty Initiative at Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, Porcupine SD. With a passion for Indigenous food sovereignty, land management, bison restoration, and rematriation, Chance Weston has played a pivotal role in transitioning the initiative to the Lakota Land Systems Initiative (LLSI). Chance integrates traditional Lakota wisdom with modern sustainable practices, emphasizing reciprocity with the land and cultural revitalization.
Chance's dedication to bison restoration and rematriation reflects his commitment to Indigenous stewardship and cultural preservation. His expertise in agroecology further enriches his approach, ensuring that sustainable practices align with Lakota traditions while promoting ecological resilience.
Through public engagement, education, and hands-on projects, Chance Weston quietly champions the fusion of contemporary sustainability approaches with timeless Lakota Indigenous lifeways, shaping a future where care, respect, and sustainability can thrive for generations to come.
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Check out our 2023 Whitney and Anna Harris Conservation Forum!
This event occurred September 26, 2023 at the Saint Louis Zoo.