EVLT closed out the summer with our last breakfast event of 2026. Our August breakfast focused on Indigenous-led conservation and the importance of Tribal knowledge in caring for the lands we all cherish. Speakers James Calabaza, Jordan Dresser, and Crystal C’Bearing shared perspectives on what conservation means within their communities, highlighting the value of collaboration between Tribal and non-Tribal partners. Their thoughtful discussion challenged attendees to consider how stronger relationships, mutual respect, and shared stewardship can shape the future of conservation.
Jordan Dresser, an award-winning filmmaker, former Chairman of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, and current Curator of Collections at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, has spent his career sharing Indigenous stories that inspire deeper understanding through films such as Who She Is and What Was Ours.
Joining by him was James Calabaza, Director of the Indigenous Lands Program at Trees, Water & People. Working alongside Tribal Nations across the American Southwest, James helps build partnerships that honor Tribal sovereignty and bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together to promote large-scale landscape conservation.
The program also welcomed Crystal C’Bearing, Director of the Northern Arapaho Tribal Historic Preservation Office. Her work safeguards the history, language, and cultural resources of the Northern Arapaho people throughout their ancestral migratory territory, ensuring future generations remain connected to their heritage and the landscapes that shaped it.
Together, these speakers shared stories demonstrating that conservation is strongest when it embraces diverse voices and honors those who have cared for these lands since time immemorial. For the Estes Valley Land Trust, protecting open space means more than preserving beautiful landscapes. It means fostering meaningful relationships, learning from one another, and ensuring that the lands we love continue to thrive for generations to come.
Learn more about the speakers and their work below