Common Roots: Native Plants and Culture | CNPS 2026 Conference

Common Roots: Native Plants and Culture – CNPS 2026 Conference California is one of the most culturally diverse states in the country, and the meaning and connections we have to the land are influenced by our cultures, lived experiences, and histories. Learn about compelling programming that focuses on uplifting these cultural connections, historic factors, and bringing people closer to nature and their culture. Session Chairs: André Sanchez (Latino Outdoors & CalWild, Central California, CA, United States), Cris Sarabia (Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, United States and California Native Plant Society South Coast Chapter, CA, United States) 0:00 Introduction 2:35 4.1 California Ethnobotany History Julisa Soto Gutierrez (California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter, Santa Clara Valley, CA, United States) 23:53 4.2 Ethnopharmacology and Phytochemistry of California Native Plants: Lessons for Justice and Conservation Amitha A. Inturi(Presentation High School, San Jose, CA, United States) 44:54 4.3 Growing Relationality: Rethinking Education Through Land-Based Learning Dr. Kalani Heinz (California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA, United States) 1:05:51 4.4 Bushy Lake Eco-Cultural Restoration Project:  Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) & Western Ecological Knowledge (WEK) Using Cultural Plant Associations and Traditional Fire Management Dr. Michelle L. Stevens(California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, United States), Dereck Martinez-Goodwin(California State University Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, United States and Indigenous Futures Society, Auburn, CA, United States) 1:28:37 4.5 The Plant Community Recognizes No Borders, Promotes Support among Natural Communities of Living Beings, and Understands  Migration as a Natural and Cyclical Movement of Life Esther A. Fernandez (Theodore Payne Foundation (TPF), Sun Valley, CA, United States) View full session details and abstracts here: https://conference.cnps.org/sessions/... CNPS 2026 Conference GROWING THE MOVEMENT: Together for Native Plants February 5-7, 2026 | Riverside, CA California Native Plant Society is a 501c3 non-profit that brings together science, education, conservation, and gardening to power the native plant movement.