(Speaker Series) Indigenous Right Relations: Shifting Power and Land Forward

This talk will provide an overview of efforts by The Nature Conservancy to support the sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples throughout North America, with a few examples of how they have engaged locally in the land now called “Ohio.” There are currently 45 federally recognized tribal governments that have historical and ancestral connections to the land in Ohio. This talk will describe why stewardship by Indigenous Peoples often achieves better outcomes for our lands, waters, and climate than non-Indigenous stewards. The speakers will provide an overview of The Nature Conservancy's efforts to elevate and center Indigenous partners' voices and choices as the original stewards of the land. Opportunities for allyship will be addressed including Gifting Power and what this means as we think of land. 

About the speakers:

Chad Duplain is Senior Associate Director of Corporate Relations for The Nature Conservancy (TNC), where he has worked for 6 years to connect The Nature Conservancy's key conservation initiatives through partnership, philanthropy, and relationship building. His role is designed to help TNC reach their most ambitious 2030 goals for our climate, waters, oceans, biodiversity, and people alike. In addition, Chad graduated from The Ohio State University, where he received his degree in Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife and has an immense passion for inspiring key conservation outcomes for our planet and nature. He recently married his partner, Matthew, and enjoys volleyball, bird watching, traveling, gardening, and long walks in Clintonville, Ohio with their dog, Finnigan.

From 2022 to 2023, Chad worked closely with The Nature Conservancy’s Global DEI Officer, James Page, and the Global DEI Team through a fellowship to continue to build TNC’s philanthropic muscle on the GDEI team, lay a framework for equitable engagement, and develop case studies of what values-based philanthropy looks like.