Aotearoa Observations: Courageous Connections in Colonized Landscapes
This panel of community leaders from Aotearoa/New Zealand will share their on-the-ground insights, from initiatives that demonstrate paradigm shifts for “rights of nature” legal protections for land and people, cultural capability and education, and convening multi-stakeholder land stewardship. Underpinning all these stories, the unique natural, cultural and legal history of Aotearoa and the Māori worldview reminds us of the value of humility, courage and connection. With: Jan Hania, Principal of Strategy Development, Biome Trust; Lara Hania, educator, storyteller; Erin Matariki Carr, Project Lead, RIVER. Moderated by Chelsea Robinson, Open Lunar Foundation.
Golden Bear Room, Hotel Shattuck Plaza
April 7th | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm
Panelists
Jan Hania
Principal of Strategy Development
Biome Trust
Jan Hania is Tuwharetoa, Raukawa-ki-teTonga, Te Atiawa of Aotearoa/New Zealand, and is the Principal of Strategy Development for Biome Trust, which is focused on having a sustained impact in environment, education, and human wellbeing. Jan has worked both in Aotearoa and internationally on large-scale bioregional regeneration and climate adaptation initiatives. Jan develops exemplar equity-based projects that are practically implemented, demonstrating effective and sustained outcomes.
Lara Hania
Educator and Facilitator
Lara Hania, with 30 years’ experience as an educator in Aotearoa/New Zealand, is committed to contributing to re-establishing Indigenous Māori equity and sovereignty as well as human-nature connections. Lara facilitates professional development for teachers and professionals enhancing cultural competency and nature connection and is a dynamic storyteller who shares narratives that draw on the patterns and wisdom of Te Taiao (the natural world) as a blueprint for humanity.
Chelsea Robinson
Chief Operating Officer
Open Lunar Foundation
Chelsea Robinson, from Waitakere in Aotearoa/New Zealand, lives in Tahoe, CA and leads the Open Lunar Foundation, which seeks to “create good governance and stewardship of the Moon.” Her background includes working on climate policy, movement building, commons management and improving democracy.
Erin Matariki Carr
Project Lead
RIVER
Erin Matariki Carr, of Ngāi Tūhoe and Ngāti Awa descent, lives in her traditional homelands in Aotearoa/New Zealand and works in law and policy, with a focus on the interface between Indigenous and Western legal systems and methodologies. She previously worked as Manager of Planning & Design to create and implement policies under the world-first legislation conferring legal personhood to the Te Urewera rainforest. Matariki is currently a project lead at RIVER, where she focuses on the constitutional transformation movement in Aotearoa with a number of other teams, including Tūmanako Consultants and Te Kuaka NZA.
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