This project presents a conservation framework rooted in biocentric justice and Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) to restore camas meadows throughout the Pacific Northwest. These ecosystems, once maintained through the reciprocal stewardship of Tribal nations such as the Grand Ronde, Klamath, Tulalip, and Nuu-chah-nulth, embody profound connections between human and more-than-human life. However, colonial land-use systems and Western conservation practices have broken these relationships and displaced camas from both ecological and cultural landscapes.

Through an interdisciplinary synthesis of Indigenous-authored scholarship, ecological literature, and decolonial theory, this study develops a model for ethical stewardship that recognizes camas meadows as living communities, not resources. The framework identifies four guiding principles: reciprocity, kinship, sovereignty, and ecological justice, and introduces new ecocultural indicators that measure the health of both ecosystems and the cultural practices that sustain them.

This work redefines conservation as a relational act of restoration and respect, promoting shared governance that upholds Indigenous sovereignty while securing the right of all species to exist and thrive.

State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 2025 (Full Version)