198-9 Reclaiming Earth Memory: Indigenous Geoheritage and the Future of Shared Stewardship

Session: Geoheritage Without Borders: International Perspectives on the Conservation and Celebration of Geodiversity, Part II

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Indigenous Peoples have long held deep relationships with the land, sky, and waters—relationships encoded in oral traditions, ceremonies, place names, and knowledge systems. This presentation by James Rattling Leaf, Sr., a leader in Indigenous climate resilience and knowledge diplomacy, challenges conventional definitions of geoheritage by centering Indigenous worldviews and place-based narratives. Through the Lakota lens of Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ—“we are all related”—geoheritage is understood not only as a record of geological time, but as a living story of kinship, memory, and responsibility.

The talk will examine how Indigenous-led frameworks are reshaping the future of geosciences through co-stewardship agreements, Tribal research sovereignty, and culturally grounded climate adaptation. Through examples from collaborative projects with federal agencies and Tribal Nations, participants will be invited to consider how geoheritage can serve as a foundation for reconciliation, justice, and enduring planetary care. This presentation calls on geoscientists to engage Indigenous partners not just as stakeholders—but as rightful co-creators of our shared Earth story.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-7411

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