Youth Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Learning Through Land, Water, and Culture

This summer, YoloSol Collective’s Youth Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Program brought approximately 10 Native, BIPOC, and ally youth together for a hands-on week of learning, connection, and exploration. Led by cultural practitioner/knowledge holder Diana Almendariz, the program connected young people to Indigenous knowledge, culture, land, water, and stewardship. Each day blended classroom learning with time outdoors, giving youth opportunities to experience the land firsthand while learning about wetlands, native plants, symbiotic relationships, invertebrates, gathering, uses of materials and cultural fire.

Diana Almendariz leads the program and focuses on working with Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Diana’s daughter, Christina Almendariz, is our TEK Coordinator, and has been fortunate to learn alongside her mother and help develop the program with the support of Juliette Beck and our YoloSol Collective community. Our program focuses on wetlands, invertebrates, gathering, good fire and stewardship. Youth explored water and invertebrates under microscopes, learned about symbiotic relationships between insects, plants, and healthy waterways, gathered tule, learned about cultural fire, created TEK shirts, heard cultural stories, and explored traditional uses of plants and materials. Another important part of the program and bringing this group together is having a shared lunch each day and snacks. At the end of participation the youth were given swag bags, certificates of acknowledgement for the program as well as a small stipend as a token of our appreciation for their time and dedication. 

Over the years, youth participating in the program have created walnut dice, pine nut beadwork, tule boats, baskets, cordage, dolls. They have also participated in native plant identification, gathering, wetland restoration, cultural burning education, and traditional food teachings such as acorn processing. 

There were many memorable moments throughout the week—from muddy shoes and curious questions to students eagerly jumping into the creek when invited to experience the water firsthand. Watching the youth become comfortable outdoors, engage with the wetlands, examine water samples under a microscope, gather tule, and learn about fire and stewardship was especially meaningful. The program’s goal is not simply to teach information, but to encourage curiosity and a deeper understanding that water, plants, animals, insects, and people are all part of interconnected relationships. We hope youth leave understanding that Indigenous knowledge is living knowledge and that they have a role in carrying it forward into their families and communities.

This program truly took a community to make it possible. Diana Almendariz provided cultural teachings, stories, gathering knowledge, Cultural fire, and land stewardship teachings to say a few. Professor Geoff Attardo shared his expertise in entomology and helped youth explore the fascinating world of invertebrates and their relationships with water and plants. Anuj Vaidya shared ink and paper-making skills, while volunteers, guest presenters, and community partners contributed their time, knowledge, and support. We are deeply grateful to the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Pacific Southwest Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters, TANA Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Good Humus, and all of the individuals and organizations who helped make this program possible.

YoloSol Collective is a nonprofit community organization, and programs like this are made possible through the generosity of donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners. Your support helps provide youth with transportation, meals, materials, stipends, cultural learning opportunities, and access to meaningful experiences on the land. We hope this summer is only the beginning of an ongoing TEK youth community. Our vision is to continue offering opportunities throughout the year for gathering, stewardship, cultural arts, restoration, and learning together—while encouraging these young people to return, bring their friends, and grow into the next generation of Youth TEK leaders. Thank you to everyone who invested their time, resources, and heart into making this program possible.