Past Webcasts

Change on the North Coast: Indigenous Partnership and Public Lands

(11am CT, 10am MT, 9am PT)

The North Coast Redwoods District of California State Parks contains more than 50 percent of the world’s remaining old-growth coast redwoods. Several federally recognized Tribes and many Indigenous communities with ancestral ties to the lands and waters of this place continue their culturally significant stewardship practices on what are now public lands. How do park agencies respectfully support and celebrate these activities that have been happening since time immemorial? What does it take to build meaningful relationships with communities impacted by genocide and settler colonialism? Hear from California State Parks leaders about their work at the intersection of cultural practice, land stewardship, and healing.

Guest

Victor M. Bjelajac

California State Parks

District Superintendent, North Coast Redwoods

Victor Bjelajac has been with California State Parks since 2007. His collaborative work with resources and programs that spanned management jurisdictions began in earnest in 2008 and included work with local tribes, federal, state and local agencies as well as non-profit organizations. He has been involved with the development of One Tam, Redwoods Rising and California Landscape Stewardship Network collaboratives and continues working in partnership to manage landscape scale resource projects and programs with partners in California’s North Coast region. He is a Registered Professional Archaeologist and has a B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology from San Francisco State University.

Shelana deSilva

California State Parks

Deputy District Superintendent, North Coast Redwoods

Shelana deSilva has been working to help connect nature and people through stewardship for 15 years, with a focus on equitable public lands access, conservation-related policy, and meaningful community engagement. Her background as a community organizer guides her collaborative approach to project and program design, including contributing to the development of Redwoods Rising, the California Landscape Stewardship Network, and several statewide and regional initiatives focused on equity and climate resilience. Shelana holds a BA in Sociology from San Francisco State University, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from California College of the Arts.