Rebirth Through Fire

Lessons from the Eaton Fire and Embracing TEK, a Native American Philosophy

Presented by:

The Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy (TTPC), in partnership with the UC Riverside California Center for Native Nations (CCNN).

Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025 
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM PT (Early login from 6:15 PM)
Platform: Zoom Webinar | Free & open to all

Webinar Purpose:

The Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy (TTPC) invites you to the first webinar in a five-part series exploring the cultural, ecological, and community lessons of land care.

Rebirth Through Fire reflects on the 2025 Eaton Fire and the hope that emerges when Indigenous knowledge guides recovery. Together, we’ll explore how Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), the Land Back movement, and community partnerships are restoring Huhuunga - Place of the Bears - in meaningful ways.

Presented by: The Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy (TTPC), in partnership with the UC Riverside California Center for Native Nations.

The California Center for the Native Nations (CCNN) is the bridge between the University of California and California’s Tribal Nations. CCNN is research center at the University of California, Riverside, that strives to and is committed to preserving the rich histories, cultures, languages and sovereignty of Tribal Nations. 

With a special focus on California Tribal Nations, CCNN is committed to working alongside American Indians to initiate, facilitate and execute research for, with, by, and about American Indians. CCNN connects Tribal Nations with UC expertise to execute the aforementioned. The relationship CCNN seeks to achieve with Tribal Nations is reciprocal, not only benefiting and enriching the Tribal Nations in which it connects with, but also enriching Native American and American Indian Studies within academia.

Supported by Fire Recovery Funders
California Community Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation, The Schmidt Family Foundation, Skoll Foundation, Kataly Foundation, The Solutions Project, Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, and Wildlife Conservation Board.

Intended Audience:

  • Native American community members

  • Donors and funders

  • Environmental and civic leaders

  • Educators and students

  • Supporters of Indigenous stewardship in Los Angeles and beyond

Webinar Panelists:

Wallace Cleaves (Tongva)

Moderator and TTPC Board Chair, Professor, UC Riverside

  • Wallace T. Cleaves, Ph.D.
    Board Chair, Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy

    Dr. Wallace T. Cleaves (Tongva) is a scholar, educator, and advocate for Indigenous land stewardship and cultural renewal. He serves as an associate professor of teaching and associate director of the University Writing Program at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), where he also leads the First-Year Writing Program and Teaching Assistant development initiatives.

    In July 2023, Dr. Cleaves was appointed Associate Dean and Director of the University Writing Program. His teaching and scholarship span medieval, Renaissance, and Native American literature, and he has held faculty roles at Pomona College and California State University, Fullerton.

    As Board Chair of the Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy, Dr. Cleaves has been instrumental in the rematriation and protection of Tongva lands, including the historic return of a one-acre parcel in Altadena in October 2022—the first time in nearly 200 years that the Tongva community regained stewardship of land in Los Angeles County.

    His research and writing focus on Indigenous knowledge systems, environmental justice, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). He continues to champion decolonial education and community engagement through both academic and grassroots efforts.

Charles Sepulveda (Tongva, Acjachemen)

  • Charles A. Sepulveda, Ph.D.
    Board Member, Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy

    Charles A. Sepulveda (Tongva and Acjachemen) is a scholar, educator, and community historian committed to decolonial education, Indigenous knowledge systems, and the protection of sacred lands. He serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah and is a member of the board for the Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy.

    Dr. Sepulveda’s work centers on Indigenous sovereignty, historical memory, and environmental justice. His scholarship has been featured in various academic journals and anthologies, and he is a frequent speaker on issues related to Indigenous land stewardship, the impact of settler colonialism, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK).

    In December 2024, he published his first book, Native Alienation: Spiritual Conquest and the Violence of California Missions (University of Washington Press), which explores the enduring spiritual and physical impact of the mission system on Indigenous peoples in California, offering a powerful lens into resistance, healing, and cultural survival.

    Charles continues to be a thought leader in the movement for land rematriation and Indigenous-led conservation in Southern California and beyond.

Professor, UC Riverside and TTPC Board Member

Cristhian
Mace

Natural Areas Biologist with Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation

  • Cristhian Mace is a Natural Areas Biologist with Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation, where she leads ecological research, habitat assessments, and community science initiatives across some of the region’s most iconic natural areas. With over a decade of experience in biological consulting, she brings scientific rigor and collaborative vision to projects ranging from post-fire recovery and wildlife monitoring to the development of Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for long-term conservation. Her work blends data-driven planning with public engagement, helping to protect biodiversity while fostering a deeper connection between people and the wild landscapes of Southern California.

Sean
Woods

Chief of Planning, LA County Department of Parks and Recreation

  • Sean Woods is Chief of Planning for Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation and is responsible for planning and management issues related to the Department’s 32,000 acres of parkland and diverse facilities. Sean also currently leads the County’s Natural and Cultural Resource Task Force as part of the fire recovery and restoration efforts in Altadena. Previously, Sean served for 15 years as the Los Angeles Sector Superintendent for California State Parks, where he was responsible for implementing the Department’s Urban Strategic Initiative in Los Angeles, working with local partners to address the needs of under-served urban residents by expanding urban green space. Superintendent Woods oversaw the acquisition, planning, and development efforts at Rio de Los Angeles, Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and Los Angeles State Park, representing a $150 million investment in the urban core of LA. Central to these urban planning efforts was the focus on Los Angeles River Parks as vital links in greening the LA River and implementing the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan.

Webinar Agenda Overview (90 minutes in length):

6:15 PM: Waiting Room Opens – Music, visuals, TTPC + Eaton Canyon graphics

6:30 – 6:35: Welcome and Framing (Wallace Cleaves)

6:35 – 7:30: Panel Dialogue and Reflections

7:30 – 7:55: Audience Q&A (moderated by Nasim)

7:55 – 8:00: Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments

Upcoming Webinars in this Series: Rooted in Land and Tradition

  • Rebirth Through Fire

  • Rooted in Altadena: Story, Ceremony, and Community on Tongva Land

  • Sacred Waters: Protecting Tongva Lifeways in a Time of Scarcity

  • Land Back, Land Forward: The Power of Remediation and Return

  • TEK in Practice: The Future of Land Stewardship Is Ancient