Indigenous Heritage Week & Sustainable Design Forum

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day, the first annual Indigenous Heritage Week & Sustainable Design Forum held November 21st at UCSD Park & Market in San Diego will include an advance, red-carpet screening of the film “We Are Guardians.” Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, the film highlights Indigenous Peoples' role in safeguarding the Amazon rainforest. Pury Tembe, the lead figure in the film, will make a special in-person appearance. The screening is a US exclusive.

This forum, part of the inaugural binational World Design Capital legacy program, will bring together Indigenous leaders from Sister Cities across the United States, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Kenya, Brazil, and other Indigenous nations. They will share Traditional Ecological Knowledge and explore its integration into sustainable development initiatives.

The Indigenous Forum and screening are co-hosted by the Kumeyaay, San Diego Sister Cities [www.sandisca.org], and Co-sponsored by UC San Diego Global Initiatives [www.global.ucsd.edu], The Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies, San Diego State University [www.brazil.sdsu.edu], the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024[www.wdc2024.org/], and My Chosen Vessels [www.mychosenvessels.org/].

The goal is to inspire sustainable solutions by integrating Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge into San Diego’s sustainable development plans. Indigenous leaders will attend the Forum, from San Diego Sister Cities partnerships from the US, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Kenya, Brazil, and beyond. The Forum is the first event of its kind, seeking to advance San Diego’s sustainable future and helping design new, Indigenous-informed models through sharing Indigenous knowledge.

The film screening and the Forum kick off Indigenous Heritage Week, a series of Indigenous-led workshops, lectures, and cultural activities across university campuses in San Diego County, held in collaboration with cultural institutions and businesses. These events will include panel discussions, cultural exhibits, art displays, an Indigenous bazaar, a showcase of other Indigenous films, virtual reality experiences, and more.

“Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear directly from Indigenous leaders around the world about their efforts in protecting the planet, wildlife, forests, and oceans,” said Jessica Censotti, Executive Director of San Diego Sister Cities. “These discussions are essential for learning how we can integrate Indigenous traditional practices into our region’s efforts to develop sustainable solutions for our community and create a sustainable future for all humanity.”

“We are especially excited to host an advance screening of the film ‘We Are Guardians,’ produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, featuring a special appearance by Puyr Tembé, the film's central figure. Additionally, Koji Kinjo will join us, whose groundbreaking work in coral transplantation and ocean protection is shaping the future of marine conservation, offering San Diego insights for safeguarding its own precious coastline. This is a remarkable opportunity to deepen cross-cultural connections and explore how Indigenous perspectives can shape San Diego’s sustainable future. “

"When you have a whole bundle of arrows together, it's impossible to break," said Dr. Stanley Rodriguez, referring to the unity of Indigenous leaders around the world who will gather in San Diego. Dr. Rodriguez is Kumeyaay Council Member of the Santa Ysabel Band of the Iipay Nation in San Diego & Commissioner of the California Native American Heritage Commission (appointed by Governor Newsom).