With millions of acres of fenced cropland, the Great Plains doesn’t seem like a wild place, but there is much to learn from the pockets of wildness left and the efforts to restore and protect the region’s landscape. This conference will examine the concept of wildness and examine what wild areas mean to humans and other species. Wild Great Plains will cover topics including restoration of bison herds, Indigenous-led environmental practices, grassland animals, urban wilderness, psychological aspects of nature, conservation action, nature art, and our connection with wildness. Alongside panel sessions, the conference will also feature experiential workshops on wildlife photography, mindfulness in nature, prairie plant and animal identification, and nature journaling.

Funding is provided by Humanities Nebraska and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment and these UNL entities: the School of Natural Resources, the Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, the Cather Project, the Office of Research and Innovation, the Department of Ethnic Studies, and the Faculty Senate Convocations Committee.

Keynotes:
Michael Forsberg, photographer and conservationist

Ferin Davis Anderson (enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe/Mitchifs in North Dakota), co-author of “Wildfire: The Culture, Science, and Future of Fire” and Natural Resources Manager for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Land and Natural Resources Department

Corina Newsome, Associate Conservation Scientist at the National Wildlife Federation, is a wildlife biologist dedicated to the integration of environmental justice and conservation science and practice

Brandon Cobb (Cherokee), The Nature Conservancy Nebraska

To see a full schedule and speakers, visit our website.