Chico Traditional Ecological Stewardship Program

Chico Traditional Ecological Stewardship ProgramChico Traditional Ecological Stewardship ProgramChico Traditional Ecological Stewardship Program

Chico Traditional Ecological Stewardship Program

Chico Traditional Ecological Stewardship ProgramChico Traditional Ecological Stewardship ProgramChico Traditional Ecological Stewardship Program
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Chico Traditional Ecological Stewardship Program

Chico Traditional Ecological Stewardship ProgramChico Traditional Ecological Stewardship ProgramChico Traditional Ecological Stewardship Program

Indigenous-led land management for community resilience & shared prosperity

About Us

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

TEK Certification & Workforce Development

TEK Certification & Workforce Development

 Our certification programs introduce Native and non-Native local community members to Indigenous land management concepts and ecological stewardship practices 

Learn more

TEK Certification & Workforce Development

TEK Certification & Workforce Development

TEK Certification & Workforce Development

TEK Certification prepares a large-scale, ecologically trained workforce to restore abundant and resilient native ecosystems - supporting our communities by encouraging locally based livelihoods while mitigating the effects of climate change

TEK-Based Forest Stewardship Contracting

TEK Certification & Workforce Development

TEK-Based Forest Stewardship Contracting

We are building a TEK-certified workforce to perform much-needed ecosystem restoration, climate change adaptation, disaster recovery & wildfire mitigation work in Butte County, California

Learn more

News & Announcements

**Community Work Day SPRING HOURS: Fridays 9:00am - 12:00pm**

Monthly Plant Walk: Last Tuesday of the month, 2 hours before sunset - click here to verify start time


Come tend the land with Ali every Friday at Verbena Fields, a unique 17-acre native restoration and interpretive park created to educate the community about the rich ecological heritage of the Mechoopda people. All COVID-19 outdoor precautions are observed.


We also host a monthly Wildtending Plant Walk every last Tuesday of each month, starting 2 hours before sunset (currently at 5:00pm) in partnership with Camp Fire Restoration Project.


Everyone is welcome to join us. Please come dressed appropriately for outdoor work, and bring your own gloves if you can. 


Verbena Fields is located at the corner of East 1st Avenue and Verbena Lane in North Chico. Hope to see you there!

Local TEK News & Events

TEK Chico in the Media: News Feed

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Indigenous Knowledge & Leadership at the Forefront of Climate Action

There is no greater endeavor than to work collectively as a community to strive for healing, land restoration, and a thriving economy. Tribes of Butte County have historically created thriving local economies based off the outcomes of ecosystem stewardship and large-scale community land management. 


The local Butte County Tribal Nations have traditional knowledge and the ability to work together for the greater good of local communities, which is the saving grace we especially need today. Native and non-native community members of Butte County affected by the Camp Fire are in a position to work together as a whole and expand our capacity to manage our ecosystems. 


Together we aim to restore the communities’ relationship with the environment with shared knowledge from Tribes and local community members. The people of this land for generations have received prosperity, peace, health and love from their connection to this place and that will never change. 


Every single soul in Butte County is part of this truth today, and we must recognize our ability to rise to the occasion and seize the opportunity to have a thriving local economy based on our collective efforts.


Wassa Honi Mep!

(Keep your heart's intentions good!)


Ali Meders-Knight

Mechoopda Tribal Member, basketweaver, and TEK practitioner/educator

Get Certified!

Land management contracting with the city of Chico, Butte County, and on State and Federal Lands will need T.E.K. (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) certification for good pay and long term employment.


There are contracts that need T.E.K. Certification from the local M.L.D. (Most Likely Descendant) tribes in the territory they are working in. Every Tribe should have a certification program that allows other contractors to get a T.E.K certification from their people.

Contact Us to find out more!

TEK Chico Goes to Congress

On March 16, 2022, Ali Meders-Knight testified to the House of Representatives Oversight & Reform Subcommittee on Environment in their hearing titled Fighting Fire with Fire: Evaluating the Role of Forest Management in Reducing Catastrophic Wildfires. 

Watch Ali's opening statement below:

Full Testimony to Congress - March 16, 2022

Click on the button below to see Ali's full testimony to Congress, plus written documents submitted in support of her testimony.

See / Read the Complete Testimony

TEK Certification Training in Action

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    Chico Traditional Ecological Stewardship Program

    Chico, CA

    tekstewardship@gmail.com

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