Celebrating San Diego Climate Week

The Collaborative of Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship took part in two events during the first annual San Diego Climate Week. Continue reading to learn more!

The Collaborative of Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS) took part in two events during the first annual San Diego Climate Week. San Diego Climate Week is a community-led initiative to drive education and collective action towards a future of climate resilience. Through this week-long series of convenings, over 100 events across the San Diego region were held to provide a variety of spaces for people of all ages and walks of life to come together and spark conversations, learn from each other, and envision a movement of collective climate action led by shared knowledge and meaningful collaboration. The inaugural event’s main theme centered around environmental justice, with a call to action on the Tijuana River crisis. The Tijuana River watershed is facing ongoing pollution due to industrial waste run off. In turn, the pollution and lack of action is impacting the health and wellbeing of several communities and wildlife ecosystems across the binational region. Learn more about the Tijuana River crisis here.

During the San Diego State University (SDSU) weekly farmer’s market on October 2nd, 2025, CNNCTS collaborated with the SDSU Library Sustainability Committee to promote San Diego Climate Week to the SDSU community. Students, faculty, staff, and local community members with an interest in climate action had the opportunity to learn more about upcoming San Diego Climate Week events, as well as various climate adaptation work being done by CNNCTS and its partners. Throughout the day, meaningful conversations took place about climate action and how CNNCTS partners continue to engage in various projects in stewardship and rematriation. Additionally, CNNCTS was able to showcase various student engagement opportunities, such as cross-listed courses and field trips to visit stewardship sites. Engaged attendees expressed profound interest in becoming involved with CNNCTS in the future, creating a positive momentum for continuous engagement moving forward.  

CNNCTS was delighted to be part of the Honoring Indigenous Knowledge for Land Conservation event, which took place on Kumeyaay lands at the Water Conservation Garden on October 4th, 2025. During this event, all enjoyed a welcoming ceremony with Red Earth Movement and Red Warrior Drum. Red Warrior Drum played a series of traditional songs as two dancers shared the stage with them, laying down prayer for the ancestors of the land and all in attendance. Following their welcome, everyone ventured into various experiences the event offered, such as talking circles, panels, and performances. CNNCTS was part of the Native Marketplace, where attendees had opportunities to engage with the CNNCTS team, other nonprofit and Tribal organizations, Indigenous vendors, and enjoy frybread. Other CNNCTS partners were in attendance as well, providing the opportunity for attendees to speak with partners directly about the projects they are working on both outside of and as part of CNNCTS.

At our CNNCTS table, attendees were invited to spin a wheel and respond to a variety of questions in relation to climate week, CNNCTS, and what climate action means to them. Through these questions, attendees contributed to our community board where they could read and respond to other attendees' responses. One question that several attendees landed on asked, “what gives you climate hope?”. Many agreed that events such as the Honoring Indigenous Knowledge event and Climate Week as a whole gives them hope for the climate future. A few other attendees shared that they find climate hope from the children of the next generation and observing others who are actively working towards climate action. Another common question asked attendees what stewardship means to them, and how they can be good stewards. All responses centered on building relationships with the land, with fire, and native plants. One attendee shared the importance of learning from Indigenous elders to carry on traditions for land stewardship.

Through these events, CNNCTS was able to share conversation, educational resources, and relationship building with over 100 community members in attendance. CNNCTS continues to focus on advancing Indigenous-led land stewardship and climate action, and we felt profound happiness seeing and meeting people invested in similar visions. Thank you to San Diego Climate Week for inviting us to be part of their weeklong initiative!

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Learn more about San Diego Climate Week at https://sdclimateweek.com/. 

Learn more about the Collaborative for Native Nations for Climate Transformation and Stewardship (CNNCTS) at cnncts.org.