Programs & Projects

Indigenous Ark Urban Technologies currently focuses on the following programs and projects.

Planetary Dashboard for Climate Impacts on Indigenous Communities and Biodiversity

IAUT is designing a prototype mapping app that keeps users up to date on planetary tipping point indicators. The app will integrate the following:

  • the geographic scope of climate crises,
  • the contact information of indigenous communities affected,
  • a list of threatened habitats for living kin at risk of extinction,
  • estimated time of forthcoming tipping points,
  • the contact information of NGOs and local non-profits,
  • the current local and regional policy proposals,
  • applicable treaties, and
  • links to the available channels through which concerned global citizens can advocate.

Our hope is to provide a global dashboard that will facilitate partnerships for action and spread awareness of climate impacts in real time.

We are researching the least costly methods to bring this about. If you have any suggestions or would like to participate in this effort, please let us know at admin@urbanarktech.org.

Westside Community Plans Update

IAUT is a member of the Westside Community Planning Advisory Group, community organizations that serve as a sounding board for the City Los Angeles’ updating of the zoning of the Westside of Los Angeles including West L.A., Mar Vista / Palms, Westchester, and Venice. IAUT advocates for the needs of indigenous communities that historically have resided in these areas.

Other Activities

  • Raising Awareness of the Planet’s Condition & the role of Indigenous Peoples
    • Interdisciplinary Fora: IAUT assembles expert panels focused on the common understanding that indigenous stewardship values are necessary to the well-being of our planet. The interrelatedness of all that defines indigeneity, extends to the disciplines that define human interaction with all other living beings. Housing, nutrition, water management, mental health, urban planning, materials science, and the equitability of policy-making all interact to yield a net impact on our biosphere. IAUT hosts, participates in, and facilitates these expert panel discussions.
  • Community Building
    • Arts
    • Backyard Crop Exchange
    • Event Carpooling
  • Policy Analysis: To reach for a better future requires an understanding of the present condition. IAUT helps to promote equitable engagement in policy formulation by analyzing the current regulatory state.
  • Indigenous Essential Needs & Climate Migration
    • Food Justice: Innovate urban agricultural structures that eliminate food apartheid, universalize food access, and close disparities in nourishment. Currently our organization is working with an agrotechnology start-up to develop a residentially integrated, vertical aquaponics system that can be scaled at the community and municipal level in low-resource communities.
    • Housing Justice: Guarantee environmentally regenerative and sustainable housing as a human right to prepare for urbanization as a result of climate displacement through education regarding construction design technologies and their codification.
  • Indigenous Urban Planning
    • Urban Nature Connection: establishing urban access to connecting with nature as a human right by providing intercultural and cross-disciplinary forums to facilitate the integration of building, institutional, and community design.
    • Urban Indigenous Cultural Districts: Community Identity-based Visibility for Resilience and Equity
      • Indigenous-Principles-Based Specific Plans: Specific Solutions for Specific Needs
      • Essential-Needs-Based Placemaking
  • Local : If you spend time in the Sawtelle, West Los Angeles or Eastern Santa Monica area, below are some ways to get involved.
    • Backyard Crop Exchange
      • The area of Sawtelle, West Los Angeles was originally an agricultural epicenter. World-class landscape architects call Sawtelle home and many of the original orchard trees, still bloom throughout the homes here.
      • Indigenous Ark mobilizes neighbors in exchanging surplus home crops. If you would like to add yourself to our roster, email admin@urbanarktech.org.
      • Currently, the following crops are available: avocados, persimmons, oranges, lemons, aloe, and limes.