People and the Planet: The Healing Power of Native Plants

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden brings together native plant advocates, indigenous voices, film producers, and the community for an evening of short films followed by a discussion about the relationship between people and plants. We’ll explore questions like, “Why are native plants important?”, “What does being in partnership with plants mean?”, and “How can we work together to create this future?”

About the Films:

Plant Heist (2021): Follows plant poachers willing to risk their lives to acquire a protected California native plant commonly known as liveforevers (Dudleya) which have increasing value internationally and on social media. (Sibling Rivalry Creative, Chelsi de Cuba and Gabriel de Cuba)

The Chumash People: A Living History (2021): Hearing directly from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, this film explores the living history, traditions, talents, and food of its people and how they lived in partnership with the earth. (Cage Free Productions, Paul Lynch)

Saging the World (2022): The viral trend of smudging is endangering white sage (Salvia apiana) as metric tons are being poached to supply international demand. Deeply rooted in the cultures and lifeways of the Indigenous communities of Southern California and northern Baja, this region is the only area where this plant naturally occurs in the world. This film shares the ancestral history of white sage and encourages viewers to enjoy it, but grow it for themselves. (Rose Ramirez, Deborah Small, and the California Native Plant Society)

Tickets: 

General admission – $25

Youth – $10 with valid student ID

Location: 

Marjorie Luke Theater– 721 E. Cota Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Parking is complimentary and located on site in the parking lot attached to Santa Barbara Junior High School.