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Welcome Letter for the Bioneers Pre-Conference Intensive entitled “Reclaiming Indigenous Worldviews: Implementing the Rights of Nature in the Bay Area and Beyond

October 17, 2017

Dear Friends,

I would like to welcome you ​to the Thursday, October 19, 9am-5pm Bioneers Pre-Conference Intensive entitled “Reclaiming Indigenous Worldviews: Implementing the Rights of Nature in the Bay Area and Beyond”.

Join Indigenous culture bearers to explore ways that First Peoples’ worldviews can be adopted into law to protect natural systems for all peoples. Co-hosted by California Indian knowledge bearers, this one-day workshop offers a rare opportunity to learn about how Indigenous worldviews connect people to place. Engage in intimate discussion, cultural arts and hands-on activities. Hosts and special guests will share how Rights of Nature legal frameworks can be adopted in urban and rural ancestral territories, empowering participants with the know-how to organize for the “Rights of Nature” in their communities.

With Maui Solomon (Moriori);  Sage LaPena (Nompitom Wintu); Vincent Medina, (Muwekma Ohlone); Dean Hoaglin (Coast Miwok/Pomo/Wailaki/Yuki); Edward Willie (Pomo/Wailaki/Wintu); Thomas Linzey and Mari Margil of Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF); and featuring the Tribal Youth Ambassadors (Pomo) from the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center.

Location: McNears Beach Park

Price: $195 (includes lunch)

Shuttle leaves Embassy Suites at 8:30 a.m. & returns at 5:30 p.m.

$5 parking

This is a one-day gathering takes place away from the conference grounds, down by the beach.

​The shuttle leaves the Embassy Suites at 8:30 a.m.

​If you are driving here is a MAP to McNears Beach Park, 201 Cantera Way, San Rafael, CA 94901​.  *If you are coming from Embassy Suites, San Rafael and anywhere north, I highly recommend taking San Pedro–the “backroad” and avoiding the 101.  It’s also the “scenic route” along the waterside. Please bring $5 for parking

If you get lost or need anything:

Setting: McNears Beach Park, Site #7 is about 100 feet from the ocean under large shade trees and can comfortably gather about 150-200 guests. This event is sold out. There are bathrooms about 50 yards away. No outside video allowed, limited electric, one ​battery powered mic and a big Native Harvest meal (cooked outdoors).  This day is meant to be “disconnected” and “grounded”.  This is an intimate welcome to Bioneers and to each other.  Bring your water bottles, sunscreen, ponchos, umbrellas (in case of rain) and hats.​

​Photography/​Videography:  Navajo filmmaker, Dylan McLaughlin from Invisible Laboratories and Jade Begay from Indigenous Rising Media will document this event.  We do not share publicly any cultural or intellectual property without the expressed permission from our presenters. Please wait for direction as to whether video or photos will be allowed.

I can’t thank you all enough for participating.  This is my favorite day of the year.

Sincerely,

Cara Romero

Indigeneity Program Director

505-699-2390

cara@bioneers.org

Agenda

8:30 a.m. Shuttle leaves Embassy Suites. If you are driving, please bring $5 for parking.

8:30-9:00 Registration and light breakfast.

9:00- 9:30 a.m.Opening prayer-Dean Hoaglin & Maui Solomon in large circle on the grass.

The morning will be filled with cultural arts, sacred sites and cultural resources overview by indigenous culture bearers of the Bay Area tribes.

9:30-10:15 a.m. Cultural Arts and Cultural Resource Overview with Sage LaPena and Edward Willie. Presenters will talk about cultural resources and TEK of the Bay Area with an emphasis on how cultural landscapes must be protected and revitalized to ensure the continuance of indigenous traditions.

10:15- 11:00 a.m. Coast Miwok and Ohlone Cultural Landscape Overview by Dean Hoaglin and Vincent Medina. What are cultural resources and where do  cultural resources exist? What are the current cultural issues being addressed by local leaders? Vincent will focus on Ohlone food practices. Dean will focus on youth work and the arts of Coast Miwok peoples.

11:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. CIMCC youth Ambassadors will present on their TEK revitalization initiatives.

11:30-12:45 Traditional Food and  Arts Breakout Sessions. Attendees will choose an art to immerse themselves in with hands on learning by TEK experts.

Breakout 1: Sage LaPena will be demonstrating pine nut arts. Participants will learn use, cleaning and art making with pine nuts.

Breakout 2: Edward Willie and Brittany Burkhardt  will be demonstrating traditional tule arts. Participants will learn many uses and have the opportunity to make a traditional tule artform.

Breakout 3: Dean Hoaglin will be demonstrating clam shell arts. Participants will learn use and art making with clam shells.

Breakout 4:  Vincent Medina will be demonstrating traditional Ohlone foodways. Participants will have the opportunity to process and taste traditional foods of Ohlone peoples.

Breakout 5: California Indian Museum and Cultural Center’s Youth Ambassadors will be demonstrating soapstone and abalone necklace making. Participants will have the opportunity to make a necklace.

12:45-2:00 p.m. Prayer and Native Harvest Lunch by Wahpepah Kitchens, Native Chef Crystal Wahpepah. Our menu of bison, salmon, squash, wild rice, pumpkin soup and traditional sweets will be enjoyed by all.

2:00- 3:00 Rights of Nature in Aotearoa (and WAI 262)- Maui Solomon will present about the work he has done to regain recognition and rights as Moriori, with successful cultural revitalization and restoration to the land. He will also focus on how this work connect to Intellectual Property Rights of flora and fauna and Rights of Nature in Aotearoa, NZ.

3:00-4:00 Rights of Nature Overview and Legal clinic with Thomas Linzey and Mari Margil of Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF). Participants will learn about international case studies, the importance of making Rights of Nature into law and how that fits in a US context (e.g. to strengthen sovereignty and tribal law), and why the US legal system as is is designed for us to fail without it being radically challenged.

4:00-4:45 Lightning Rounds of current Rights of Nature and Indigenous Rights campaigns by Corrina Gould, Valentin Lopez and Kandi Mossett.

4:45-5:00 Closing ceremony

5:00 Busses leave.

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