Gedakina attends the Bioneers Conference
Members of Gedakina along with a colleague from our partner organization, Shelburne Farms, attended the 36th Annual gathering of Bioneers in Berkeley, California at the end of March. Each morning until noontime close to the registered two thousand participants gathered together on the University of California, Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall. We were ushered in by the pulsating drums of Deb Fier and Deb Lane and enthusiastic and soul-stirring melodies of Amikaeyla. By the end of their performance, practically the entire Hall was on its feet swaying and gyrating to the drum beat and incantations of this woman-lead ensemble. The first thing you notice about the Bioneers gathering is that the Keynote is not your typical one-off speech rather a collection of speakers; activists, organizational leaders, spiritual advisors, students, movement leaders. And, the second, is that these individuals represent a range of of geographies, genders and perspectives — all with a mission to inspire and rethink our worldviews to heal and uplift.
Bioneers describes themselves as “an innovative nonprofit organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet. Founded in 1990 in Santa Fe, New Mexico by social entrepreneurs Kenny Ausubel and Nina Simons, we act as a fertile hub of social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.”
Gedakina’s main focus during the conference was the Indigenous Forum. Beginning with Indigenous elder, Katsi Cook, already a friend of Gedakina’s. Katsi gathered in conversation with Judy and other elders from the Haudenosaunee Nation when they all came together here in Vermont. Katsi (pronounced Gudji) is a Mohawk Native American midwife, environmentalist, Native American rights activist, and women's health advocate. She is best known for her environmental justice and reproductive health research in her home community, the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne in upstate New York.[1].
The Native-led Indigenous Forum was founded in 2008 at Bioneers and is “designed as a sovereign space for Indigenous People to bring their vision and message to Native and non-Native allies and to connect. Each year the Indigenous Forum works to amplify Indigenous voices, build networks and movements and enhance cross-cultural dialogue, learning, cultural sensitivity and informed action. The event is a core part of the Bioneers Conference, bringing together Indigenous activists, scientists, elders, youth, culture-bearers and scholars to share their knowledge and frontline solutions in dialogue with a dynamic, multicultural audience.”
Other topics we gathered for as part of the Indigenous Forum were:
How Indigenous Roots of American Democracy Can Regenerate the Practice of Self-Governance, Haudenosaunee Chief, Oren Lyons (Joagquisho) and Taino Elder, José Barreiro (Hatuey), in a conversation moderated by Baratunde Thurston.
Art and Healing: Art and Healing - A Conversation with Joy Harjo and Cara Romero, where they discussed “the creative process, inspirations and the importance of art and “artivism” in healing and resistance for Native peoples.”
Places and Spaces: Establishing Cultural Hubs for Native Communities, moderated by Nazshonnii Brown-Almaweri. With: Paloma Flores and Ernie Albers focused on decolonizing and re-indigenizing places and spaces for Indigenous and all communities to thrive, be resilient and share knowledge.
Other highlights across the Bioneers schedule that we participated in were around biomimicry and economic justice.
We were thrilled by the spirited and changemaking work of Gillian Goddard who describes herself as a community organizer and chocolate-maker, founded the Alliance of Rural Communities, a non-profit focused on “circular economy” principles, regenerative farming, and sustainable rural livelihood creation, in 2014. Gillian participated in the panel discussion called: Chocolate Rebellion: Creating a Global Value Chain Based on Economic Justice.
We also went deeper into the concept of biomimicry and how it relates to justice work through a panel hosted by Biomimicry for Social Innovation founder, Toby Herzlich; joined by: Kristen Rome, Executive Director of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights; Cymone Fuller, Senior Director of Restorative Justice at Equal Justice USA; Stosh Cotler, former ED of Bend the Arc for Justice; and Colette Pichon Battle, Founder of Taproot Earth. Here we heard from practitioners who are bringing nature’s intelligence into the heart of juvenile justice reform, anti-authoritarian activism, and climate justice activism.
And, even before Bioneers began, we were led deep into the heart of California’s agricultural history where we were taken on a East Bay Urban Foodscape Tour in partnership with Bay Area Green Tours. Tour stops included:
Planting Justice Mother Farm: Planting Justice has created a vibrant ecosystem made up of an organic nursery, urban tree farm, farmers market, and commercial kitchen. Their purpose is to empower people impacted by mass incarceration and social inequities with the skills and resources to cultivate food sovereignty, economic justice, and community healing.
Urban Adamah: Urban Adamah seeks to build a more loving, just, and sustainable world. They connect people — to themselves, to others, and to the natural world. At Urban Adamah they do this by providing farm-based, community building experiences that integrate Jewish tradition, mindfulness, sustainable agriculture, and social action.
UC Gill Tract Community Farm: As a pioneering model of sustainable urban agriculture, they’re redefining how food is grown, shared, and governed. Through agro-ecological farming, collaborative research, and innovative partnerships, they are building a just and resilient food system that inspires action from policymakers, academics, and communities alike. Their vision is a healthier, more equitable future—where fresh, locally grown food is accessible to all!
Sogorea Te’ Land Trust We will witness the amazing work of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust at both Planting Justice and Gill Tract Farm. They are an Indigenous women-led land trust based in the San Francisco Bay Area that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people.
The Bay Area was once an abundant and thriving Indigenous world with over 50 tribes and villages, who are now often grouped under the term Ohlone. Berkeley is the traditional territory of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone peoples and other tribal groups including the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation, who have lived on the land here for thousands of years. We were brought closer to this source as we spent time with the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and the women that are bringing their lands back to their people enriching their communities and all who come into their circles.
