Earth Day Conference 2012 : The Next Seven Generations

This regional conference unites youth, elders, and all those in between around a common vision for our planet. The educational focus will be enhanced by ceremony and artistic contributions to help achieve the international goal of registering A Billion Acts of Green. On Friday night, April 20, noted elders Grandmother Agnes Pilgrim, Tata Erick Gonzalez, Larry Merculieff,  author Duane Elgin and environmental activist Barbara Ford will respond to the central conference question "What gives us hope and heart to keep working on what is best for our Earth in the face of difficult changes?"  

Friday evening’s free opening ceremony includes the lighting of an outdoor ceremonial fire and Native American and African drumming.

Guest panelists will conduct three-hour intensive workshops on Saturday exploring issues of sustainability and how indigenous wisdom is relevant to the problems and solutions of today.

Saturday's schedule wlll also feature over twenty 75-minute workshops hosted by environmental, tribal, and spiritual leaders offering a wide variety of educational, hands-on activities that focus on the connections between environmental and spiritual challenges. Sessions will be interactive and participatory, with an emphasis on bringing together the wisdom of elders with the enthusiastic energy of youth.  Some examples include Your Environmental Handprint, Earth’s Medicinal Plants, The Inherent Naturalist, Awakening the Indigenous Heart, and Trash for Peace.

The free closing ceremony will include a student-led Pacific Northwest version of the Council of All Beings with local artists and Elders.

A full list of workshops, registration and membership information is available at: http://www.earthandspirit.org