Celebrating “Ways of Knowing” from Coast to Coast
Indigeneity on the Lands, Waters and in Our Hearts
The OJI:SDA’ Center for Intergenerational Learning Virtual Spring Summit brings educators, policy-makers, scholars, activists, teachers and communities together to explore traditional “ways of knowing’ and how these good ways can transform our relationships with the lands and waters.
Indigenous Elders, Knowledge carriers, Attorneys, Green Business Entrepreneurs and Educators from Hawaii to New York’s Shinnecock Bay will share their stories of how they are “winding the world well” by combining Indigenous science, wisdom with contemporary resources to meet the challenges of decolonializing attitudes and practices that are unsustainable and harmful to all life.
OJI:SDA’s goal is to include these healthy lifeways into our everyday practices in the classroom, communities and our homes. The shared intention of our presenters is the restoration of balance on mountains, on plains, in valleys, on islands, in waters and in our humanity. “Anyone, whether they are Native or not, can make a choice to be a life giver to the land.” Mike DeMunn (Seneca).
What can you expect?
Hear and engage with Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Carriers on the importance of inclusion of Indigenous teachings, history, text and stories in classrooms
Learn about ways to make a living while restoring balance on Turtle Island.
Discuss methods to transform students’ anger, fear and fatalism about climate change into a supportive environment of strength, purpose, activism and hope.
Connect with ideas in which you, your community, and school can actively bring Indigenous teachings and knowledge into K-12 classrooms in a way that honors Indigenous leadership, human and non-human kin, and the youth that we serve.
Keynote Speaker
Jason Corwin (Seneca)
OJI:SDA’ Sustainable Indigenous Futures, Board Chair
Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at University at Buffalo
Your Speakers
Pierette Imbriano (Shaghticoke / Italian / Irish / African American Heritage)
Curriculum Coach at OJI:SDA’ and Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) Urban Garden Educator
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Living in Brooklyn NYC, Pierette Imbriano is an ethnobotanist educator, certified urban gardener with Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, licensed medical aromatherapist and a diversity, equity and inclusion consultant. Ethnobotany is most easily identified as the study of plants, people and places. Using ethnobotanical practices, Pierette enhances math, science, history and art curriculum in teaching all things PLANTS as well as global/local Indigeneity and African American agriculture and agroforestry in New York schools. She consults on land based practices curriculum coaching with OJI:SDA and teachers of the Ithaca School District.
Additionally, Pierette guest lectures at the Helene Fuld School of Nursing on the anthropology of alternative medicines and works with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Brooklyn Urban Gardening program on their Native Garden exhibit.
Pierette studied Conflict Management and African Studies at Bryn Mawr College, Anthropology at Spelman College, Public Administration and Organizational Planning at Villanova University and received an Ethnobotany Fellowship from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). At UAF’s Kuskokwim campus, Pierette conducted her field study within the Yup’ik community in Bethel, Alaska and studied flora of the tundra in the Yukon Delta.
Tela L Troge, Esq (Shinnecock / Nipmuck)
Director/Founder of Shinnecock Kelp Farmers
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Tela Loretta Troge, Esq. is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and a member of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Tribe. She organized the Warriors of the Sunrise Sovereignty Camp 2020 to raise awareness about the challenges of the Shinnecock people. She graduated from Michigan State University College of Law with a Juris Doctor and certification in Indigenous Law and Policy from the Indigenous Law Program. For several years, Ms. Troge has defended tribal sovereignty as the attorney with the Law Offices of Tela L. Troge, PLLC and has been widely acknowledged for her activism, including receiving a 2022 Change Maker Award from NDN Collective.
In 2019, Tela, along with other Shinnecock women co-founded the first Indigenous-owned sugar kelp farming collective on the East Coast, the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers. The Indigenous, multi-generational, women-led, independent non-profit operates their hatchery and kelp farm in Shinnecock Bay (Eastern Long Island, NY) and beyond to address the climate crisis. The organization strengthens the community by providing a sustainable expression of cultural traditions and increasing regional efforts to improve water quality, climate mitigation and ecosystem function. One of their goals is to sustainably harvest large amounts of kelp to use as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fertilizer. Eventually, Kelp Farmers will provide sustainable green jobs for the Shinnecock Tribal community, while bringing back healthy traditional ways of restoring marine habitat. Already, scallops, clams, sea horses and other species that have experienced frightening declines in Shinnecock Bay were seen exploring and sheltering in the kelp lines.
For thousands of years, the Shinnecock Indian Nation has relied on the water for sustenance. In spite of being surrounded by wealthy residents and mega mansions that have devastated the waters and environment, the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers have already improved water quality using their traditional knowledge with cutting edge science.
Nick Tilson (Oglala Lakota)
President / Founder of NDN Collective
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Nick Tilsen is a citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation and the Founder / President of NDN Collective, based in Rapid City, SD. He has over 20 years of experience building place-based innovations that have the ability to inform systems change solutions around climate resiliency, sustainable housing and equitable community development. He founded NDN Collective to scale these place-based solutions while building needed philanthropic, social impact investment, capacity and advocacy infrastructure geared towards building the collective power of Indigenous Peoples.
Nick has played a vital role in building a powerful youth movement on American Indian land that reconnects younger generations with their cultural and spiritual identities and leads them through a transformative process to become the innovators and energy behind a new era of community-led development. Tilsen has received numerous fellowships and awards from Ashoka, Rockefeller Foundation, Bush Foundation and the Social Impact Award from Claremont-Lincoln University. He has an honorary doctorate degree from Sinte Gleska University.
Mike DeMunn (Seneca)
A Founder and Ecology / Forestry Advisor, Finger Lakes Land Trust.
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Forester/Ecologist/Conservationist Michael Demunn (Da hà dá nya), Seneca, organized the Finger Lakes Land Trust in central New York State Finger Lakes region. The only known Seneca forester, he has dedicated his life to managing and improving forests in all aspects like erosion control, restoring abundance and diversity of native plant and animal life, and convincing owners to conserve their lands in perpetuity/public trust. Most of his forestry work is done with just simple tools and bare hands. DeMunn locates old-growth stands and protects them; to date he has saved over 30,000 acres in New York State and northern Pennsylvania. A member of the Hawk Clan, his Seneca name means "he protects all things that come from the forest." His clan mother (Allegheny Seneca) was an herbalist and healer; DeMunn helped her gather plants for many years.
An educator, lecturer and workshop facilitator for colleges and organizations, Mike has also consulted for state parks, National Park Service, lawyers and real estate companies. Saving sacred sites is another passion of DeMunn's, who is also an artist and author. His children's books, The Earth Is Good: A Chant in Praise of Nature and Places of Power help young people learn to appreciate the Earth's gifts and that they, too, are part of nature. Currently, Mike is organizing a consortium of representatives from New York State counties to learn how to steward the forest and lands according to the ways of Nature. He believes that, “Anyone, whether they are Native or not, can make a choice to be a life giver to the land. I choose to manage the forest and my land according to the ways of nature. bring back an abundance and diversity of plant and animal life.”
Camille Kalama, Esq. (Kanaka Maoli - Native Hawaiian)
Director / Project Coordinator of Ko‘ihonua
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Camille Kalama, Esq, is a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) from O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. She serves as Director and Project Coordinator for Ko‘ihonua at Hanakēhau, the land base for the organization’s Hawaiian carving revitalization and land restoration programs. A board member for the Native American Rights Fund and the NDN Collective, Ms. Kalama is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaiʻi, the only law school in the United States named for an Indigenous person. She was involved in the Polynesian Voyaging Society and in 2001, she was named NCAA Woman Athlete of the Year for the state of Hawaii.
Ms. Kalama served as a staff attorney with the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation for 15 years representing clients seeking access to their kuleana lands, assisting kalo farmers in their struggles to restore stream water to protect their traditional and customary rights, protecting iwi kupuna, and assisting Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries in resolving various legal issues to preserve their homesteads for themselves and their families. Currently, Camille utilizes her years of experience for Koʻihonua’s work to restore Āina (land) and support development of cultural practitioners.
Ko‘ihonua’s seeks to reclaim and to restore Hawaiian lands and provide the means and resources for Hawaiians to engage in traditional lifeways by creating space for the practice of Hawaiian culture. Ko‘ihonua focuses on hana no`eau — creating traditional and contemporary Hawaiian tools and cultural belongings — and using these implements daily to grow Hawaiian consciousness, understanding and preserve ways of knowing. Koʻihonua furthers Hawaiian values through social justice advocacy and supports self-determination in all aspects of life.
Your Hosts
Yvonne Wakim Dennis (Cherokee / Sand Hill / Syrian)
Educator in diverse areas of Native American heritage, history and current issues, social worker and award-winning author of non-fiction books.
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Yvonne Wakim Dennis is an educator, social worker and award winning author of non-fiction books for children and adults. For over a decade, Yvonne was the Resource Director for the Native American Education Program, NYC Board of Education, where she also developed curriculum and trained teachers. She serves on several boards and is a mentor for the Highlights Foundation Diversity Fellowship in Children's Literature. Dennis is the recipient of several awards including the Tomaquag Lifetime Achievement Award, the Drums Along the Hudson and NYC Parks Dept. Community Service Award, the National David Chow Humanitarian Award and was featured on the NYC TV series on community activists, "Neighborhood Slice, Upper Upper West Side."
Nyrece Cox
2024 OJI:SDA’ Virtual Spring Summit Host
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“Conventional education in the United States is modeled after, and designed to replicate, the Industrial Revolution, which is built upon the exploitation and genocide of Indigenous People and natural resources. Returning to Indigenous ways of teaching and understanding our world is the only way to restore and save humanity for future generations.”
The Washington Ethnic Studies Now (WAESN) Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is made up of students from Washington State who meet monthly to share their work and ideas around supporting Ethnic Studies and racial justice in Washington Schools, helping advise the WAESN Executive Team's steps for expansion.
We have a unique opportunity as the WAESN YAB to speak our goals and dreams into reality. As a new organization, we have the flexibility and power to create a better future for minoritized students.
Tahila Moss (Yoeme), OJI:SDA' Founder & Executive Director
Indigenous Yaqui / Jewish media maker, ancestral scribe, educator and community organizer.
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Tahila Moss (aka Tahila Mintz) is an Indigenous Yoeme and ancestrally Jewish media maker, ancestral scribe, educator and community organizer. She works across multiple platforms to amplify the voices of Indigenous people and the natural world. She has a long history of working in Indigenous communities and between communities to weave sustainable, supportive systems of utility, visibility and guardianship. She has extensive knowledge of plant medicines and traditional healing practices and is a Moondancer and a Water Protector.
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We are an Indigenous women-founded and led organization. We come together from diverse nations to collaborate in creating responsive educational experiences focused on reconnection to our traditional teachings, storytelling, and media literacy empowerment.
We promote tools for self-healing and community support, through Land relationships and curricula for public schools that are rooted in Indigenous perspectives.
The highest percentage of people protecting the Earth are Indigenous peoples. The foundation of their cultural worldview is rooted in this responsibility and teachings of living in symbiotic equilibrium with the Earth.
To connect the world with this perspective, to honor the people and turn these teachings into everyday practices, is the shift of world perspective that will save our planet and help us to be healthier beings on it.
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During the registration process, you will make a donation to OJI:SDA’ Sustainable Indigenous Futures for the registration fee amount.
Payments are processed through a secure server. Currently we accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and PayPal.
Please contact nyrece@ojisda.org if you are unable to register online.
Your registration fees / donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Tax EIN #84-1701476.
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The joining instructions will be sent out a couple of days before the event so that they don’t get lost in your inbox.
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What equipment or technical requirements are there for this event?
It is recommended participants use the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning conference platform (Zoom).
Do I need to be online to access the event?
Yes, the event is accessed via the internet. For maximum flexibility, you can access the event content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device, via the Zoom platform. Event links will be sent to your registered email address prior to the event starting.
Do I need to download any software to attend the event?
No, Zoom has a web app that you can use without downloading anything. If you wish to share your video and participate using your voice, you will need to allow the web app to access your camera and microphone. If you do not wish to do this, you will be able to use the chat function.
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There are no refunds for registration fee’s, although you can send a replacement from your organization / company / friend / family member; you will still have access to recorded sessions after the event for one month.
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OJI:SDA’ Sustainable Indigenous Futures and the Center for Intergenerational Learning is committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin or other protected characteristics. We expect all attendees, media, speakers, volunteers, organizers, platform staff, guests and exhibitors to help us ensure a safe and positive event experience for everyone.
We expect all participants to abide by this Code of Conduct in all venues, including breakout groups and other event functionality (e.g. polls, chat, Q&A sessions, etc.)
Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions
Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech
Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants; alerting the OJI:SDA; team if you notice violations of the Code of Conduct
Unacceptable behaviors include:
Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions by any participant and at all related events
Harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments or visual images related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability, or other personal characteristics
Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in event spaces (including presentation slides)
Deliberate intimidation, stalking or following
Sustained disruption of event speakers
Sharing of event passes / login credentials
Event organizers reserve the right to to refuse, mute, block at its absolute discretion and without explanation participants who violate the code of conduct without refund.
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Photo Release: From time to time, we use photographs of event participants in our promotional materials. By virtue of your registration and attendance at OJI:SDA’ events, OJI:SDA’ reserves the right to use your likeness in such materials.
Video Recording: The sessions will be recorded and available to registered participants for a limited period of time following the event, where participants can go back and view the sessions within a one week period, from within a secure online viewing page. Videos will also be used for future OJI:SDA’ education and promotional activities.
Profile / Registration Policy: Login credentials for the virtual event may not be shared. Those that violate this policy may be removed from the virtual event without refund.
OJI:SDA’ Sustainable Indigenous Futures reserves the right to update these policies.
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If you have any additional questions or special requests please contact connect@ojisda.org