BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
What can we learn from the First People and about ourselves, and how could it guide our thinking about the climate crisis?
Join us in hearing from distinguished speakers and Tribal leaders in learning about U.S., California, and Bay Area History. Explore what a Just Transition to renewable energy might really look like, and develop skills for cultural sensitivity as we support modern day equitable solutions.
In the 2021 Indigenous Voices Speaker Series, attendees will have a chance to engage in policy action initiatives while supporting Indigenous sovereignty. Our first speaker event is on May 17th, featuring featuring Jim Warne of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Nation, motivational speaker, President of Warrior Society Development, WSD Productions, Community Engagement & Diversity Director USD Center for Disabilities Oyate` Circle and creator of the award-winning documentary “7th Generation” and the NFL Social Justice Series, "Oyate` un Ito`wapi - Pictures of my People" featured on FOX Network.
In Jim’s own words:
In talking to people from other countries, I have found that Asians and Europeans know more about our Indian history than Americans do…. In America, we get one narrow and uniform tribal perspective when there are over 550 tribes here that are recognized and 200 hundred languages still today.
It's important to have an understanding that some of the history that has been taught may not be correct, and in many cases it's not even addressed..... It's an ignorance by design, but how could we expect our non-Indian brothers to know when they're not being taught? If we taught the truth from the beginning we wouldn't be dealing with the ignorance and intolerance we're dealing with today.
Want to go deeper? Join our monthly Indigenous Voices Reading and Listening Circle, starting April 11, and meeting monthly for 6 months total. Together we'll learn, and unlearn ways of being in relationship to one another and the environment that respects the First People.
Join in one or all of these events as our Climate Reality Project Bay Area Chapter continues our efforts of placing equity and justice at the center of our work.