The story that shapes your relationship with nature -- Damon Gameau
(if the above TED Talk link doesn't work, you can access this same talk via YouTube here: https://youtu.be/kADwVHIP8zs?si=sqzuD0Rx-VFhP44K)
Whose land are you on? What to know about the Indigenous Land Back movement -- Lindsey Schneider
(if the above TED Talk link doesn't work, you can access this same talk via YouTube here: https://youtu.be/nYZSPUi-lgE?si=elgM2HQ0KLCPkMOt)
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Our planned speaker was in the path of Hurricane Milton and needs to focus on their family, home, and community. We absolutely respect that, are keeping them in our prayers, and are pivoting.
With Monday, October 14, recognized as National Indigenous Peoples' Day, we feel called to extend that honoring: As we move toward Creating Beloved Community: Healing Together, with Jesus as our primary model, we gathered on Wednesday, October 16, with a focus on Indigenous Wisdom. We watched together two recorded presentations -- by Lindsey Schneider and Damon Gameau -- with a time for reflections and questions in community following each of them.
Lindsey Schneider is an Indigenous feminist scholar who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, surrounded by rivers, big trees, and salmon. Her published work deals with salmon restoration in the Pacific Northwest, treaty fishing rights, and American Indian STEM Education. After receiving a PhD in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Riverside, Schneider worked in student affairs at the University of Idaho, supporting Native American students and building relationships with tribal leaders. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies at Colorado State University, where she teaches courses in Environmental Justice and Indigenous Studies, and serves on the President’s Native American Advisory Council. In 2020, Lindsey founded the Indigenous Science Technology Arts and Resilience (ISTAR) program which provides cultural and educational support for Native youth and their families in the Fort Collins area.
Damon Gameau is a filmmaker, author and activist. His two feature documentaries, That Sugar Film and 2040, both sit in the top four highest-grossing documentaries of all time at the Australian box office. His films are made with extensive impact campaigns that allow viewers to take immediate action while extending their reach into communities, schools and board rooms. 2040 has raised millions of dollars for climate solutions. Gameau spoke at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in New York and has also addressed numerous governments and organizations around the world. He was nominated for the "NSW Australian of the Year" in 2020.
We believe this transition from Being Church and Courageous Leadership to Creating Beloved Community: Healing Together is in attunement with our call as Christians from:
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Scripture and our expanding understanding and expression of love for ALL of our neighbors
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MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail and Vision of the Beloved Community
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ELCA Teaching, and especially our "connection to all of life"
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ELCA Truth and Healing Movement (as facilitated by Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations)
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Dr. Shawn Ginwright's The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves
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And so many other diverse voices and sacred ways we engage with each other and with the world.
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To answer some commonly asked questions about these regular gatherings:
"Why are you still meeting?" "Don't become too familiar with loneliness. Community is a risk, but liberation depends on the collective. Who can you trust to hold you?" -- Cole Arthur Riley, author of Black Liturgies
