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From the Archive
The blog post that started it all: Questions from Bioneers conference
Newest episode of I Have Questions podcast Speaking with Maya Kante
My first time going to the Bioneers Conference was one of the most interesting and educational times that activates my nerd energy.
The Bioneers conference is an socio- environmental conference that is hosted every year and has been around for 14 years. It began in Santa Fe, moved to Marin California and finding a home to host in Berkeley for a number of years. I've been going for three years now and learned how the environment, finance and Indigenous practices all can work in collaboration. It takes being innovative to make it work.
I get so many ideas while I’m there and when I’m being receptive I meet some very cool people doing very cool things.
Bioneers celebrates Indigenous voices and showing traditions, beliefs and practices are both recognized and revered. There was a presentation that included most of the tribes that contributed to the educational community. However long the list, it still was not everything else.
Highlighting the environment alongside Indigenous practices is not a symbolic gesture to change the environment. This year, there was more information on the advocacy for the rights of rivers for sustainability practices and water treatment.
Some key takeaways:
“Its about the well-being of entire planet,” speaker Sammy Gensaw III on why he is advocating for rivers.
“Unity doesn't mean uniformity” Leena Barakat said during talk Murmuations: The Future of Philanthropy. In the panel discussion, they talked about creating a counter culture which bucks ideas of traditional philanthropy and moving towards sharing resources instead of creating an environment of competition in fundraising for the organizations that are looking for funding. “Trust those most impacted to do what's best and lead and help determination what's right.”
On panelist explained that the work of redistribution of wealth also involved sometimes asking people to talk to their family members out of running for office, giving a sense of purpose to an organization they thought about creating or not starting foundations that will trickle down money but actually moves people into a different community. The panelists also mentioned that they need to create an understanding of the impact and influence of wealth.
“Short and medium-term solutions that work with technological and societal inertia are also essential. We cannot wait to reduce emissions technology that can be retrofitted into existing economic and political structures can be especially valuable for generating a more immediate positive impact” said Charlotte Lenore Michaluk, an extraordinary 17-year-old scientist, researcher, biomimetic inventor and passionate eco-activist and conservationist. She's using techniques in up cycling old packaging and weaving fibers.