2009 Speakers

On October 11, 2004, 13 Indigenous Grandmothers from all over the world—the Alaskan Tundra, North, South and Central America, Africa, and Asia—arrived at Tibet House's Menla Mountain Retreat amidst 340 acres of forests, fields and streams in upstate New York. Within a few days of convening, the grandmothers agreed to form a global alliance; to work together to serve both their common goals and their specific local concerns.

The first council gathering was a time of hope and inspiration. The grandmothers are both women of prayer and women of action. Their traditional ways link them with the forces of the earth. Their solidarity with one another creates a web to rebalance the injustices wrought from an imbalanced world; a world disconnected from the fundamental laws of nature and the original teachings based on a respect for all of life.

Agnes Emma was the seventh of nine children born to George Wentworth Baker and Eveline Lydia Harney Baker on September 11, 1924 in Lodgson, Oregon, on a tribal allotment near the headwaters of the Siletz River. The midwife was her mother’s mother, Elizabeth Juliana Tole Harney.

Amber Jade is a part of the idyllic intentional community at Breitenbush Hot Springs Resort located on a wildlife reserve in the Cascade mountains outside of Salem, OR. 

Since 1974 -Amigo has done diversified small organic farming in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Northern California growing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, berries, nuts, nursery stock and animals. He is devoted to teaching young people farming and homesteading skills through apprenticeship and education. Currently farming at Heaven and Earth Farm on the San Juan Ridge, Nevada County, CA.

In 1972 he founded We The People Natural Foods Cooperative. Developed and managed retail store and wholesale distribution company. The wholesale division is a parent of Mt. Peoples Warehouse, which, in turn is the parent of United Natural Foods, the country's largest organic and natural foods distributor. See www.unfi.com. During this time, Amigo designed and built a propane powered, refrigerated delivery truck as a model of alternative energy. Also developed a recycling center to facilitate recycling and transportation for recyclables from North Lake Tahoe, CA.

90 years ago Anne Feeney's grandfather was raising hell in the streets of Pittsburgh with Mother Jones and Eugene Debs.  Anne carries on this family tradition, performing over 250 days a year "comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable" with her award-winning music.

Her anthem "Have You Been to Jail For Justice?", is being sung in jail cells everywhere, and has been recorded by Peter, Paul & Mary among others. Utah Philips and Peter Yarrow call Anne “the best labor singer in North America.”

Ari is entertaining, artistic, analytical
Physical, emotional, spiritual, political
Spoken word artist Hip Hop historian
Graduated from University of Oregon
Singing 'til cities are greener than plants
Enemies gather together and dance
Each moment feels like a first kiss
And the whole universe blossoms with bliss

Ari Lesser is a spoken word artist and emcee, performing at some of the best festivals in the Northwest, always with new material.  Ari has been recording with Grammy winning producers in LA and Miami.  One of the most approachable artists on the scene, Ari is not to be missed.

Bliss is a professional fire bellydance instructor & performer and an avid student of the movement arts. She began her practice of yoga at fourteen and incorporates the balance of acroyoga in dance prayerformances. She has offered a variety of workshops at events and festivals which include yoga, bellydance, hoop bellydance, fire bellydance, and double staff dance. Bliss is a fiery bellydancer and enjoys sharing the inspiration that is this community!

http://www.blissbutterfly.com

Bruce H Lipton, Ph.D., bestselling author of The Biology of Belief, is a cellular biologist and former Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin's School of Medicine.   His pioneering research on cloned stem cells at Wisconsin presaged the revolutionary field of epigenetics, the new science of how environment and perception control genes.  Later research at Stanford University’s School of Medicine revealed the nature of the biochemical pathways that bridge the mind-body duality. His book, The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness Matter and Miracles, an LA Times Bestseller won Best Science Book of the Year by USA Book News in 2006.

Dr. Carl A. Hammerschlag, M.D. is a physician, author, storyteller and healer whose work with Native Americans has been chronicled in 3 best-selling books. He brings a wealth of legends and unique insights which bridge the worlds of science, spirit and culture. He is one of the early pioneers in psychoneuroimmunology and founder of the Turtle Island Project, a non-profit whose programs integrate the principles of mind/body/spirit medicine with healing rituals and ceremonies.

Carolyn Adams Garcia, born May 7 1946 in Poughkeepsie NY, grew up in an unusual family. Her mother was born and raised in India by her missionary parents, and her father came from Canada to become a zoologist.  They both were organizational developers and volunteered much time to the groups they supported.

Cassandra Robertson is a conduit for all things positive.  Her original songs shed light on the unlimited potential of the human spirit, inspiring her audience to revolutionize their own lives.  This Oregon-raised singer/songwriter blends original guitar and vocal melodies that focus on solutions to political and social challenges of our time.  With song topics ranging from quantum physics and organic gardening to stories of community activism, Cassandra’s variety of progressive folk-grass appeals to an array of music fans.

Chalise Brooke Medicine Eagle is a Native American metis - an Earth wisdom teacher and catalyst for healing, a visionary, sacred ecologist, harmonist and recording artist. Based at FlowerSong Garden Sanctuary in North Central WA, her beauty way awakens physical and spiritual health through private sessions and retreats, models ecological harmony, offers Native American music and chants, promotes ritual honoring of Earth cycles, shares women's mystery teachings, and creates a sustainable, holy path for two-leggeds to walk. Brooke and partner Sunny's teachings, apprenticeships and other offerings will awaken and challenge you to the next level of being -- as a fully-functioning human being in beauty, harmony and grace upon a renewed Earth. Apprenticeships in organic gardening, natural building, and harmonious lifeways can be arranged.

Charla's skills were inially chiseled in the boardrooms of CNN, ABC, and CBS before she found her passion. Raised in the spiritual arms of the Wind River Reservation of Wyoming, Charla brings a unique perspective that honors ancient traditions as well as modern day
expression of shamanism. For more than forty years Charla has served at the side of many prominent medicine people of many nations as she assisted them in providing their wisdom teachings to help us through these tumultuous times.

The highways that grid America’s urban back alleys, suburban parking lots, and fruited plains hold secret sagas beneath their white lines.  They cannot be googled or found on basic cable.  The history channel is taciturn for the roar of the open road is its own language - - not easily comprehended by those who get their information from a flat screen that might as well be heralding a flat earth.  It is a language that is more easily understood by a few truck drivers, troubadours, and traveling salesmen - - hitchhikers, carneys and fugitives - - drifters, grifters and campaigning candidates.  Chris Chandler is fluent in that language.

He brings these stories of an America that has been lost in our modern sea of bad news, shocking tales and graphic reenactment to the stage.

Dave is an adoring papa and a social entrepreneur whose life work is to actively participate in the conscious evolution of our culture and economy. Dave co-founded Bay Localize and now serves as coordinator of the Local Clean Energy Alliance. He also provides strategic program support and serves as a project spokesperson. Dave holds an M.S. in Engineering-Economic Systems and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. He is the founder of Energy Preparedness and the Hubbert Tribute, a member of Oakland's "Oil Independence" Task Force, as well as a frequent lecturer. Dave is the author of the forthcoming The Green Pill Inquiry. Dave lives in Oakland.