Building BridgesCreating Healthy Collaborations
for Climate Justice |
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This online series is co-hosted by the Transition US Social Justice Working Group, and is intended to build a foundation for healthy collaborations and regenerative culture in our work around climate justice.
Upcoming Building Bridges
Building Bridges meets on Zoom every 3rd Sunday of the month from 3:00 to 5:00p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Sept 20th 2020 3-5pm Pacific Time
Indigenous Food and Cultural Healing: The OLCERI project
with Byran Deans, Tahera Hamdani and Koreen Brennen
hosted by Jul Bystrova
OLCERI stands for the Oglala Lakota Cultural and Economic Revitalization Initiative, a project on the Pine Ridge Reservation to focus on food, economic and cultural healing and soverignity. Join this talk to learn about this exciting project and how you might be able to support.
The Lakota teach that the five basic needs of life are: food, fire, water, shelter, and earth. These basic needs are what must be met for an individual to actualize by finding self, and spirit, the final two which make up our seven core tenants at OLCERI.Without these basic needs met, individuals are stuck in perpetual states of insecurity, poverty, and scarcity - making it harder for them to do good by themselves and others, and leading to all types of psychiatric, physical, and spiritual problems.
OLCERI is based on a site in Slim Buttes that is actively being designed as a fully off-grid Eco-Ranch designed to represent a “Garden of Eden” model to provide access to affordable, simple, and fun solutions to the 5 basic needs for the tribal community.
Speakers:
Bryan Deans is the founder of OLCERI and host of the Indigenous Wisdom & Permaculture Skills Convergence (IWPSC), on his permaculture demonstration site. He was born on Pine Ridge reservation and has to be an incredible community resource for over 20 years. Bryan is skilled in permaculture design, integrating these teachings with his understanding of the Lakota ways, and a great communicator and teacher. He has worked as a project manager, in local government, an aerospace mechanic and engineer, welding teacher, and permaculture designer.
He has envisioned, designed, and built all of the infrastructure and programs on the OLCERI homestead. Including wind and solar clean energy system, a farmer-rancher educational program for local people, wild horse rescue program, bio-diesel production, a sawmill for local lumber, and community garden that currently produces hundreds of pounds of food. OLCERI's latest projects are an Earthship-style rammed earth tire building that will house the Indigenous Wisdom Center, a Lakota language school and cultural preservation center. With his work with OLCERI Bryan has also designed the methodology for Food Distribution Network to supply fresh foods to people throughout Pine Ridge.
Tahera Hamdani is the secretary and project manager for OLCERI. Her life's vision is for us, as humanity, to evolve from the current industrial growth society, based on extraction and exploitation of natural resources, to a life-sustaining society based on regenerative agricultural and industrial processes, one which is more in harmony with the elements and of all our human brothers and sisters.
She is an Indian citizen, raised as an expat in the UAE. and completed her undergrad in Computing and Communication Systems Engineering at the University of Manchester, in the UK. Post University, she moved to NYC and spent the last 13 years of her professional life practicing management consultancy, strategic planning and large change management for Financial Services firms. Following some deep inner work, she chose to opt out of the corporate world to pursue her aspirations of building regenerative communities and food systems. Having always lived in countries other than the one she was born in, her sense of home is largely driven by the land she lives on and the communities she is a part of.
Koreen Brennan began her support of the OLCERI project in 2007. She has worked with Bryan to bring his vision to fruition through organizing natural building events, education, apprenticeship, fundraising and food production projects. She is an internationally respected permaculture designer, teacher and community organizer, working throughout the US and in a number of other countries on issues of food security and regenerative living. She believes that the indigenous wisdom that permaculture is founded upon can heal the world.
Facebook Event Link
Indigenous Food and Cultural Healing: The OLCERI project
with Byran Deans, Tahera Hamdani and Koreen Brennen
hosted by Jul Bystrova
OLCERI stands for the Oglala Lakota Cultural and Economic Revitalization Initiative, a project on the Pine Ridge Reservation to focus on food, economic and cultural healing and soverignity. Join this talk to learn about this exciting project and how you might be able to support.
The Lakota teach that the five basic needs of life are: food, fire, water, shelter, and earth. These basic needs are what must be met for an individual to actualize by finding self, and spirit, the final two which make up our seven core tenants at OLCERI.Without these basic needs met, individuals are stuck in perpetual states of insecurity, poverty, and scarcity - making it harder for them to do good by themselves and others, and leading to all types of psychiatric, physical, and spiritual problems.
OLCERI is based on a site in Slim Buttes that is actively being designed as a fully off-grid Eco-Ranch designed to represent a “Garden of Eden” model to provide access to affordable, simple, and fun solutions to the 5 basic needs for the tribal community.
Speakers:
Bryan Deans is the founder of OLCERI and host of the Indigenous Wisdom & Permaculture Skills Convergence (IWPSC), on his permaculture demonstration site. He was born on Pine Ridge reservation and has to be an incredible community resource for over 20 years. Bryan is skilled in permaculture design, integrating these teachings with his understanding of the Lakota ways, and a great communicator and teacher. He has worked as a project manager, in local government, an aerospace mechanic and engineer, welding teacher, and permaculture designer.
He has envisioned, designed, and built all of the infrastructure and programs on the OLCERI homestead. Including wind and solar clean energy system, a farmer-rancher educational program for local people, wild horse rescue program, bio-diesel production, a sawmill for local lumber, and community garden that currently produces hundreds of pounds of food. OLCERI's latest projects are an Earthship-style rammed earth tire building that will house the Indigenous Wisdom Center, a Lakota language school and cultural preservation center. With his work with OLCERI Bryan has also designed the methodology for Food Distribution Network to supply fresh foods to people throughout Pine Ridge.
Tahera Hamdani is the secretary and project manager for OLCERI. Her life's vision is for us, as humanity, to evolve from the current industrial growth society, based on extraction and exploitation of natural resources, to a life-sustaining society based on regenerative agricultural and industrial processes, one which is more in harmony with the elements and of all our human brothers and sisters.
She is an Indian citizen, raised as an expat in the UAE. and completed her undergrad in Computing and Communication Systems Engineering at the University of Manchester, in the UK. Post University, she moved to NYC and spent the last 13 years of her professional life practicing management consultancy, strategic planning and large change management for Financial Services firms. Following some deep inner work, she chose to opt out of the corporate world to pursue her aspirations of building regenerative communities and food systems. Having always lived in countries other than the one she was born in, her sense of home is largely driven by the land she lives on and the communities she is a part of.
Koreen Brennan began her support of the OLCERI project in 2007. She has worked with Bryan to bring his vision to fruition through organizing natural building events, education, apprenticeship, fundraising and food production projects. She is an internationally respected permaculture designer, teacher and community organizer, working throughout the US and in a number of other countries on issues of food security and regenerative living. She believes that the indigenous wisdom that permaculture is founded upon can heal the world.
Facebook Event Link
About the Series
During this series, we will deepen our understanding of ourselves and others as we cultivate relationships across cultural differences. We also aspire to strengthen the justice culture that we need for this time of climate emergency. One of the core beliefs underlying this series is that we all hold an essential piece of the collective wisdom that is needed by the whole. With the intention of weaving together a more diverse, inclusive and influential movement for social change, we will explore successful models for building resilience in disadvantaged and marginalized communities.
By exploring the issues, stories and histories within around climate justice, we gain tools and practices that will assist us in reaching outside our familiar circles. In this way, we can work together in solidarity with frontline communities who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, widening economic inequality, and systemic oppression. To do this does require healing, reconciliation, and evolving our cultural understandings. We are committed to this.
Our series seeks to shine a light on the significant connection between climate change and social justice. Our intention is to open our hearts together to explore the ways our own lives are embedded in the issues, and to learn to bear witness to how others are affected in ways beyond that with which we are already familiar.
One of the attitudes we hold during our discussions is the importance of creating space for the “messiness” of human emotions when we awaken our shared histories and traumas, our questions and reflections will evolve towards the direction of a clearer lens, but sometimes it will feel like we aren't sure where we are going--that is one of the signs of evolution!
We believe that a safe and respectful space to explore these sensitive topics together will help catalyze the connection and mutual understanding we need to truly co-create a world of social and ecological justice. We are doing the change-making necessary for a more positive future.
By exploring the issues, stories and histories within around climate justice, we gain tools and practices that will assist us in reaching outside our familiar circles. In this way, we can work together in solidarity with frontline communities who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, widening economic inequality, and systemic oppression. To do this does require healing, reconciliation, and evolving our cultural understandings. We are committed to this.
Our series seeks to shine a light on the significant connection between climate change and social justice. Our intention is to open our hearts together to explore the ways our own lives are embedded in the issues, and to learn to bear witness to how others are affected in ways beyond that with which we are already familiar.
One of the attitudes we hold during our discussions is the importance of creating space for the “messiness” of human emotions when we awaken our shared histories and traumas, our questions and reflections will evolve towards the direction of a clearer lens, but sometimes it will feel like we aren't sure where we are going--that is one of the signs of evolution!
We believe that a safe and respectful space to explore these sensitive topics together will help catalyze the connection and mutual understanding we need to truly co-create a world of social and ecological justice. We are doing the change-making necessary for a more positive future.
The Building Bridges Team
Jul Bystrova is the co-founder of the Inner Resilience Network and Director of the Era of Care project, which works with frontline communities. She has a 25 year history of community activism and a private practice in trauma-informed mind-body healing work. She is an Interfaith Minister and holds a graduate degree in Interdisciplinary research and a focus on how to bridge perspectives in Science and Spirituality. She is a poet, and writes and teaches about cultural healing, social justice and psycho-spiritual topics. She also serves on the Transition US Collaborative Design Council and is a member of the Social Justice Working Group. She is dedicated to bringing awareness and actions towards greater social justice and wellness in the Transition community.
Galen Meyers is a passionate social change practitioner focused on the holistic approach of regenerative culture growth. Galen has a background in math, physics, and biology and he is an avid lifelong learner in many fields of study, including permaculture, complexity science, and the emerging field of cultural evolution. He is trained as a group facilitator through both of the organizations “Institute of Cultural Affairs” and “Prosocial”. He is also a certified yoga and meditation instructor. Galen is co-founder of Common Ground Networks, and he serves on the Inner Resilience Network and the Collaborative Design Council for Transition US.
Ayako Nagano serves on the Board of Transition Berkeley, and on the steering committees for the Green Leadership Trust, a coalition of green non-profit board members of color promoting equity and inclusion within the environmental movement. Ayako serves on the Social Justice Working Group for Transition US, and was recently appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Justice Advisory Council.
Marissa Moemmarts (info in process)
Inner Resilience Network: We connect in order to catalyze local, national and international efforts centered on building skills, resources and support systems that promote personal-relational resilience in the face of today’s multifaceted challenges and foster personal-relational growth to bring forth the human qualities needed in a life-affirming culture.
Transition US Social Justice Working Group: Our mission is to grow justice, equity and inclusion in the world, and to create the conditions for diversity to flourish in the Transition Movement. We do this by educating ourselves on social justice issues and sharing resources with the broader Transition movement, connecting and collaborating with the broader social justice movement, and implementing practical projects that incorporate justice and equity as integral aspects of building community resilience.