Schedule for Saturday, October 21, 2006

Archive: 2006 Northland Bioneers Conference
Northland Bioneers Conference

Download and print the complete Conference Program PDF

Personal Care Workshops

Saturday, 7:30 – 8:20 am

Terry Gips, Alliance for Sustainability
Personal Sustainability: Living the Life You've Always Wanted

Would you like to experience more balance, health and vitality while making a difference? Come find out at this fun, empowering and interactive experience.

Saturday, 7:30 – 8:15 am

Hiyala, Indiga Art
Yoga to Awaken, Focus & Connect

Saturday, 8 am Registration Opens

8:30 – 9 am Welcome and Opening Ceremony

ANN BANCROFT

Emcee, Ann Bancroft, world-renowned polar explorer
Accompanied by Barbara McAfee, Music for Life
and
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre

Ann Bancroft is one of the world’s preeminent polar explorers and an internationally recognized leader. Through her various roles as explorer, educator, and sought-after speaker, she is dedicated to sharing the powerful stories of her expeditions with people worldwide to inspire them to pursue their goals and dreams.

Bancroft’s teamwork and leadership skills have undergone severe tests during her polar expeditions and provided her with opportunities to break down barriers and shatter female stereotypes. The tenacity and courage that define her character have earned Bancroft worldwide recognition as one of today’s most influential role models. She has been named among Glamour magazine’s "Women of the Year" (2001); featured in the book Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century (1998); inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (1995); named Ms. magazine's "Woman of the Year" (1987); and honored with numerous other awards for her accomplishments. www.yourexpedition.com
Barbara McAfee

Barbara McAfee is a talented singer/songwriter and keynote speaker who uses music and words to inspire and connect people. Her musical keynotes have brought heart and sass to events at Best Buy Women's Leadership forum, YMCA national training, and numerous wellness events around the US. She has also lent her music to keynotes by national authors Margaret Wheatley and Peter Block.

Barbara has a lively voice coaching practice where she supports all kinds of people in finding more power and pleasure in expression.

Before devoting herself to music full time, Barbara was an organizational change facilitator for 12 years with a special emphasis on improving communities for children and families.

She lives near the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. www.barbaramcafee.com

Since 1973, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre has been using water, flour, newspaper, paint, and unlimited imagination to tell stories that explore the struggles and celebrations of human existence. Drawing inspiration from the world's traditions of puppet and mask theatre and its lively roots in transformative ritual and street theatre, HOBT creates vital, poetic theater for all ages and backgrounds.

Saturday, 9 - 10 am Local Keynote Speaker

RONNIE CUMMINS

Positive Signs That Point to a Second American Revolution; One That Will Unite World Citizens Toward Planetary Health

Ronnie Cummins is the current national director of the Organic Consumers Association, an online and grassroots non-profit public interest organization campaigning for health, justice, and sustainability, www.organicconsumers.org. Cummins has been active as a writer, activist, and organizer since 1967 and has extensive experience in human rights, anti-war, anti-nuclear, labor, consumer, and sustainable agriculture campaigns. In 1998, Cummins organized the SOS (Save Organic Standards) Campaign, spearheading the largest consumer grassroots backlash against the U.S. Department of Agriculture in recent history. He is also a member of the International Forum on Food and Agriculture, and a frequent lecturer, both in the U.S. and abroad. Cummins has written numerous articles for the alternative press and is author of Genetically Engineered Food: A Self-Defense Guide for Consumers.

Saturday, 10 am - 12 pm 16 On-Site Interactive Workshops

Saturday, 10 am – 11:30 am

Shiney Varghese, Lisa Lewidge, and Darcy Roe
Bottled Water as a Form of Water Privatization

Bottled water has become a leading beverage choice. Many consider water bottling a form of privatization. Join our taste test. Hear about the industry. Is bottled water better?

Yogiraj Achala (Authors as Charles Bates)
Human Leadership is Not Enough

"Response to the call to steward with nature, as part of nature" is required. We are challenged to expand our consciousness – experiencing nature as real, as conscious.
Saturday, 10 am – 10:55 am

Heidi Ohlander
So You Want to Change the World!

This entertaining workshop will inspire you to find your unique way to make an impact on the world! This is activism for the 21st Century!

Tehri Parker Introduction to Home Sized Renewable Energy Systems

Introduction to renewable energy systems for home use including: solar electric, wind turbines, and solar domestic hot water.

Kai Curry
Sundays Energy (Biodiesel)

Kai Curry, founder of Sundays Energy, will speak about his background, the company's evolution, and future directions regarding renewable energy and other community-building initiatives.

Annie Young
Taking a Negative and Turning it into a Positive

Examples of how 2 low-income, communities of color used Environmental Justice and direct action campaigns as a community building tool to create a renewed spirit of optimism and hope for their neighborhood.

Cat Thompson
How to Achieve World Peace and Stop the Population Explosion, All Without Leaving Your Living Room

All conflict can be resolved within. Learn how the art of empathy shows a path to healing global issues.

Sean Gosiewski
Congregations Caring for Creation

Meet and share ideas with volunteers from congregations slowing global warming by educating their members, taking the MN energy challenge and advocating for smart energy policies (www.c3mn.net).

Nancy Stephan
Birthquakes to Breakthroughs: Women – Honor Yourself, Change Our World!

Learn how honoring yourself will make a profound difference. Gain skills to embrace the birthquakes of change and breakthrough to birth new ways of behaving.

Sandy Spieler
Invigorate the Common Well

Experience how the ritualized renovation of a public drinking fountain connects us to issues of Water quality, quantity and "ownership" and inspires gratitude and protection for the Common Well.

Saturday, 11:05 am – 12:00 pm

Chris Heeter
Wisdom of Outside Inside

Through native flute, stories, and small group discussions, we'll explore down-to-earth tools for optimism and self sustainability in earth stewardship. One person at a time, we will care for this planet we call home.

Jane Barrash
Quantum Capacities

Findings from the leading edge of physics, brain science and medicine dovetails the time-honored teachings of many cultural traditions to create a promising model of human and planetary potential.

David Paxson
Why Population Stabilization is Key

Humanely stopping population growth is essential to stopping resource destruction. Props and videos help attendees grasp the magnitude of the issue followed by positive actions to take.

Martha Naegeli
Food, Water and Solar Energy

Why solar technology is critical in humanitarian emergencies and international development.

Mel Duncan
What You Can Say Yes to When You Say No to War!

Nonviolent Peaceforce is what you can say yes to when you say no to war! Learn new ways for the world to respond to violent conflicts.

Brian Merchant
Post Petroleum Transformation

Peak oil brings a prescription for a new energy economy: powerdown, relocalize, and support alternatives as sustainability becomes a necessity.

Day Burtness, Dan Borek, Heidi Campbell, and Andrew Moe
The STOGROW Farm Story (for Students)

Gather ideas on promoting institutional sustainability where you live, learn, and work by hearing how students at St. Olaf College started an organic farm.

Matthew Egan Rochte
Making the World Round Again

While pessimism rules and hope appears scarce, a recent convergence of business, science, and spirituality is creating conscious capitalism and restoring hope to the future.

Friday, 10am – 2 pm World Café

Lightly facilitated community room where participants bring questions and reflections. Through listening and expression participants record actionable ideas. Led by Cheryl Kartes, Institute of Cultural Affairs - Technology of Participation®.

Cheryl Kartes brings an aesthetic concern for nurturing creativity and the human spirit to the MN ToP team. Her local and national work in arts and nonprofit administration has provided her with over 20 years of experience in organizational and community leadership roles. Cheryl is a mediator, a coach, a mentor ToP trainer, and served as co-chair for the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) 2001 conference held in the Twin Cities.

Saturday, 1 - 5 pm National Plenary Presentations via satellite

TZEPORAH BERMAN

Corporate Campaigns and the New Environmentalism: Places, People and the Fate of our Last Great Forests

Tzeporah Berman (www.forestethics.org) is the Program Director for ForestEthics, an organization with programs in the United States, Canada and Chile that have protected over 5 million acres of forests in the last five years and have transformed buying patterns of major paper and wood consumers such as Staples and Office Depot. Prior to joining ForestEthics, Ms. Berman worked for seven years with Greenpeace International and Greenpeace Canada, and currently sits on the boards of the Ruckus Society and the Hollyhock Retreat Center and lives on Cortes Island, BC with her husband and their two children.

CLAYTON THOMAS-MÜLLER

Stopping the Energy Colonization of Sacred Native Lands

Clayton Thomas-Müller (www.ienearth.org) of the Mathais Colomb Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba, Canada, is an activist for indigenous self-determination and environmental justice. He is the Indigenous Oil Campaign Organizer for the Indigenous Environmental Network and works across Alaska, Canada and the lower 48 States of the USA with grassroots indigenous communities to defend their human and environmental rights against transnational oil corporations. Clayton has been recognized by the Utne Reader as one of the top 30 under 30 young activists in the United States.

THOMAS LINZEY

Turning Defense into Offense: Challenging Corporations and Creating Self-Governance

Thomas Linzey (www.celdf.org), a Pennsylvania-based activist and attorney, is co-founder of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit providing free and affordable legal services to grassroots groups and municipal governments and seeking creative legal strategies for democratic control over corporations, especially in demanding the right of localities to refuse to accept highly polluting industrial agriculture facilities. Linzey has run as an independent for state Attorney General in PA, serves as coordinator of the Franklin County Coalition, is a frequent lecturer to groups and municipal governments across the country and is a resident lecturer for the "Democracy Schools" he helped found-ever more popular and widespread weekend seminars held across the U.S. that seek to provoke critical thinking about the role of corporations and teach strategies to reclaim local "home rule" over key economic decisions that affect communities.

CARL ANTHONY

The Earth, the City and the Hidden Narrative of Race

Carl Anthony, a former Executive Director of the Earth Island Institute, is currently Deputy Director of the Community and Resource Department Unit at the Ford Foundation as well as Chair of the Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Development. He has long been one of the nation's most renowned environmental leaders and is one of the seminal founders of the environmental justice movement.

AMY GOODMAN

Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders and the People Who Fight Back

Amy Goodman (www.democracynow.org), is the Executive Producer and host of the acclaimed radio program, "Democracy Now!" on Pacifica Radio, and formerly served as news director for WBAI in New York. An intrepid reporter and investigator, she is a recipient of the Alfred I. Dupont-Columbia University Journalism Award, the Radio/Television News Directors Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Award for International Reporting and the George Polk Award. Goodman has reported from many of the world's "hot spots:" Israel and the occupied territories, Cuba, Mexico, Haiti, Nigeria and East Timor.

Saturday, 5 – 7 pm Dinner/Community Dialogue/Social

What have you learned at the Northland Bioneers Conference? How will you "habithat"? Led by Craig Neal, Heartland Circle.

Meal tickets are available through registration for $12 (recommended). Limited meal tickets may be available on site. You are also welcome to bring your own food. Please respect the zero waste policy of the event and use reusable containers only.

Craig Neal, Vision Holder, Heartland Inc.
Since awakening to his life's purpose in 1963, Craig Neal has celebrated life as a passionate change leader, publishing executive and organizational executive and guide to those called to authentically show up in life and work.

Throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s Craig held executive positions with Garden Way, Inc, Rodale Publishing and helped launch Harrowsmith and Eating Well magazines. In 1996 he concluded his publishing career and as Publisher of Utne Magazine. In 1996 Craig founded Heartland Inc. with Patricia, his wife of 25 years. Since then he has been dedicated to creating networks of authenticity and essential conversations among individuals and within organizations through training and convening events that serve to bring about the desired systemic personal, social and organizational transformations needed in these extraordinary times.

In 1998 Heartland produced the first "Thought Leader Gathering" for 40 change leaders in Minnesota. Eight years and 125 Gatherings later, Craig has guided over 1200 leaders in these ongoing membership based groups in Minnesota and the Bay Area of Calif. He and Patricia created the Essential Conversations Process (ECP) for educators (Circle of Fire) and MBA students, along with convening meetings for businesses and communities alike.

In 2004 Craig launched the Art of Convening TeleTraining series for those called to be an inspired catalysts for change in their organization or community. Over 200 leaders are currently engaged or have graduated from 21 Art of Convening groups.

Craig is skilled at building relationships within and across organizations and in developing and maintaining superior communication skills and member relations. He founded the Conscious Business Alliance, the Minnesota Magazine Publishers Association, and served as a founding board member of Business for Social Responsibility and of Responsible Minnesota Business. Craig lives with Patricia and their two sons on an urban gardenstead in Minnesota. He loves the land, is an avid gardener, beekeeper and voyageur. He is currently writing The Art of Convening: A Field Guide to Essential Conversations. www.heartlandcircle.com

Saturday, 7 – 10 pm Film Festival & Community Dialogue

Emcees:
Sarah Bell-Haberman
Carol Schuler
The Haberman Agency
www.modernstorytellers.com

These two films illustrate the food dilemma modern Americans and indigenous populations face. Commentary and community dialogue will be offered following each film.

Mino-Bimadiziwin: The Good Life, Ojibwe wild rice harvesting in Minnesota (57m) An engaging portrait of a community on the White Earth reservation in Minnesota where the peoples' lives revolve around the annual harvest of wild rice. Many wonderful and intimate moments show the hardships and rewards experienced by those who continue to live off the land.

Commentary following by:

Wayne Stevens John Stevens Deborah Wallwork, Documentary Filmmaker

Wayne Stevens is a wild rice activist, life-long harvester, traditional birchbark basket maker, and an enrolled member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe.

John Stevens is a member of the Rice Lake community, a life-long harvester, and enrolled member of the White Earth Chippewa Tribe.

Deb Wallwork is a documentary filmmaker who produces cultural history program for museums and public TV. Best known for a series of videos on Native American culture, made in affiliation with the Red River Indian Association and Prairie Public Television, Deb has received numerous national awards including a Cine Golden Eagle, Bronze and Silver Apples, and has been a finalist for the Robert Bennett Award from the American Film Institute. Her work is been screened at national festivals including the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian's Museum of the American Indian-Heye Center. Her commissions and credits include the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and National Park Service's Knife River Interpretive Center. She has an MFA in Film from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. More information about her programs is available on the web at www.redeyevideo.org.

The Meatrix I and II (10m), In an age characterized by mechanization, there exists a large gap between our illusions about where food comes from and the stark reality of industrial meat and dairy production. Enter The Meatrix films, a series of short animations that explore this disconnect between food production and consumption.

Commentary following by:

Karen Hudson, Consultant, GRACE Factory Farm Campaign

Karen Hudson lives on a fifth generation family farm in Illinois. She is a graduate of Illinois State University and has a Bachelors Degree in education. She is President of F.A.R.M. (Families Against Rural Messes), a grassroots organization that organized when livestock factories targeted Illinois for expansion. She was an appointed member of the Illinois House/Senate Joint Livestock Advisory Committee in 1997. She was a presenter at Northwestern University Civil Engineering Seminar on water quality issues, the National Association for Local Boards of Health annual conferences, University of Michigan Environmental Law Society, and other events discussing the impacts of industrial animal production. Karen has been named "Conservationist of the Year" by the Heart of Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club. Karen led the grassroots campaign to educate Central Illinois citizens about the dangerous effects of food irradiation when the area was used as a test market for irradiated beef. Karen toured Poland in 2001 to educate local citizens and farmers about the devastating impacts of factory farming, and was made an honorary member of the Polish Ecological Society, Polski Klub Ekologiczny, for her work. She has been featured in the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times and on NPR, as well as in various state and local media. She continues to educate and empower citizens in Illinois and across the nation who face the impacts of livestock factories by speaking at conferences, hosting educational booths at special events, and through her work with GRACE and F.A.R.M.

Saturday, 7 – 10 pm, Skyway World Beat Dance and All Age House Party

Cxr: The Megalomaniac

Cxr: The Megalomaniac taught himself how to play the piano and began composing at age 15. He began spinning at 17 in his father's nightclub in North Carolina. In 1998, Cxr founded Quantum Entertainment, Inc. and Sid Records label and began delivering ferocious sets throughout the Minneapolis club and party scene. By night he moved crowds with his unique styles of techno, industrial, house, and jungle. By day he composed, designed sound, and scored films and other commercial content. His debut CD entitled, "I am Cxr," hit the CMJ Top 20. Currently, the composer/producer/DJ is the resident DJ at Infinity where you can find him spinning Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul in the Cities' most stylish environment both Friday and Saturday night.

Marnita Schroedl, Emcee

Marnita Schroedl, Founder/Catalyst, has held senior positions at leading entertainment and marketing firms in Los Angeles and Minneapolis. She also has extensive experience in delivering executive leadership training for non-profits and for-profit clients, including Fortune 500 firms. Marnita is a community activist and writer whose work often involves building cross-cultural connections across ethnic, age, and gender lines.

Marnita is the host of "Marnita's Table," a television show currently in production with Twin Cities Public Television (TPT). The program centers on the discussion that takes place at the dinner table when people from different cultures meet to find common ground. Marnita's Table is slated to air on TPT in late 2005. Marnita is a frequently sought after public speaker on such issues as how to engage families of children of color in their children's education and expanding health care access for people of color.

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