Seed Sovereignty Symposium, (a. k. a., Traditional Agriculture and Sustainable Living Conference) 2013

 

Keynote Speaker Vandana Shiva; Phillip Charos & Claissa Durán, Registrars

Seed Sovereignty Symposium/Traditional Agriculture & Sustainable Living Conference

    Conference Website:  http://4bridges.org/annual-conference/2013-conference/

   

    This was my seventh year and my husband, Phillip's, third year as Conference Registrars.  Each year I've sat at the table for two straight days, greeting old friends, neighbors, and like-minded newcomers to one of the most spiritual and thought provoking experiences available.  Our conference comes out of Tesuque Pueblo and the work to preserve traditional tribal agriculture, spirituality - life.  As organizers, many of us have worked the gamut from public demonstrations to lobbying for bills in the New Mexico Legislature, and working to educate our Congresspeople.  But, it is this conference that creates the opportunity for true healing and life-honoring change.

     At the heart of the conference sits the spiritual leaders of indigenous nations and communities (including the annual participation of the Thirteen Grandmothers).  After listening to one spiritual leader's words in one of the conference panels, a native friend and former conference volunteer said that her DNA had been changed by the Mayan spiritual leader's talk.  This is not to be taken lightly, especially in considering my friend's involvement in her own sovereign nation and her position at a native college.  

    This year we hosted over 400 students from local schools (the majority of whom were 5th graders).  This was a brilliant step taken by conference organizers.  Planting seeds early gives the indigenous communities time to water and care for seeds that will mature and bear their own seeds.  Our area's youth were given an education in a world in which the sickness of materialism and modern life have no roots.  

    Each year the conference is different.  This year, I felt the abundance in our community.  We heard the messages and felt the spirit together.  We prayed and were blessed.  We broke bread together and lingered in dynamic conversations.  We learned about one another and our work to uphold the sovereignty of traditional cultures.  We laughed together and held each other's gaze respectfully.  Our hearts beat together.  Many experiences.  One people.