Nature Evolutionaries Organization of Nature Evolutionaries

Join us for this enlightening webinar as Cynthia Jurs shares her story of Sacred Earth Activism and inspires us to ask ourselves this question:
How can we bring healing and protection to the Earth? 
In 1990 Cynthia climbed a path high in the Himalayas to meet an “old wise man in a cave”—a venerated lama from Nepal. In response to her question, the old lama gave her a formidable assignment based on an ancient practice from Tibet: she must procure earth treasure vases made of clay and potent medicines, fill them with prayers and symbolic offerings, and bury them around the world where healing is called for.
Ultimately, the path from the wise man’s mountain cave winds around the world, bringing Cynthia into relationship with elders, activists, diverse ecosystems and communities. One by one, as the humble clay pots are planted in the Earth, the power of an ancient technology of the sacred comes alive and a global community grows to protect the Earth and learn how to become vessels of healing.
As many of us wonder what we can do in this eleventh hour, Cynthia offers a riveting account of one woman’s response to the challenges we face, and invites all of us to become “sacred activists” heeding the call of the Earth.
Cynthia Jurs became a dharma teacher(Dharmacharya)in the Order of Interbeing of ZenMaster Thich Nhat Hanhin in 1994 and, in 2018, was made an honorary lama in the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in recognition of her dedication to carrying out the Earth TreasureVase practice. Inspired by thirty years of pilgrimage into diverse communities and ecosystems, today Cynthia is forging a new path of dharma in service to Gaia—a path deeply rooted in the feminine, honoring indigenous cultures, and devoted to collective awakening. Cynthia leads meditations, retreats, courses, and pilgrimages to support the emergence of a global community of engaged and embodied sacred activists. She lives at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico, where she is often found walking in the wilderness with her dog or gardening with her husband. You can find her offerings and join the global healing community at  www.GaiaMandala.net
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Join us for the third session of our Wetlands Series as we explore the confluence of Water and Earth in sustaining abundant life.  Drawing on her years of work with communities, rivers, and freshwaters worldwide, Earth Elder Myra Jackson will share about her co-creative partnership with water and wetlands as places of wonder, unity, and connection.  These awe-inspiring, unifying spaces foster biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and help sustain life on a global scale.  
Immerse yourself in the reciprocal movement between water, a life-giving and dynamic force, and wetlands, which purify our ecosystems. Delving into the intricate relationship between humanity and wetlands, Myra will skillfully guide us to feel our connection with the freshwaters in our own landscapes.
As we approach the Spring Wetlands Gratitude Ceremony, let's come together to honor the magic of wetlands and deepen our connection to these vibrant, vital aspects of Nature.  https://www.natureevolutionaries.com/wetlands-gratitude-ceremony
Myra Jackson is an Earth Elder who has held careers in engineering, holographic organizational development and academia. She carries the title of Diplomat of the Biosphere with a primary focus on transforming our societal relationship with Nature through public policy approaches that recognize Nature's intrinsic rights to exist whole along with all Her life forms. She also serves as an expert on the platform of the U.N. Harmony with Nature Program. Her life’s work is anchored by her role as an Evocateur of the Sacred and those ideas whose time has come.   
Myra participated in the Women Working for the Earth Summit hosted by ONE and has been a webinar guest sharing her highly popular topic, “Nature’s Embrace: The Way of True Reparations”. 
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Join us for the second session of our Wetlands Series.

We talk with Dr. Emily Hite to explore the complex connections between communities and their land and water.  Dr. Hite is a cultural, environmental anthropologist and passionate advocate for environmental sustainability whose research focuses on the intersection of human-water relationships and climate governance. 

Dr. Hite investigates the far-reaching consequences of damming rivers and how communities and wetlands are intricately linked to the health and vitality of these waterways. We will speak about the importance of maintaining the integrity of rivers and the delicate balance required to sustain both human communities and the diverse ecosystems they rely on.  As part of this conversation, Dr. Hite will share stories of communities working together to maintain an ancestral connection to their waters and land in the face of infrastructure and land development.

How did Dr. Hite find her passion for her work, and what is her personal relationship with water? 

She shares valuable insights from her research and collaboration with the Global River Protection Coalition and her studies in Costa Rica, as well as shed light on the Coalition’s ongoing efforts to enhance wetland protections on a global scale. 

Together, let's empower ourselves with knowledge and contribute to the collective effort to preserve the waters that flow through our world.

Dr. Emily Hite is an Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Saint Louis University. She is also a primary investigator at SLU's Water Institute and serves as a regional co-chair of the Global River Protection Coalition. Her research is focused on understanding human-water relationships and how they are challenged by both climatic changes and climate policy.  A central concern of her research is the justice and equity of the processes of climate governance, with particular interest in how different knowledges, values, and belief systems are integrated into those processes. 

Dr. Hite works with dam-impacted communities in the United States and throughout Latin America and conducts research at international climate and hydropower meetings to understand local-to-global perspectives. The ultimate aim of her research is to influence more culturally-informed governance that aligns with the principles of climate justice.
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Here we delve into the profound intersections of Wetlands, Indigenous food systems, and the enduring impacts of colonization, featuring the esteemed Dr. Lyla June Johnston. A luminary in her field, Dr. Johnston, a poet, anthropologist, and advocate for Indigenous wisdom, will lead us through an exploration of the intricate relationships between these elements. 

Lyla June speaks about the significance of Wetlands and highlight their importance in Indigenous cultures and food systems. From her unique perspective, Dr. Johnston shares stories and sustainable practices that have shaped Indigenous food cultures and deep connections and partnerships with the land.

As part of this conversation, we also examine the impacts of colonization on Wetlands and Indigenous food systems following the westward expansion of European settlements across Turtle Island. Together, we explore changing perspectives on Wetlands and restoration efforts, as well as movements for reclaiming and revitalizing Indigenous land stewardship and food systems.  

This is an incredible opportunity to engage with a visionary leader and gain a deeper understanding of the vital connections between Wetlands, Indigenous food systems, and the ongoing impacts of colonization.  

Dr. Lyla June Johnston (aka Lyla June) is an Indigenous musician, author, and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford, graduate work in Indigenous Pedagogy, and the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives, and solutions. Her doctoral research focused on the ways in which pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped large regions of Turtle Island (aka the Americas) to produce abundant food systems for humans and non-humans.

Note:  Slides that she references can be seen in the video recording of this presentation available here:  https://www.natureevolutionaries.com/events-programs/2024/lyla-june-johnston
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It's time to rewild ourselves and our dominant worldviews to build earth-centered communities for all. 
Join us for an illuminating journey with Osprey Orielle Lake, a renowned author, activist, and changemaker, as we delve into the pressing need to rewild ourselves and our dominant worldviews. In a world teetering on the edge of social, environmental, and climate collapse, this webinar offers a beacon of hope and a roadmap to building Earth-centered communities that can thrive.
In our exploration, we'll tackle the complex web of interconnected crises, including colonialism, racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and ecocide. By weaving together ecological, mythical, political, and cultural perspectives, Osprey invites us to reconnect with the Earth's lineage and historical memory. Together, we'll explore the delicate threshold between peril and promise.
Uncover the collective wisdom passed down by Earth-centered cultures. Gain a deeper understanding of climate justice and systemic challenges. Find inspiration to contribute to the creation of thriving Earth communities. This webinar promises to be a wellspring of hope and a remedy to the prevailing despair of our times. 
Osprey Orielle Lake is the founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN).  She works internationally with grassroots, BIPOC and Indigenous leaders, policymakers, and diverse coalitions to build climate justice, resilient communities, and a just transition to a decentralized, democratized clean-energy future. 
She sits on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and on the steering committee for the Fossil Free Non-Proliferation Treaty. Osprey’s writing about climate justice, relationships with nature, women in leadership, and other topics has been featured in The Guardian, Earth Island Journal, The Ecologist, Ms. Magazine and many other publications. 
She is the author of the award-winning book Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature. Osprey holds an MA in Culture and Environmental Studies from Holy Names University in Oakland and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area on Coast Miwok lands. 
To learn more, go to: https://ospreyoriellelake.earth
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Join us for an insightful webinar as we delve into the inspiring journey of Christina Lynch, a story of reconnecting with her Bajan heritage, her unique upbringing, and the profound influence of her environment on her path to regaining her voice. In this engaging and enlightening discussion, Christina will take you on a journey through her intuitive herbal path, sharing the powerful plant allies that have played a pivotal role in her physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Christina will also shed light on her current projects aimed at guiding and supporting others on their own paths of self-discovery and healing. You'll gain valuable insights into the practices and resources that have helped her along the way, empowering you to connect the dots in your own life and find your voice.
This webinar is a unique opportunity to hear from a passionate and knowledgeable herbalist as she shares her wisdom, stories, and vision for personal and collective healing. 
Christina Lynch is a growing community herbalist who desires to share her knowledge and passions with those around her. She is a first-generation American, with her lineage deriving from Barbados. Taking a great desire to reconnect to the Earth, continuing the spiritual and physical connections with the Earth as her ancestors once did, her intent is to assist others in starting or continuing their journeys in becoming one with themselves. 
Christina is the founder of Black Herbalists Alliance, Trydent Consulting, and Gingerly Expressions, an organization focused on intentional creation of herbal products and services, to assist others in starting or continuing their own journeys in becoming one with themselves; and to finance fiscal sponsorship and opportunities to support BIPOC healers.
Christina offers herbal programs, herbal classes, and herbal tea blends. She studied under Emily Ruff and Maggie O’Halloran and is an avid tea lover, recovering foodie, and cultural explorer. She is currently on the board of Red Hills Small Farm Alliance, Florida School of Holistic Living and American Herbalists Guild.
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