This Aleut traditional messenger invokes indigenous perspectives and ancestral wisdom to guide us through modern times. His elders say that the leadership of women is paramount to transform civilization to conserve Earth’s capacity to sustain life.

This speech was given at the 2013 Bioneers National Conference.
Since 1990, Bioneers has acted as a fertile hub of social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges.

Mary Robinson, a co-founder of Project Dandelion, was interviewed by Ronda Carnegie. Project Dandelion is a women-led global campaign dedicated to climate justice.

This interview follows the screening of the documentary "Mrs Robinson," which aired on November 14, 2025, at 4 PM PST.

Join us for a conversation with Aoife Kelleher, director of "Mrs. Robinson." This documentary highlights the incredible career of Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and cofounder of Project Dandelion. We explore Robinson's journey, breaking glass ceilings, championing human rights, and leading global climate justice initiatives, with Aoife sharing behind-the-scenes stories.  Co-produced by Bob Trench and Ruth Ann Barrett for EarthSayers Cinema on LinkedIn. 

Mary Robinson's "Why Climate Change Is a Threat to Human Rights" highlights how climate change unfairly impacts the world's poor. While wealthier nations adapt, vulnerable communities face devastating storms, starvation, and land loss, threatening their fundamental human rights. Robinson urges joining the movement for global climate justice.

Join us for a screening of the documentary "Mrs. Robinson" on Friday, November 14th, at 7 PM EST/4 PM PST. Register on our streaming site, Kinema, at earthsayerscinema.com. Discover how Mary Robinson broke barriers and championed the cause of leaving no one behind.

Join us for a screening of the documentary "Mrs. Robinson" on Friday, November 14th, at 7 PM EST/4 PM PST. Register to participate on our streaming site, Kinema, at earthsayerscinema.com. You will receive a confirmation email from Kinema.

The film features Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and co-founder of Project Dandelion. She is celebrated for breaking glass ceilings and championing climate justice.

This RTÉ interview highlights her recent humanitarian mission to Somalia, comparing it to a 1992 visit, and discusses Ireland's economic challenges and Garrett FitzGerald's legacy. Her powerful insights are sure to inspire.

Learn from Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and cofounder of Project Dandelion. Her inspiring work, from breaking glass ceilings to championing climate justice, embodies a vision of tolerance and empathy for a new Ireland and a better world.

Acumen CEO and impact investing pioneer Jacqueline Novogratz spoke with Moira Forbes in October 2020. Their discussion focused on the essential mindset required for change-making.

This content was published on May 18, 2021.

Mar 20, 2023 – UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AT MANOÄ€

Botanist, professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer is the acclaimed author of *Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants*. She is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology and founder of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.

Kimmerer has been honored with the John Burroughs Medal and a MacArthur "genius" grant. Her research emphasizes the restoration of ecological communities and our relationship to land. She lives on an upstate New York farm, tending both cultivated and wild gardens.

Joanna Macy, a scholar, activist, and Buddhist thinker, profoundly shaped global movements. A documentary highlights her impact on activism, nuclear guardianship, and personal transformation. Naropa University's Joanna Macy Center advances her vision, inspiring hope and responsibility for future generations.

The Center empowers individuals to build a resilient world by fostering deep connections with self, others, and nature, inspiring collaborative action. As Dr. Macy taught, this interconnectedness is key to healing.

Naropa University hosts "Reconnecting for a Just and Regenerative Future," a three-day conference celebrating 50 years of Macy's "The Work that Reconnects." It unites leaders from diverse fields to address social and ecological crises, reimagining possibilities.

This speech, titled "The Hidden Promise of Our Dark Age," was delivered by Joanna Macy at the 2009 National Bioneers Conference and posted on August 22, 2018. Macy, a renowned activist and spiritual teacher (1929-2025), offers a hopeful message: by freeing ourselves from the "industrial growth society's" delusions, we can discover our inherent creativity and solidarity amidst crisis, avoiding panic.

Introduced by Bioneers Co-Founder Nina Simons, the organization has served as a vital hub for social and scientific innovators since 1990, providing practical solutions for pressing environmental and social challenges. Support Bioneers today: www.bioneers.org/donate

Robin Wall Kimmerer, a mother, scientist, and Citizen Potawatomi Nation member, is an acclaimed author. Her books, including the widely praised "Braiding Sweetgrass" (also adapted for young adults) and award-winning "Gathering Moss," highlight Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge, fostering ecological understanding through plants.

This short film is part of The Arachne Project, a May 2024 gathering by Oregon State University's Spring Creek Project. This diverse community of writers, scientists, and Indigenous leaders explored new visions for conservation in an uncertain future. Learn more at https://beav.es/arachne.

ABOUT UPCOMING SCREENING of film, Mrs Robinson
We are reaching out to invite you to a screening of the documentary Mrs. Robinson on Friday, November 14th, at 7PM EST/4PM PST. You can register here to participate on our streaming site, Kinema at earthsayerscinema.com. You will receive a confirmation email from Kinema. Learn from the woman who broke glass ceilings and took on the challenge of leaving no one behind.

“MRS ROBINSON” chronicles Mary Robinson's half-century fight for justice and equality, told in her own words. It illuminates her battles on the streets, in courts, at the ballot box, and in corridors of power.

A reforming constitutional lawyer and senator, Mary made history as Ireland's President in 1990. She then served as UN High Commissioner, fearlessly challenging human rights abuses worldwide. Today, she chairs The Elders, an independent group founded by Nelson Mandela, dedicated to peace and human rights.

Directed by Aoife Kelleher and produced by Loosehorse, “MRS ROBINSON” was funded by Fís Éireann /Screen Ireland and the Utah Film Center. Pat Mitchell is among the executive producers.

"Two American Families: 1991-2024" is a "knockout documentary" (The New York Times) chronicling the economic struggles of two Milwaukee families—one Black, one white—over three decades. From 1991 to 2024, the Stanleys and Neumanns have battled poverty amidst a changing U.S. economy, marked by global shifts and lower-wage work, raising unsettling questions about America's economic future.

With profound intimacy, this FRONTLINE film reveals how these families and their now-grown children have navigated six presidential administrations, facing continuous challenges. As Terry Neumann notes, "It's like we haven't come very far," yet Jackie Stanley declares, "I won't give up." Directed by Tom Casciato and Kathleen Hughes, it offers a powerful window into enduring hardship.

The Anishinaabe Seven Sacred Laws, shared by Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Dr. Dave Courchene), form the foundation of life and connection to Spirit and land. Represented by seven animals, these laws offer guidance for living on Mother Earth, fostering a vision of hope rooted in kindness and values.

Each animal embodies a specific teaching: the Buffalo for Respect, Eagle for Love, Bear for Courage, Sabé for Honesty, Beaver for Wisdom, Wolf for Humility, and Turtle for Truth. These principles guide us to live from the heart, use our gifts for community, and honor our interconnectedness.

By embracing these Sacred Laws, we align with nature, achieve true freedom, and receive the full support of the universe and Earth.

On Saturday, November 6, 2021, hundreds gathered at the Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness. The event was an Honouring Ceremony dedicated to Elder Dr. Dave Courchene and his Vision of Turtle Lodge.

During the ceremony, David Suzuki shared remarks, celebrating Dr. Courchene's contributions.

Yesterday, the National Turtle Lodge Council of Elders and Knowledge Keepers honored Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Jr. He was recognized for his leadership, service to the People and Mother Earth, and his work in fulfilling the Turtle Lodge's vision.

His spiritual names, Nitamabit (The Original Way and One who Sits in Front) and Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Leading Earth Man), reflect his profound contributions to awakening, nurturing, and strengthening the spirit in all Peoples.

Yesterday, Elder Dr. Dave Courchene and his Vision of Turtle Lodge were honored at two simultaneous events.

Hundreds gathered at the Turtle Lodge for a tribute, while Governor General Mary Simon hosted a separate event in his honor at Rideau Hall.

Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Dr. Dave Courchene), a respected Anishinaabe Elder and Knowledge Keeper, shares a vision of hope for Mother Earth and Humankind. He emphasizes ancient teachings, particularly the Seven Sacred Laws, as a foundation for living with kindness and fostering a change of heart.

As the founder of the Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness and Chair of the National Turtle Lodge Council of Knowledge Keepers, Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini promotes reconnecting with the Earth and ancestral knowledge.

Learn more about the Turtle Lodge and the National Turtle Lodge Council of Knowledge Keepers by visiting their website: www.turtlelodge.org. Follow them on social media: Facebook (@turtlelodge), Twitter (@turtlelodge), and Instagram (@theturtlelodge).

Ilarion Merculieff shares Mother Earth's message on global challenges and Indigenous Elders' guidance. He notes that despite numerous environmental organizations, Earth's life support systems are failing. Merculieff urges a fundamental realignment in how we address human issues, stating "business as usual" is unsustainable.

With over forty years serving Indigenous peoples, Merculieff is a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and a harmonious relationship with Mother Earth. He leads the Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways and advises other key organizations. The discussion was moderated by Andrei Gheorghe.

Elder Dr. Dave Courchene presented "Returning to the Beginning" on July 23, 2021, sharing insights on finding truth and a way forward amidst current global crises.

This presentation was part of the free Shamanic Wisdom Summit and is copyrighted by The Shift Network. View the full transcript here.

The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education & Wellness fosters reconnection to Earth and shares ancestral knowledge. Learn more at turtlelodge.org or follow them on social media: Facebook (@turtlelodge), Twitter (@turtlelodge), and Instagram (@theturtlelodge).