Indigenous cultures worldwide revere plants as ancient teachers, offering lessons in generosity, creativity, sustainability, and joy. Their living examples inspire how we might live.

Blending Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with botanical science, Potawatomi professor Robin Kimmerer explores what plants teach us and how we can become better students.

Since 1990, Bioneers has served as a vital hub for social and scientific innovators, providing practical solutions for pressing environmental and social challenges.

This excerpt presents Dr. Kimmerer's speech from the Center for Humans and Nature's 2014 Forum on Ethics & Nature. Originally published on EarthSayers.tv on March 15, 2016, the full address is available here.

In her speech, Dr. Kimmerer explores "The Honorable Harvest," offering it as a crucial framework for sustainable living.

Ilarion (Larry) Merculieff, an author and native community connector, has dedicated nearly four decades to serving the Aleuts of the Pribilof Islands and other indigenous peoples. His extensive experience includes leadership roles as City Manager of St. Paul Island, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, and CEO of Tanadgusix Corporation.

Merculieff also chaired The Aleut Corporation and managed the Central Bering Sea Fishermen's Association. As Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program, he notably led Alaska's largest subsistence rights march.

"Join those who have found their heart."

Elder Dave Courchene (Anishinaabe Nation, Eagle Clan) discusses moving beyond selfishness and the need for power. He emphasizes returning to our spiritual essence, rooted in the land, as modern ideologies divide humanity and harm Mother Earth. He calls for guidance, especially from grandmothers, to address the denial of youth's rights.

The term *Anishinaabe* collectively refers to the Ojibway, Odawa, and Algonkin Peoples, who share closely related Algonquian languages.

On January 9, 2013, First Nation Anishnabe Elder Dave Courchene of Turtle Lodge delivered a statement at the Elders Ceremony in Ottawa. This address was published the following day.

Known as Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Leading Earth Man), Elder Courchene is a respected teacher devoted to Indigenous knowledge. Since 1992, he has served as a UN Wisdom Keeper, advising on spirituality and sustainable environmental approaches.

Courchene founded Turtle Lodge in 2002, an internationally recognized center for learning, healing, and sharing. He continues to promote peace, recently sharing the stage with the Dalai Lama. Further details are available here.

This excerpt features an interview with Aleut elder Larry Merculieff from the Native Perspectives on Sustainability project. Merculieff critiques the term "sustainability," advocating for humanity's inherent intelligence to live in alignment with all creation.

This series, "Native Perspectives on Sustainability," is produced by David Hall of Portland State University.

The Turtle Lodge was built in 2002, following a vision received by Dave Courchene (Nii Gaani Aki Inini - Leading Earth Man) of the Anishnabe Nation, Eagle Clan. Learn more at Turtle Lodge.

Filmmaker Marco Mascarin documented this in 2002. This content was uploaded on November 6, 2011.

Connect with The Turtle Lodge on Facebook and Twitter.

Annie Leonard, Executive Director of Greenpeace U.S.A. and creator/board member of the Story of Stuff Project, emphasizes Greenpeace's commitment to environmental and social justice.

She outlines their core values: peacefully "bearing witness" to destruction, using non-violent confrontation to elevate public debate, seeking solutions without permanent allies or adversaries, ensuring financial independence, and promoting informed discussion on environmental choices.

Leonard was interviewed at the 2014 AASHE Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, on October 28, 2014. The video was produced by Ruth Ann Barrett of EarthSayers.tv and Barry Heidt of GeoSpirit.tv.

Annie Leonard, Executive Director of Greenpeace U.S.A. and creator of the Story of Stuff Project, advocates for a bias towards Mother Earth, arguing it's beneficial unless driven by financial gain.

She was interviewed on October 28, 2014, at the 2014 Annual Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in Portland, Oregon. The interview was produced by Ruth Ann Barrett (EarthSayers.tv) and Barry Heidt (GeoSpirit.tv).

Her book, *The Story of Stuff*, is available from Amazon or your local bookstore.

Greenpeace USA welcomes Annie Leonard, creator of The Story of Stuff Project, as our new Executive Director. She is eager to collaborate with you in building a greener, fairer world.

Join us in welcoming Annie to the team by leaving a comment. (Published May 7, 2014)

The Story of Solutions explores how to move our economy toward a sustainable and just future by redefining its core objective. The current "Game of More" prioritizes endless growth—more consumption and infrastructure—despite worsening health, rising inequality, and environmental degradation.

What if our economic goal wasn't just "more," but "better"? Imagine an economy focused on improved health, quality jobs, and a viable planet. This reorientation would redefine what true success means for us all.

Joanna Macy (b. 1929), recipient of the 2013 Bioneers Lifetime Contribution Award, discusses the joy of life.

This speech was delivered at the 2013 Bioneers Annual Conference. The recording was published on February 6, 2014.

Economist Paul Krugman explains how the United States is becoming an oligarchy, a system our founders revolted against. He discusses redistribution, progressive taxation, and related concepts.

This analysis was originally published on April 18, 2014.

Joey Perez serves as spokesperson for the Whale Call Project.

This initiative champions ocean and marine conservation, acting as a critical call for help to protect our vital marine environments.

Over 1.5 billion people worldwide lack access to electricity, often relying on expensive, hazardous, and polluting kerosene lanterns or candles. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals highlight electrification as crucial for poverty eradication, aiming to electrify 500 million more people by 2015.

Advances in LED technology offer a vital solution. For instance, homemaker Suranjini Kumar transitioned from oil lamps to bright, clean light in her home using D.Light. This demonstrates how modern lighting solutions can improve lives and contribute to global development goals.

This video shares Acumen Fund's origin story, told through the diverse voices within its community.

Uploaded on November 12, 2011.

Learn more about the Acumen Fund Fellows Program. For detailed information, visit www.acumenfund.org/fellows.html.

This content was uploaded on September 30, 2010.

Jacqueline Novogratz, social entrepreneur and founder of the Acumen Fund, presented her vision at TEDxEuston, challenging the "Status Quo" and "Business as Usual." Her talk, "Power In Our Interconnectedness," urged a new approach to address failures where markets and governments have fallen short, advocating for "investing as a means, not just an end."

The event featured intro and outro music by Kadialy Kouyate, performed at TEDxEuston 2011. You can view the full performance here.

Mary Robinson, President of the Mary Robinson Foundation, delivered a speech on climate justice at the BSR Conference in San Francisco, November 2013.

Learn from the woman who broke glass ceilings and took on the challenge of leaving no
one behind. Mary Robinson is the former President of Ireland, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and
cofounder of Project Dandelion, a woman-led global campaign for climate justice

A member of the Elders and the Club of Madrid, she has received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama.

Please NOTE:

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.

Activists Marshall Ganz, Rachel Laforest, and Madeline Janis explain how organized people achieve social change. Ganz, affiliated with the Leading Change Network, highlights the distinction between movements and special interests, the power of strategy and narrative, and that the powerful don't always win. Visit Marshall Ganz's website for more insights.

His book, Why David Sometimes Wins: leadership, organization and strategy in the California farm worker movement, delves into these themes. An interview, "Why Stories Matter," also references Paul Tillich's Love, Power and Justice, another recommended read. Both books are available on Amazon or at your local bookstore.