Becoming Earth: Honoring Nature as the Source of Life

A Retreat Co-facilitated by Tiokasin Ghosthorse & Melanie Goodchild, PhD

This in-person retreat is a chance to immerse in a way of being that honors Nature as the source of life.

Co-facilitated by Tiokasin Ghosthorse and Melanie Goodchild, PhD, we will gather on sacred land where the Appalachian Mountains meet the Hudson River to engage in healing relationship with Earth. We will consider the world beyond the human-made world as we delve into a deeper understanding of what it means to adapt to Earth’s needs.

Through ceremony and deep dialogue, participants will engage with natural ways of living and themes such as original instructions, relational systems thinking, and authentic acknowledgement. As we reflect on the importance of language and community, we will be conscious of how we look at difference and how we regard Nature as teacher, mother, and source. Come prepared to spend time outside and listen to intuition.

SCHOLARSHIPS

HEMERA

There are a limited number of partial HEMERA scholarships available for this retreat. Please do not sign up for the retreat if you have submitted an application. Please wait to hear from us. For questions, please contact us at: scholarships@garrisoninstitute.org. Please visit us here for more information, and to apply.

SPEAKERS

Tiokasin Ghosthorse is a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation of South Dakota and has a long history with Indigenous activism and advocacy. Tiokasin is the Founder, Host and Executive Producer of “First Voices Radio” (formerly “First Voices Indigenous Radio”) for the last 30 years in New York City and Seattle/Olympia, Washington. In 2016, he received a Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize from the International Institute of Peace Studies and Global Philosophy. Other recent recognitions include: Native Arts and Cultures Foundation National Fellowship in Music (2016), National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship Nominee (2017), Indigenous Music Award Nominee for Best Instrumental Album (2019) and National Native American Hall of Fame Nominee (2018, 2019). He also was recently nominated for “Nominee for the 2020 Americans for the Arts Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities”. Tiokasin is a “perfectly flawed human being.”

Dr. Melanie Goodchild, Anishinaabe (Ojibway), moose clan, is a design and innovation strategist with over 30 years’ experience working with First Nations communities.  Her practice has transitioned from applied sociology to Anishinaabe, decolonial and participatory approaches to better understand how to tackle complex systems challenges.  With a Ph.D. in Social and Ecological Sustainability from the University of Waterloo, she has worked on transformative systems initiatives with other practitioners and scholars around the world.  Melanie is a contributing faculty member with the Presencing Institute at MIT and the Wolf Willow Institute for Systems Learning. She is passionate about utilizing complexity-aware tools together with Anishinaabe gikendaasowin (our original ways of knowing) to support innovation at scale.  She is a Systems Changer in Residence with the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC); the Academic Director of Makwa Waakaa’igan at Algoma University; and a research associate at NORDIK Institute.  Melanie is a certified 3 Horizons facilitator and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change.  She is currently an advisor to the Edge Finance Accelerator at Solvable; a member of the Measuring Systems Practice Development Group with the Social Impact Exchange in New York City; a Systems Coach with the Center for Care Innovations in California; and she serves as a member of Policy Horizons Canada’s Deputy Minister Steering Committee.  Melanie holds an MA and HBA in Sociology from Lakehead University.

COVID-19

The health and safety of our guests and staff is a top priority for the Garrison Institute. To attend a retreat or event all guests, teachers, and staff are required to self-test (at home antigen test is acceptable) within the 48-hour window prior to arriving for a retreat on site, and to bring a 2nd self-test kit when coming on site. We encourage everyone to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and other illnesses before your visit. If you experience symptoms or have a positive diagnosis, please notify us immediately at events@garrisoninstitute.org We will continue to follow any COVID-19 guidelines set forth by our local officials, New York State and the CDC.