7-GENERATION BIOREGIONAL EARTH SUMMIT
Listening to the Land
9:00 am – 12:00 noon EST (Toronto), virtual
"It's so stupid, this idea that land can be owned. Land, which existed long before people... It doesn't belong to us. If anything, the soil owns us. It lets us move around for a bit and then it takes us back." Alistair Mackay
This is the moment we give voice to the land, water, air, and all other-than-human life. What dream does the land have for us, since we are part of the land?
As we bring together conservation authorities, municipalities, parks, farmers, foresters and others who work on or care about the land, we share stories of regeneration and explore the possibilities emerging from weaving projects together across the bioregion for more meaningful long-term impact.
This is about integrated landscape management across the bioregion, from the ground up, and beyond to the whole of Turtle Island.
Recommended: Watch the video A 7-Generation Bioregional Approach to Regenerating Our Land and Water.
SPEAKERS:
- Joe Brewer will explore what it means to listen to the land, to follow a river.
- John Stille, Senior Manager of Restoration Projects at Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) talks about the many opportunities for regeneration in the GTB. There are 13 Conservation Authorities in the GTB. How can we better connect restoration and regenerative projects across the bioregion and build a portfolio of projects?
- A panel of speakers share the way they listen to the land in the GTB and what it needs. Karen Thompson talks about Trent University's work on sustainable agriculture innovation and community-focused research. Janet McKay founded LEAF in 1996 and shares about their highly successful backyard planting program. Susan Walmer is CEO for the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust and talks about what the trust does to protect the unique Oak Ridges Moraine landscape. Saba Ahmad is a lawyer and on the Board of the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy, and talks about Ontario's largest land trust protecting this unique UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
For those in the GTB, there's an option for a customized field site experience at Heartwood Farm & Cidery from 1-4 pm; register for more details. OR…
Unprecedented Collaboration
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST (Toronto), virtual
Jonathan Rowson, co-founder and Director of Perspectiva, will join
Joe Brewer for a wide-ranging and rich discussion. Framing and provocation from Oren Lyons and his son Rex Lyons. Jay Bowen will also offer his insights.
"Collaboration has no hierarchy. The sun collaborates with soil to bring flowers on the Earth." Amit Ray
In an individualized, polarized, crumbling culture, we've lost many relational skills. Trust in institutions and each other is decreasing, and we don't value wisdom. We need collaboration more than ever before, and yet it seems to be beyond reach.
Human beings are both selfish and social, emotional and rational. How have we gotten to this moment in history? How can we navigate what some call a polycrisis and others call a metacrisis? This will involve the ability to think in complexity, sharpen sensemaking skills, reach for wisdom, and nurture understanding, belonging, trust, and care for self and others. How can the land organize us and organize complexity? What can we learn from Indigenous Peoples?
Recommended: Read Prosocial Possibilities and Social Prescribing for Ecopsychosocial Wellbeing; watch the video 7-Generation Healing: Lived Experience in Place.
Go to detailed description for Saturday, February 10
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