Speaker: Courtney Rush, PCEI

Wednesday, November 19th- The Emerald Room 3:45-5:00

As a woman of faith, Courtney has been commissioned to care for God’s Creation, and it isn’t hard! It is fun! Please join Courtney for a discussion on God’s original Creation, what Creation has come to be, and how we can work together to restore it. Learn how Courtney experiences God in the wilderness, and take home practical ways that you can become more sustainable today, this week, this month, and this year.

Cultural Traditions and Natural Resource Sustainability

Facilitators:
Helen Rigg, Director Idaho GEMStars
Gwen Carter, Water Resources Division Director, Nez Perce Tribe.

Cultural traditions help sustain our connection to the environment. The film, “The Shadow of the Salmon”, shares the story of a Lakota boy reconnecting with his Northwest Salish relatives and cultural values. During his visit, he learns about salmon, the Northwest environment and tribal traditions. This film was produced by 360 Productions, the Northwest Straits Commission, Salmon Defense, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and the Potlatch Foundation. It is scheduled for a future showing at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and on PBS. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience this story and share in the follow-up discussion.

(Film provided courtesy of Northwest Indian Fisheries commission)

Hannah Sanger

Moderator: Helen Rigg, Idaho GEMStars

Speakers: Dr. Sian Mooney BSU
Tony Bennett, Idaho Department of Agriculture

Climate change poses great challenges but also presents some new opportunities. Land managers have the opportunity to manage land and natural resources to remove carbon and other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere while also achieving sustainability and stewardship goals. In addition to the benefits of carbon reduction and more sustainable land management practices, there is also the potential to receive financial compensation for this ecosystem service by selling their reductions as “credits.” These “credits” are purchased by others that want or need to reduce their own carbon contributions. This session will explain carbon credits and how they are traded in the voluntary and mandatory carbon markets. Learn how the Nez Perce tribe is utilizing carbon credits from their forest lands to raise funds to further sustainable forestry practices. An opportunity for questions and discussion will be provided.

Speakers: Ted Howard, Cultural Resources Director Shoshone – Paiute Tribes
Ron Peters, Fisheries Program, Coeur d’Alene Tribe
David Cannamela, M.K. Nature Center, Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game

Moderator: Helen Rigg, Idaho GEMStars

Building links between people, culture and the natural world is important to sustainability. Learn about specific projects that are reconnecting youth with the natural world by using hands on outdoor experiences to help rebuild the connection to our environment. Discover examples of how Idaho’s youth are reconnecting to the environment through projects involving growing native plants for restoration of burned areas, reconnecting culturally through indigenous foods like the camas and getting their feet wet as they experience a river ecosystem in their own community. Gain insights from those delivering these projects on what worked for them, what challenges were faced and what results are expected from their efforts to get youth involved in nature.