DALLAS (April 17, 2010) – From April 26 – May 1, 2010, leaders from indigenous communities from around the globe will gather in Okalahoma and then Dallas for sharing, discussion and solutions to the global climate changes occurring. Indigenous communities are perhaps the most impacted by climate change and the least responsible for causing it. Indigenous elders and environmental specialists have also been the first to warn of changes and offer viable suggestions for response strategies, yet their critical messages have usually gone unheeded by dominant societies. The Summit is a collaboration with the Memnosyne Foundation, The University of North Texas, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma Environmental Program, the Anadarko Schools Indian Education Program, The SMU Environmental Studies Department, The SMU Philosophy Department. A special thanks also goes to The Mexican Consulate's help in bringing the Maya and Toltec to Dallas to participate as part of their 2010 Bicentennial celebrations!
The International Summit on Indigenous Environmental Philosophy will provide a forum for Indigenous thinkers from around the world to gather in a retreat setting to discuss two important questions:
1.) What distinguishes Indigenous Environmental Philosophy from Western Environmental Philosophy?
2.) How should the Indigenous Environmental Philosophy be incorporated in the international dialogue on climate change?
Following a three-day retreat in western Oklahoma, the Summit delegates and elders will spend two days in the Dallas area. There, they will visit local schools and participate in the fourth annual International Indigenous Student Videoconference on Culture and Environment at the University of North Texas Gateway Center.
The week culminates on Saturday, May 1, in an open forum with the community at the Southern Methodist University Hughes-Trigg Student Center. The SMU program is free and open to the public from 2:00 until 4:30 p.m. and includes a summary of the week’s discussions, cultural exhibitions and a question/answer segment.
From April 26 – May 1, 2010, leaders from indigenous communities from around the globe will gather in Okalahoma and then Dallas for sharing, discussion and solutions to the global climate changes occurring.
The Summit is a collaboration with the Memnosyne Foundation, The University of North Texas, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma Environmental Program, the Anadarko Schools Indian Education Program, The SMU Environmental Studies Department, The SMU Philosophy Department. A special thanks also goes to The Mexican Consulate's help in bringing the Maya and Toltec to Dallas to participate as part of their 2010 Bicentennial celebrations!