Telling a story
is like planting corn. Both provide a glimpse of where we came
from, where we're currently at, and where we're trying to go. Like
telling a story, there are endless ways to plant corn. Some farmers use
40+ row planters and some use digging sticks. Some use recently
engineered seed while some use seeds that have been in their families for
countless generations. Regardless of approach, all farmers strive towards
a harvest that will provide nourishment for their community- whether it is
economic, physical, cultural, or spiritual. BIO Brett Ramey (Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska) is a land-based educator and program designer working at intersections of ecological, cultural, and community health. His work has included designing and instructing courses on food sovereignty, collaborative garden design and Indigenous science at Tribal Universities and Native youth summer programs, facilitating healing retreats for cancer survivors and elevating equity and inclusion discourse within local, regional and National environmental organizations. Prior to moving to Dakota homelands in Minneapolis in January 2020, Brett served as Director for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at the University of Washington, a national undergraduate student program that infuses conservation practice with Indigenous knowledges and perspectives of land and environmental justice. Brett currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Castanea Fellowship- a national program for established food movement leaders, and is leading a collaborative funding process through the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation intended to direct resources and attention to BIPOC-led initiatives. Brett is a Climate Resilience Planner for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. |