Our Village 2020
Whether you live in a tropical forest or a North American city, we all belong to the same planet, the same future. We belong to the same global village. This is the sentiment behind “OUR VILLAGE virtual”. In the global village to which we all belong, climate change and environmental injustice are inextricably linked to the struggles of communities and peoples underrepresented in the political process and oppressed by systemic racism, poverty, and inequality.
All around the world local communities are responding to climate change with powerful resilience, innovative action, and a spirit that can profoundly impact our world. OUR VILLAGE invites people from all walks of life to belong to a community inspired by justice and our connection to the earth.
OUR VILLAGE is a conversation, a convening, cultural hub, and immersive experience, bringing indigenous peoples, communities of color, and grassroots voices to the forefront.
Our Village 2020 – June 22-26
Please note – these are currently multi-language – in a few weeks subtitles will be added in 3 languages.
What is there to believe in? Spirituality in a Time of Crisis.
In a world angry about racial inequality we hear from those on the frontlines – our opening session will be with Mina Setra, Celia Xakriabá and Rev Yearwood, a moment to reflect on injustice and the state of our world today. Followed by a Guardians of the Forest update on Covid-19, from Rukka Sombolinggi, Levi Sucre, Sonia Guajajara, Olo Villalaz, Eric Marky Terena and Erisvan Guajajara. As well as an update by Amazon Frontlines on community resilience, photography exhibition and a musical performance from Kaê Guajajara.
Hosted by Oona Chaplin.
How do we stop forest fires? Using tech and fighting fires.
On Tuesday we’ll be joined by Daniel Haratuma Javaé, indigenous fire fighter, plus leading researchers and climate experts for a press conference on fires, respiratory health and community monitors. Followed by a curated photo exhibition from local photographers on the community response to forest fires. The second half will explore the use of technology for community monitoring, from GPS mapping and new tools to the latest drone technology. Joined by Jessica Webb, Carlos Doviaza and Byron Hernández.
We’ll close with a special live musical performance from La Tribu.
Hosted by Wanda Bautista.
How do we stop exploiting our planet? Tactics to stop extraction.
Dallas Goldtooth, Bernadette Demientieff and Tara Houska hold a special discussion on Stopping the Money Pipeline: Indigenous-led Efforts to Defund Fossil Fuels with Rainforest Action Network. With Poder and Peru Equidad we’ll explore deadly extractives and how to fight them. Rainforest Foundation US will lead a panel on their latest campaign stopping illegal gold mining in Brazil joined by Dario Kopenawa Yanomami. And finally, with CONAQ and the Hip Hop Caucus, we’ll explore how the consequences of extraction in Brazil connect to the Black Lives Matter movement in America.
What brings us together? Looking at the big picture.
Hosted by Yeb Sano, with live mural drawing by his brother AG Sano, we’ll explore cosmology. Kicking off with a conversation between an astronaut, a religious leader and an Indigenous leader, Jessica Meir, Dr. Audrey Kitagawa and Rukka Sumbolingi respectively, facilitated by Kaitlin Yarnall from National Geographic. Following that blockbuster panel we will learn about NASA’s partnership with indigenous communities through satellite based spatial mapping and we will understand true community resilience from Indonesia and Costa Rica. We’ll also be joined by the recently announced 2020 Equator Prize winners followed by indigenous music from Toraja, Indonesia – Tendoki.
How do we tell our story?
Storytelling for a new generation – Hear the innovative storytelling techniques from the forest and meet the new communicators.
For the final day of Our Village we’ll explore communication. Starting with a premiere of Re-inventing Reforestation – New technology and blockchain based direct finance to empower communities from Rainforest Foundation US. Ecuadorian Indigenous storyteller Leo Cerda will lead a session on community smartphone documentation. Actor-turned-activist Bill Pullman will host a live watch party of indigenous films, before a discussion on amplifying community storytelling with Mina Setra, Jonathan Watts, Mongabay and National Geographic. We’ll close with Guardians of the Forests final remarks and a live DJ set from Eric Terena.
Hosted by Michael McGarrell.