The White Earth Tribal and Community College (WETCC) Is finalizing plans for Earth Summit 2025. In 2024, the WETCC hosted the White Earth Water Summit. This effort was a blend of contemporary science and research data and northern Minnesota Ojibwe culture, history, science and language. Due to the success of the Water Summit, 2025 will see the first effort of an event that broadens the scope of environmental issues to be discussed. The White Earth Water Summit 2024 has become the Earth Summit of 2025.
This year’s lineup includes invited speakers Peg Furshong from CURE discussing impacts on AI and crypto currency on water. James Vukelich, Turtle Mountain Ojibwe and author will talk about the Seven Grandfather Teachings and the relationship to Earth. Other presentations include researchers from University on Minnesota highlighting recent data from the Pinelands Sands and Ottertail River Watershed areas of the White Earth Indian Reservation and Minnesota. The Nature Conservancy will discuss a variety of their initiatives here in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Audrianna Goodwin will again please Summit attendees with her powerful voice and song. After lunch activities include a choice of a rousing game of Ojibwe Lacrosse or a calming session of Yogachigede (Yoga with an Ojibwe twist).
This promises to be a fun and informative Summit that begins to showcase some of the environmental challenges facing the citizens of White Earth, the state, and the country. But it also brings Ojibwe and other people together to talk about solutions. Pesticides, climate change, and loss of biodiversity are just the beginning of a long list of issues facing us all. The Earth Summit 2025 will be held on the campus of the White Earth Tribal and Community College May 28th from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM and May 29th from 9:00 AM to 4:30
