In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations:
Conversations About Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in Nature
Town Hall Seattle | The Wyncote NW Forum
Event 7:30
1119 Eighth Avenue (enter on Eighth Avenue)
Seattle, WA 98101 United States
Event SPeakers:
Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem: Founder and President of Se'Si'Le, book contributor
Lynda Mapes: Pacific Northwest Journalist, recently retired from the SeattleTimes of 27 years
John Vechey: Cofounder of ground breaking technology companies, and a board member of Se’Si’Le
Jeff Renner, facilitator: Engaged public speaker and consulting Meteorologist in the Pacific Northwest
As told to Kurt Russo with a foreword by Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem (Lummi) and illustrations by Fiorella De La O (Quechua), In The Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations seeks to promote dialogue with Indigenous Peoples, increase understandings, build relationships and momentum, and inspire action to support, protect, and restore our region’s imperiled lands, waters, and lifeways. The book was inspirited by an Indigenous gathering, where those present spoke from the heart and the mind to the idea of what it means to be in right and respectful relations.
The vision of In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations is to draw on ancestral knowledge to further empower and inspire Indigenous-led environmental campaigns with non-Indigenous allies and partners to the benefit of Mother Earth and all her relations down to the seventh generation.
Given the relentless and urgent environmental crisis, it is increasingly important to envision a way forward for all our relations and future generations. To ensure establishing equal, respectful, and productive conversations and solutions between Tribes and other partners, an Indigenous-led approach has emerged.
Kurt Russo, Ph.D. is the Co-Executive Director of Se’Si’Le. Russo has worked since 1978 with Native Nations on treaty rights, protective management of sacred sites, and conflict resolution. He is the former Executive Director of the Florence R. Kluckhohn Center for the Study of Values and the Native American Land Conservancy.
Jay Julius Xw’tot lhem (Lummi) is the President of Se’Si’Le. A fisherman, Former Chairman and Councilman at Lummi Nation, Jay was a leader in the fight to protect Xwe’chi’eXen (Cherry Point). He has organized and executed Tribal, local, regional, and national campaigns. A bridge-builder, he uses empathy and storytelling to bring people together. Principal at Julius Consulting LLC.
Se’Si’Le is an Indigenous led, Bellingham-based non-profit that works to protect Indigenous areas, resources, and sacred sites.