Seeds of Justice lecture and workshop series
August 30, 2021
(From press release) What is our responsibility as people who live, work, or worship in Davis to the original inhabitants of this land? What is the legacy of environmental racism? How can we heal and repair the harm? These and other critical questions guide a new educational opportunity being offered to the community this fall.
The Episcopal Church of St. Martin will bring a series of lectures and workshops, Seeds of Justice, to Davis to highlight the work of scholars and cultural practitioners in this region - the ancestral homeland of the Patwin-Wintun people.
St. Martin’s developed the Seeds of Justice program to understand the racialized history of the land here in the epicenter of gold, greed and genocide. Through storytelling, discussions and hands-on workshops, participants will study the resistance and resilience of Native Californians to the ongoing social and environmental impacts of settlers in this region.
“We hope this will be a safe, honest and transformative space for our community to grapple with the legacy of injustice to this land and her people,” said Ann Liu, Chair of St. Martin’s Care for God’s Creation Committee. “Everyone is invited to come and learn with an open heart and mind.”
On Sunday, September 12, 12:30pm, Diana Almendariz will present the first talk in this series, Wintun Homeland Stewardship: Stories of Native Ancestors, via videoconference.
Almendariz is a cultural practitioner of Maidu/Wintun and Hupa/Yurok descent and traditions. She was raised in a westernized city yet blessed with a grandmother who remembered the environmental treasures of the Sacramento Valley. Almendariz’ lifelong commitment to teaching environmental stewardship with a Native Californian cultural emphasis has been inspired by the memories, thoughts, and stories of her ancestors.
On Sunday, October 10, 12:30pm, Almendariz will visit the Episcopal Church of St. Martin for a hands-on demonstration of cordage using native plants. The demonstration will be held outdoors with masks required; there is space for 30 participants.
Other presentations in the series include: Introduction to California Indian Homeland History by Professor of Ethnic Studies Melissa Moreno, Ph.D., (September 26, 12:30pm, via videoconference) and Just Say “No” to Manifest Destiny by Alan Taylor, Ph.D., Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation Professor of History at the University of Virginia (November 1, 5pm, at the Episcopal Church of St. Martin and via videoconference).
St. Martin’s will bring more Seeds of Justice speakers and events to the Davis region in winter and spring 2022. This program has been made possible by a grant from Episcopal Community Services of the Diocese of Northern California, with support from our partners, the Yolo Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice and Yolo Climate Emergency Coalition.
These events are free and open to the public; registration is required. The Episcopal Church of St. Martin is located at 640 Hawthorn Lane, Davis CA. For more information about Seeds of Justice or to register, please see https://churchofstmartin.org/2021/08/12/land-based-ministries-hub-seeds-of-justice/
Good Stuff. The videos on the website are worth watching. And while I have serious concerns about the 'ethnic studies' & 'critical race theory' (totally misused term) agenda-based approaches, I *absolutely* agree with the message in "Gold, Greed & Genocide" that we need to tell the truth to our children about US history, even (maybe especially) the uncomfortable parts - because in the end the truth is the only way to heal.
I recommend watching these videos listed:
Gold Greed & Genocide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeksO_rGepw&t=2s
Gold Greed & Genocide - 20 years later
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNP_-OmkNkE&t=48s
Memories from Her Grandmother's Baskets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7jgBRi3_K4
Posted by: Alan C. Miller | August 31, 2021 at 09:20 AM
Agreed, the term "critical race theory" is seriously misused. The first time I heard it was someone insisting that all university professors taught it and so I was teaching it too, which was news to me. "Ethnic studies" likewise can mean different things, although it is slightly more firmly defined. Anyway, as you say it is good to hear people telling the uncomfortable parts of U.S. history. It definitely needs to happen.
Posted by: Roberta L. Millstein | August 31, 2021 at 09:49 AM
Agree. The history needs to be taught. The difference is whether there is guilt attached. "Woke" is taking guilt lessons from the Catholic Church and Jewish Mothers. Ironic. And not helpful. Fine if we all acknowledge what we have inherited. Pointing at someone's skin and saying 'you've got it good because you're not darker skinned, feel bad', especially from a 'white ally', is not welcome. Being honest about how tremendously racist and genocidal US history is, that is necessary. It's us vs. the assholes, not race vs. race. Unless you want socialism to right all the wrongs that have ever been committed . . . then by all means, join Team Woke. And may God have mercy on your soul.
Posted by: Alan C. Miller | August 31, 2021 at 12:36 PM
I think "guilt" and "awareness" are not the only two alternatives. I'm not about to feel guilt for things my ancestors didn't do, especially when my ancestors are happy to point out other things they would like me to feel guilty about. But I do benefit in certain ways from things that other people's ancestors did and I think because of that I and others like me need to do more than be aware of past injustices... we need to be aware of how they have led to present injustices for some people and take some action to redress them. That needn't take the form of socialism -- that would depend on what injustice we are talking about -- although I am well in favor of democratic socialism, Bernie style.
Posted by: Roberta L. Millstein | August 31, 2021 at 02:27 PM