First Nations’ Caucus – And a Call for a Grand Ceremony

This space was hosted by Ilarion Merculieff and Wisdom Weavers of the World as a sharing circle for indigenous elders and leaders around the world. In this session, many gathered and shared their experiences, traditions, wisdom and life-ways that we greatly need in the collaborative effort of restoring this planet's ecological systems. Indigenous peoples around the world recall the traditions and techniques that permitted their ancestors to be apt stewards of the lands and waters they inhabited. We are grateful to our hosts and speakers for making this talk happen and making it available to the world - so we can rapidly heal ourselves and our Mother Earth.

Ilarion (Kuuyux) Merculieff and Yael Zeligman-Merculieff are dedicated to bringing together Indigenous Elders from throughout the world through the organization, Wisdom Weavers of the World, The vision is for a multicultural council of elders and earth activists that share indigenous wisdom and sacred teachings, gathering in trust and urgency in this time to pray and discuss how we may respond, guiding each other back home into the heart rather than reacting to the changes occurring.

Yael is Elder Liaison, Executive Assistant, Co-writer and Translations Coordinator for Wisdom Weavers of the World. She was born and raised on a kibbutz in Israel, is an alternative educator, having worked and volunteered with children from different ages, needs and backgrounds, in Israel, China and east Africa. She facilitates “Wombs-of-Peace” circles in the Middle East and beyond, circles guided by teachings of our Elders. Yael now lives in Alaska in 2019 with her two daughters and Ilarion, her spouse.

Their website is here: https://www.wisdomweavers.world/

Speakers in this session:

- Ilarion (Kuuyux) Merculieff (Chair of the caucus) - Unangan, Alaska - traditional and environmental leader and President of the Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways. Co-founder of the Wisdom Weavers of the World.

- Yael Merculieff (Session Host/Facilitator) - Elder Liaison, Executive Assistant, Co-writer and Translations Coordinator for Wisdom Weavers of the World

- Catherine Murupaenga-Ikenn - Māori, New Zealand (Aotearoa) - founding member of the Pacific Indigenous Women's Network.

- Mindahi Bastida Muñoz, - Otomi, Mexico - director of the Original Caretakers Initiative at the Center for Earth Ethics. He serves as the General Coordinator of the Otomi-Hñahñu Regional Council in Mexico, a caretaker of the philosophy and traditions of the Otomi people.

- Melanie Goodchild - Anishinaabe - Ojibway Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

- Selene Manga, Quechua ethnic group (from Quillabamba Cusco), Harvard School in Public Health Fellow Researcher in International Health.

- Dan Nanamkin - Okanagan Nation, Washington State - Standing Rock front-line warrior.

- Shai’i - “When we are truly in our heart we can act in true spiritual integrity for the service of all beings and all creatures on this planet.”

- Paul Chiyokten Wagner - Saanich Nation, Vancouver Island, British Columbia - Founder: Protectors of the Salish Sea.

- Iya Tahirah - Council of Elders, St Croix, Virgin Islands.

- Pacha K’anchy - Yanakuna, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia - Great National Council of Indigenous Elders

- Mutima Imani - Holistic Trauma Therapist