Earth Ways: Indigenous Lifeways as a Human Right

In celebration of Earth Day, we are presenting the work of local Indigenous entrepreneurs while promoting the importance of entrepreneurship as a form of viable sustainability for Indigenous peoples in the 21st century.

There are many misconceptions about the role, identity, and work of Indigenous peoples around the world as both a human right of self-determination and a modern way of living. The contributors to this event represent a variety of indigenous and mixed-cultural backgrounds that embrace traditional values of centering respect for Earth and community sustainability in their work.

**Given the inter-cultural dialogue and experiences focused on this event, we ask participants to please model best practices in cultural respect **

5:00 - 5:30 - Networking

5:30 - 7:00PM - Cultural Welcome with host Raquel Ortiz and Panel on 21st Century Indigenous Sustainability, Identity & Life - Monique Alvarado on "Decolonizing Workplace Mental Health", three panelists from a variety of sectors will discuss how their projects support and are informed by indigenous best-practices in sustainability.

7:00 PM - Keynote Speaker: Daniel "Strong Walker" Thomas, Lenape, Inc - "Growing Your Business and Service"

Music Demo by Joshi Hernandez.

Participant Bios:

“Daniel “Strong Walker” Thomas is an indigenous entrepreneur with extensive experience with start-ups and organizing infrastructure. He holds a B.S. in Business with a focus in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, a Charlotte Frotten distinguished scholar award, and was recognized as a young business leader by Oprah. He began his entrepreneurial career at age 12, having started five companies ranging from a tea shop, a publishing company, a security company, a leather bag company and a real estate development company. He is currently attending Harvard University and has worked as a consultant to the owners of New Balance, Monster.com , NBA Charlotte Bobcats, and to NBA legend M.L. Carr in his business ventures. He is from the Oneida tribe Turtle Clan of Wisconsin and on the General Council of the Delaware tribe where he will be Chief in his grandfather’s line and tradition.

Monique Alvarado is a member of Impact Hub Boston, a mental health advocate, and burgeoning Organizational Development Consultant with a diverse work history in Education, Non-Profit, and Urban Youth Development. She has her B.A. in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and is a poet and playwright. Currently completing her M.A. in Organizational Psychology at William James College, she is researching Indigenous and Integral Informed approaches to supporting invisible disabilities in the workplace. Her work is informed by her role as a Curandera (Traditional Healer) within Mexican Curanderismo and Afro-Caribbean (Cuban and Puerto Rican) syncretic traditions that she was raised in.

Shakera Bramwell-Cooper is an entrepreneur and student studying English and Computer Science at UMASS Boston. As the founder of Rebel Cause, Inc - she is building a “village ruled and operated” social entrepreneurship business focused on mobilizing local community action in Boston. Informed by her Jamaican heritage that embraces West African and Arawak syncretic-traditions she is committed to promoting community wellness and cooperation in her her work.

Special Guest Musician:

Jochi (Angel Jochi Hernandez-Camen) is a student composer of experimental acoustic music, Aztec drummer and pianist, who explores traditional Aztec/Anawak philosophy, cosmology, and art in relation to decolonizing methodologies in new music representing his Mexican (Azteca-Mexica) and Eastern-European (Jewish/Mongolian) heritage.

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  Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024 goes until 04/26

  WBUR CitySpace at The Lavine Broadcast Center

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