The National Turtle Lodge Council of Elders and Knowledge Keepers honoured Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Jr. and his spiritual names, Nitamabit (The Original Way and One who Sits in Front) and Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Leading Earth Man) yesterday, in recognition of his leadership and role identified by his names, his service to the People and Mother Earth, and his work in fulfillment of the dream and vision of the Turtle Lodge to awaken, nurture and strengthen the spirit in all Peoples.

The Birth of a New Life

A Dream and Teachings Shared by Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini

Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Dr. Dave Courchene) discusses that we are living in a time in need of a vision of hope based on values and teachings that can set the foundation for a change of heart and the birth of a new life for Mother Earth and Humankind. Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini shares ancient teachings of the Seven Sacred Laws, and how these Laws can set a foundation for us to live by as they emanate from having the spirit of kindness.

Elder Nii Gaani Aki Inini is a respected Elder and Knowledge Keeper of the Anishinaabe Nation, the Founder of the Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness and Chair of the National Turtle Lodge Council of Knowledge Keepers.

Please visit our Website to learn more about the National Turtle Lodge Council of Knowledge Keepers here.

The Turtle Lodge is a place for reconnecting to the Earth & sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the Seven Sacred Laws. Visit our website at www.turtlelodge.org to learn more.

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Making Societies & Journalism Sustainable: UNESCO World Press Freedom Day Conference | Supriya Verma founder of Sustainability magazine. 

Our founder Supriya Verma spoke about "Making Societies & Journalism Sustainable" alongside industry leaders in sustainability and media:

? Lars Tallert is the initiator of the Sustainable Journalism Partnerthip, Head of Policy & International Development at Fojo Media Institute, and Sweden’s representative to UNESCO’s IPDC Intergovernmental Council and GFMDs representative to ECOSOC. He has 30+ years of journalism and development cooperation experience including advisory functions and consultancies for various groups like the Swedish Prime Minister’s Office, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs & OECD - OCDE.

? Dr Yemisi Akinbobola is an award-winning journalist, academic, consultant and co-founder of African Women in Media (AWiM). AWiM’s vision is that one-day African women will have equal access to representation in media. Joint winner of the CNN African Journalist Award 2016 (Sports Reporting), Yemisi ran her news website IQ4News between 2010-2014 and holds a PhD in Media & Cultural Studies from Birmingham City University, where she is a Senior Lecturer. She has published scholarly research on women’s rights, African feminism, journalism and digital public spheres. In 2021 she was recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential African Women.

? Guy Berger is Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO. He is responsible for the Organization’s global work on press freedom, safety of journalists, internet freedom, media pluralism and independence, gender and media, media and information literacy, and journalism education. Before joining UNESCO, he headed the School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, South Africa, and was the deputy chair of the South African National Editor's Forum. He holds a PhD from Rhodes University, has published extensively, and has won several awards.

? Supriya Verma, WELL AP is an award-winning changemaker, citizen journalist, global sustainability advocate, and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of The SustainabilityX® Magazine, bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue since 2016. She has written and published various thought-provoking pieces on sustainability featuring international executive leaders in business, design, politics, and science. In 2019, she was recognized internationally as one of Canada’s Top30Under30 in Sustainability Leadership and awarded McMaster University’s prestigious Alumni Arch Award in 2021 for her unique contributions to society.

Homelessness: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

With homelessness increasing nationwide, John Oliver takes a look at the way we discuss the unhoused, what policy failures are making the problem worse, and how we can help.

On Saturday, June 1st, 2013 Presidio Graduate School graduated approximately 70 new MBAs and MPAs in sustainable management from the Herbst in San Francisco, CA. In this clip, Presidio Board Chair Steven Swig discusses the future of sustainability.

A wide range of experts from the fields of global health, NGOs and journalism, as well as citizens and volunteers explore the collaboration and tension between journalists and public health workers at times of crisis.

When Disaster Strikes: Reporting and Responding

The second panel focused on immediate crisis response and was moderated by Jon Simon, Director of the Center for Global Health. Manolia Charlotin is the editor and business manager of the Boston Haitian Reporter, 

Hosted by Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Center for Global Health and Development, College of Communication, and School of Public Health on April 14, 2011

November 2015

When Sarah van Gelder got together with a few friends in 1996 to start a magazine about hopeful news and positive actions, it was, to say the least, a total leap of faith. It was one of these beautiful endeavors that begin in one’s garage when no one really knows how it’s all going to pan out into the big world. Sarah simply didn’t see anything better to do with her creative skills. Twenty years later and with a run of 50,000 copies per issue, YES! Magazine has established itself as an indispensable and hope-infusing read for a growing segment of the progressive-minded population of this country, people who simply refuse to cave under the barrage of depressive and disempowering negativity propagated by most of the commercial media.

This short video explains the Land Ethic, which is an environmental philosophy developed by Aldo Leopold.  It explains the philosophical foundations of the Land Ethic and how it differs from Deep Ecology.  Thanks for the GCSC Commodore production team for helping produce this video.  Aldo Leopold is the author of A Sand County Almanac.  He is author of the first textbook on wildlife management. 

Elder Dave Courchene's Convocation Address, University of Winnipeg, June 13, 2019, where he was honoured with a Doctor of Laws.

The time has arrived where we must face the reality of what we have done to the Earth and ourselves. Good leadership is essential and we all have the capacity to be leaders. 

April 23, 2018 Talks at Google

"Survivor Café: The Legacy of Trauma and the Labyrinth of Memory by Elisabeth Rosner.

Elizabeth Rosner discusses her latest book, "Survivor Café: The Legacy of Trauma and the Labyrinth of Memory." It blends personal story, interviews, and extensive research on the complex subject of the inter-generational aftermath of war and atrocity. Called “breathtaking” by Pulitzer-prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen, the book offers a comprehensive and intimate portrait of both individual and collective inheritance of history. Prior to "Survivor Cafe," Elizabeth published three works of fiction - "The Speed of Light," "Blue Nude: A Novel," and "Electric City," as well as a poetry collection called "Gravity."

Click on image to order book from Amazon or visit your local bookstore.