North American Association of Environmental Educators Nation Conference

The HETF recently participated in the North American Association of Environmental Educators Nation Conference held September 29 to October 2, 2010 in Buffalo, NY. Tuscarora HETF staff hosted a “Field Experience” at the Tuscarora Old Gym and the Tuscarora Indian School to showcase our environmental education work and discuss strategies with other educators. Over twenty guests began the day with a traditional opening and a slide show by Tuscarora Director Neil Patterson Jr.  Visitors toured the Tuscarora Indian School with presentations from Principal Liz Carr, Culture Teacher Joanne Weinholtz, and Language Teachers Vince Schiffert and Betsy Bissell. Our guests were also delighted to hear briefly from Dennis Banks, American Indian Movement, during a traditional lunch made with CSA garden vegetables and local deer meat.

Tonawanda and Tuscarora HETF staff displayed information and quizzed bystanders at a Conference booth in the Buffalo Convention Center. Neil and Vince also participated in a Conference panel about Traditional Ecological Knowledge to packed room of over forty people on Friday afternoon.  Chief Oren Lyons, HETF Political Co-chair, delivered the keynote address at the conference’s closing plenary on Sunday. NAAEE (aka “N-double-A-double-E”) Conferences host more than 350 presentations by more than 500 speakers in a few days and is considered the premiere opportunity for environmental educators to meet and share successful programs and practices through a very intense set of professional development opportunities.