Seth and May at a Bioneers Fundraising Concert hosted at the Commons

Conference Synopsis

The Great Lakes Bioneers Conference is an annual three day event in October. Complete with activities for the entire family, the Conference welcomes children, youth, and adults. Each morning begins with a local keynote speaker who starts the day with an inspiring and empowering message related to each year’s chosen theme.

National Speaker List

Here is the 2011 National Bioneers Speakers list! These presentations will be beamed in by satellite broadcast in the afternoon to our local Conference here in Traverse City!

For more information visit the National Bioneers schedule page. http://www.bioneers.org/conference/2011/schedule

Great Lakes Bioneers Conference

The Great Lakes Bioneers Conference is a local conference where engaged citizens from all walks of life come together to focus on solving our most urgent problems within a framework of interdependence: It is all connected. Bioneers take a "solve-the-whole-problem" approach that is holistic, systemic, and multidisciplinary. Check out our national partner, the Collective Heritage Institute.

For our 10th anniversary Great Lakes Bioneers has chosen the theme RECLAIMING THE COMMONS as the frame to use as we select local programming and partner on events. Save the dates -- October 14, 15 & 16, 2011

What are the commons?
When managed properly, they are abundant resources that enable us to overcome scarcities and manage crises. The commons include:

Natural Resources - forests, atmosphere, groundwater, surface water, fisheries
Cultural Resources - arts, language, media, tradition, belief, elders
Public Goods - public space, education, health, basic services, built environment
'Life Commons’ - genomes, heritage breeds and seeds, our children

When the commons are ‘enclosed’ they become commodities; with exclusive borders built around them, they become private property and are no longer common. Commodification and privatization are current dangerous trends that breed scarcity: witness the fights based around access to farmland, water, parks, broadband, politicians, plant genomes and so on.

What can the Common People do? Recognizing and reclaiming the commons all around us is a radical yet practical activity and necessary for our times. The commons begin with the exercise of a claim such as "The water of the Great Lakes Basin is a commons not to be privatized or turned into a commodity." The commons thrive when the people share responsibility, exercise effective governance and practice justice. There are many models and movements, including cooperative economics, open source culture, public trust declarations, land trusts, participatory governance, and community gardening.

Our local Great Lakes Bioneers Conference is organized in a partnership between the Neahtawanta Center and SEEDS. Bioneers come in all ages. The GLB Conference supports families through our family-friendly workshops, food, and spaces.

Great Lakes Bioneers Conference

Major Donors