2021 ECO-SUMMIT:
WATER JUSTICE
April 10th and 11th, 2021, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Zoom
"Water is the lifeblood of Mother Earth. Our water should not be for sale. We all have a right to water as we need it" -Autumn Peltier
2021 ECO-SUMMIT SCHEDULE
DAY ONE: SATURDAY, APRIL 10TH
1. Opening
2. Angeline Cheek's Keynote Speech
3. Student Networking Session
4. Closing
DAY TWO: SUNDAY, APRIL 11TH
1. Opening
2. Anthony Diaz's Keynote Speech
3. Workshops
4. Student Networking Session
5. Closing
SPEAKER INFORMATION
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Angeline Cheek
Han Mitakuyepi chante washte napechiyuzapi,
Angeline Cheek emachiyapi na lakhol chaze mithawa kin Tate Ska Washte Win. Wahcina oyate ematahan.
My relatives I greet you with a heartfelt handshake. My name is Angeline Cheek and my Lakota name is White Wind Good Woman. I’m from the Fort Peck Reservation.
Angeline Cheek is a Dakota/Lakota of the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes, community organizer living on the Fort Peck Reservation.
Prior to joining the ACLU of Montana in 2019, Angeline’s track record of fighting against injustice and civil rights violations in her community includes organizing prayer walks across the reservation and in the surrounding area, community walks in opposition of drugs/alcohol, and suicide prevention. She is passionately opposed to the Keystone XL Pipeline. Aside from the negative environmental impact that a pipeline would bring to her homelands, she warns against the effects of “man camps,” the temporary housing facilities that accompany resource development projects – like oil pipelines. Man camps often bring unwanted drug and human trafficking to rural communities and are directly contribute to a rise in violence and the epidemic of Missing and/or Murdered Indigenous Women.
She is an alumnus of Fort Peck Community College where she graduated with honors gaining an Associates of General Studies/Elementary Education degree. She attended Black Hills State University pursuing a Bachelors of Education degree. Among other positions, Angeline has previously worked with Indian People’s Action, Ft. Peck Tribes Education Department, the Fort Peck Juvenile Detention Center and at Brockton High School, Native HOPE, and was a Be Under Your Own Influence Campaign Board Member.
In all of her work, Angeline relies upon foundational Lakota cultural teachings and ways of knowing. In her journey, she thanks and appreciates everyone who has come together in a good way for the people.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Anthony Diaz
Anthony Diaz is a Newark resident, oldest of his 3 brothers, and a co-founder of the Newark Water Coalition, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the city’s lead water crisis. Through the Newark Water Coalition, Diaz attends city council meetings, hosts water filter giveaways and water distributions for residents, and hosts various teach-ins at multiple universities in New Jersey. The organization has been able to provide over 1,000 filters and over 11,000 gallons of water to the people of Newark. He is a steadfast believer that people's power and the recognition of how all struggles are interconnected are the keys to winning the war on people.
WORKSHOP LEADER
Candi Brings Plenty
Wakinyan Tunwanpi Iyoyanpa Win (Bright Lightening Womxn), is an Oglala Lakota Sioux, Queer Indigenous, Non-binary Two Spirit. They are a protector of the sacred and activist for Indigenous justice. Their red lipstick is their war paint, as they take their place on the frontlines as a Two Spirit Warrior Queen. They continue to educate and advocate throughout Turtle Island sharing their experience as a frontline Two Spirit Water Protector at Standing Rock, and as a Land Defender of the Black Hills. They are a fierce Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives advocate and elevates traditional methods of trauma healing.
Candi Brings Plenty is a direct descendent of Crazy Horse’s band and is an ancestral survivor of the Wounded Knee Massacre. They continue to stand in the face of the colonizer to protect the
sacred and Unći Maka.
They currently live in the Black Hills, in Rapid City, SD where they work as the first ACLU Indigenous Justice Organizer for the South Dakota, North Dakota & Wyoming region. She is incorporating Indigenous methods and constitutional rights to bring awareness and protection for frontline warriors to exercise their civil liberties and express their First Amendment.
WORKSHOP LEADER
Matt Smith
Matt Smith is the NJ State Director for Food & Water Action, an international non-profit organization championing equitable access to clean water and a livable climate future for all. Matt is an experienced organizer, facilitator, trainer, and campaign strategist. His work focuses on local control of equitable public water systems, stopping the expansion of new pipelines, power plants and other fossil fuel infrastructure, and enacting policies that facilitate a rapid and fair transition to a 100% renewable economy. In addition to his work with Food & Water Action, Matt sits on the steering committee of the NJ Poor People’s Campaign and the board of the FANG collective, grassroots formations linking popular movements for environmental, economic, and racial justice. Matt can be found on his days off enjoying New Jersey’s parks and wild places that so many have fought to preserve and protect.
WORKSHOP LEADER
ILARION 'KUUYUX' MERCULIEFF
Unangan (Aleut) | Alaska
Raised on the St. Paul Island in the middle of the Bering sea, at the age of 4, Ilarion Merculieff was given his traditional Unangan (Aleut) name: Kuuyux, which means: a messenger; carrier of ancient knowledge into modern times. Today he is president of GCILL - Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways https://www.GCILL.world/, and co-founder and ongoing key speaker for the WWW https://www.wisdomweavers.world/. He has over 50 years of experience serving his people, and others around the world in a number of leadership capacities. At age 18, he started his career in modern western society as an advocate for his tribe, while also, representing Native-American students at the University of Washington. Then he went on to being co-chair and head of 17 boards and councils, till he jumped, over 3 decades ago. Ever since then he has been living the legacy of his traditional name: Kuuyux.
WORKSHOP LEADER
Kati Angarone, Associate Commissioner for Science and Policy
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Kati Angarone has worked at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for more than 20 years and currently serves as the Associate Commissioner for Science and Policy. In this role she works to develop policy that is protective of New Jersey’s environment and public health and to ensure policy cohesion across the Department in furtherance of the Department priorities (e.g. Climate, Water and Public Health). She oversees the Division of Science & Research, which provides scientific support to programs across the Department, as well as other State agencies. In addition, her office includes the Offices of Environmental Public Health & Safety and the Office of Economic Analysis, which work closely with the New Jersey Department of Health on environmental public health issues and provide support for economic analyses performed during policy development, respectively.
Prior to assuming the role of Associate Commissioner, Kati spent many years assisting with the development of New Jersey DEP’s land use policies including stormwater management, habitat protection, flood hazard area controls and protection of the Highlands region. She also spent several years at the Department focused on drinking water policy, including the adoption of new drinking water standards, prevention and management of harmful algal blooms and water supply emergency response.
WORKSHOP LEADER
Sarvagna Malladi and Neha Bommireddy
Sarvagna Malladi (right picture) is a freshman in high school who is passionate about environmental advocacy, computer science, and empowering women in the STEM field. In her free time, she competes as a vocalist singing Indian Carnatic music.
Neha Bommireddy (left picture) is a freshman in high school. Her interests include designing graphics, photography and baking.
