Programs
Reconnect with the Earth & Community
Since the early 1990s, Earth & Spirit Council has brought people together through events and gatherings that honor our relationship with the Earth. From The Procession of the Species, Natural Way Speaker Series and Talking Circles to the debut of our documentary short film, The Power of Ceremony: Earth Teachings for Future Generations. These offerings create opportunities to build community, inspire deeper relationships with the natural world, and spark meaningful, lasting change.
Elder Wisdom Preservation Project
Natural Way Speaker Series Archive
Wisdom that lives on
The Natural Way Speaker Series Archive is a living collection of wisdom gathered over decades—more than 120 hours of recordings of Indigenous elders and other knowledge-keepers from around the world. These recordings carry stories, perspectives and teachings on how
to live in right-relationship with the Earth. This content contains important teachings for cultural reconnection as well as intimate stories of elders' lives never previously shared.
Much of this material exists on aging VHS and cassette tapes. As time passes, these formats degrade, placing this irreplaceable knowledge at risk of being lost. This program is dedicated to carefully preserving and restoring these recordings—improving their audio and visual quality while honoring the integrity of the original teachings.
Beyond preservation, our goal is to make this wisdom accessible to all. By digitizing and thoughtfully sharing these teachings, we aim to ensure that future generations can learn from voices that have long guided communities to live with balance, respect, and connection to the natural world.
This archive is more than a collection—it is a bridge between generations, cultures, and ways of knowing.
Community Outreach
Documentary Films & Videos Stories that Spark Change
We facilitate community gatherings centered around films and videos that inspire awareness, dialogue, and action.
Through screenings of change-making documentaries, we create space for people to come together, reflect, and reconnect—with place, purpose, and nature.
Educational Partnerships
Connecting with Future Generations
We partner with universities, Indigenous studies programs and non-profit organizations to share the stories and wisdom of Indigenous Elders and Wisdom Keepers. Our educational content contains important teachings for cultural reconnection as well as intimate stories of elders' lives never previously shared. This program helps people re-connect to their own culture and cultivate a deeper sense of responsibility and relationship with the world around us.
Ceremonies
Gathering in sacred relationship
Every person no matter what their background had ancestors who prayed, sang, danced, and held beliefs about the world around them. Although historical trauma continues to shape how many people relate to tradition and ritual, it is possible to return to ceremony with integrity without taking from or misrepresenting any culture.
Ceremony is an important technology for reflection,
introspection and connection, helping us discover deeper meaning and purpose in our lives and relationships.
We create inclusive, respectful spaces where people can rediscover and engage in ceremonies that are authentic to their own culture, background, values, and spiritual path.
A Ceremonial Evening
Honoring Your Ancestors
Friday, November 6th - 5:45pm - 8:30pm
Taborspace
Portland Oregon
The intention of this evening is to create a space where we can all reconnect with our ancestral heritage, appreciate diverse cultural practices, and engage with each other in meaningful ceremony. During this time when the veil is thin, we have a unique opportunity to learn about and communicate with our ancestors.
Many cultures around the world honor their ancestors at this time of year, although these ceremonies are less common in Euro-Western cultures.
This is an opportunity to remember and honor those who came before us and learn more about how to keep ancestor memory alive within ourselves and our families.
Limited to 30 people - Reserve your spot now
Pre-Registration Required - Donation based
Preparation: Decide which of your ancestors you would like to sponsor. You may already know a lot about your ancestor, or you may need to do some research. Talk to others in your family about your ancestor, look at old photographs, learn about the time and place your ancestor lived, and/or do some genetic research. You may decide to honor someone who is not genetically related to you, but is a teacher or important to you in some other way. Learn their story, if you can. What to Bring: An Ancestor Symbol: A photo, drawing, rock, emblem, or any item that represents your connection to your ancestor. Stories and history of your ancestor Food: A favorite dish of the ancestor you are honoring or a traditional ancestral food to share. Flowers: If you know your ancestor’s favorite flowers, please bring a bouquet. Everyone is welcome, whether you choose to sponsor an ancestor or simply wish to learn. This is a time to remember all our ancestors and the Indigenous peoples and ancestors of the land we inhabit. We hope that you will want to bring this ceremony back to your own families. Schedule: 6:00 PM: Introductions, creation of altar, history, and setting the Structure of Ceremony 6:30 PM: Divide into smaller groups – share ancestors and food with group 8:00 PM: Return to the large group for sharing and closing circle 8:30 PM Cleanup and safely head home PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED NO TICKETS AT THE DOOR Event limited to 30 people, reserve your spot now! This event is donation based