Oath and Community News
(July-October 2023)
I’ve always associated autumn with the season for change. Perhaps it’s the way I’ve always associated new beginnings with the start of the school year, or maybe it’s the way you can smell winter carried on the air. But as we step into the end of the Gregorian calendar year, I encourage you to use nature as a guide, and Wayfind: shed the pieces of you like falling leaves that no longer serve you, stock up on the pieces of you that will bring you joy and sustain you through winter, and remember that many creatures prepare in the fall for a winter of rest. Remember that we are of nature, not separate from nature. Perhaps we, too, might want to be a little extra kind to ourselves this season.
~Maya
Upcoming Oath Workshops and Stretch Sessions:
Final Oath Workshop of the Year!
Haven’t taken the Oath yet? Don’t worry there’s one more opportunity in 2023 to take The Oath and learn more about how YOU can take action for planet, inclusion, and adventure.
What are you waiting for?
In Oath News…
Intersectional Identity Stretch Session
In September, we teamed up with David Ryan Castro-Harris, founder of Amplify Restorative Justice, for a Stretch Session on Intersectional Identity. We checked in with ourselves and challenged our perspectives based on our intersectional identities.
If you didn’t have the chance to attend, don’t worry! We’ll be uploading a recording of the video to our new Stretch Hub, which is free and accessible to anyone who has taken the Oath! ARJ has many additional offerings which we encourage you to attend.
“What’s a Stretch Session?”
Stretch Sessions are hosted both virtually and in-person, and they are an opportunity to stretch out on the many themes that support our commitment to Planet, Inclusion, and Adventure!
The Oath Stretch Hub Launched!
For all of y’all who have taken The Oath, we have launched the NEW Oath Stretch Hub. This new hub on our website allows Troublemakers to access previous Stretch Sessions. We are still building out new ideas on how we can celebrate and continue to learn together as an Oath Community. Troublemakers- be sure to check your previous emails for the password to login and create your own account!
The Oath takes on Global Summit in NYC!
Last week, The Outdoorist Oath Executive Director Gabaccia Moreno, co-founder José Gonzalez, co-founder Pattie Gonia, and Admin Manager Maya Sullivan in New York City for the 1%FTP Global Summit! Other speakers include biologist, policy expert, and conservation strategist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, who helped develop some Oath Workshop content. We also want to shoutout our friends at Intersectional Environmentalist for being there and being an amazing example of how intersectionality needs to be a part of the climate movement. Follow the Oath socials for updates!
In Community News…
Planet:
The Nez Perce Tribe have always had a deeply rooted connection to the Chinook Salmon. This relationship with salmon is woven into their culture, history, and now their modern-day species restoration work. The Nez Perce people are the oldest documented civilization in North America, with archaeological sites along Idaho's Salmon River dating back 16,500 years.
Today the tribe is facing the extirpation of their most prized salmon species despite decades of recovery efforts, and the widespread construction of dams across their Traditional lands has challenged recovery. The only option for the tribe to uphold their ancient deal with salmon and save the species from extinction is the breaching of four dams on the lower Snake River–will the Federal Government take charge of the situation or sit idly while this iconic species vanishes from their home waters?
In the new documentary Covenant of the Salmon People tells the story of Nez Perce Tribe as they continue to carry out their ancient promise to protect Chinook salmon, cornerstone species and first food their people have subsisted on for tens of thousands of years. As a dammed river system and climate impacts threaten the extinction of Chinook salmon, a cornerstone of their culture and ancestral diet, they continue to do their part to uphold this relationship.
Inclusion:
Need a new anthem to belt out in the car? Pattie Gonia, one of our co-founders, released the new single High Heels, a power pop anthem about queer joy, love, and self acceptance.
We celebrate this single and Pattie for following their dreams, spreading joy, and creating an irresistibly catchy song (and amazing music video!).
Be prepared to be humming it all day!
Adventure:
Watch Canary, an amazing documentary following the research and expedition to find evidence of global warming. Dr. Lonnie Thompson began searching for evidence of global warming in the 1970s and it brought him to the tops of mountains. The answers he was looking for were found above 18,000ft in massive ice cores.
Dr. Thompson has been a mover and shaker in climate change research for decades. Through his work, he has connected with local communities and Indigenous Peoples to further drive the need for urgency in the climate crisis.
You can now rent or buy the film on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, and YouTube!
USEFUL & INSPIRING RESOURCES:
Below are a couple of resources to help connect you to current news and studies in the world of planet, inclusion, and adventure!
How to find Joy in Climate Action (Video)
"We can all play a role in the climate movement by tapping into our skills, resources and networks in ways that bring us satisfaction, says climate leader Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. She suggests drawing a Venn diagram to map these questions: What are you good at? What is the work that needs doing? And what brings you joy? Where your answers intersect is where you should put your climate action effort. 'Averting climate catastrophe: this is the work of our lifetimes,/ Johnson says." This TedTalk is a must watch for Troublemakers or those ready to take action in the climate movement.
5 Ways to Become More Conscious About Systemic Bias
This useful guide breaks down what systemic bias is, how we can be more aware of it, and why it is so important to be conscious of it.
The Approach (SHORT FILM)
The Approach is an action-driven ski and snowboard film elevating people of color, women, and adaptive athletes. It features one of our founding members, Vasu Sojitra, and is a great film highlighting strength, determination, and skill while also touching on inclusion in these sports.
TedTalk: Climate change isn’t a distant threat– it’s our reality
In a stirring poem and talk, youth climate warrior Selina Neirok Leem, from the Marshall Islands, explains why adaptation using Indigenous solutions is the only choice for people on the front lines of climate change. "These islands are our ancestors, our predecessors, our homes," Leem says. "We are at the risk of losing all of that for something we contributed very little to."
Affinity Outdoor Scholarship List
Check out this extensive list of scholarship opportunities for the BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+, and more communities! From mountaineering to art, this list features scholarships for a variety of different activities.
Maya’s Personal Faves:
Books:
The Free People’s Village by Sim Kern
Sim Kern is a queer Jewish author and environmental journalist. The themes throughout the book are relevant to today’s current events.
Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
Learn about the wild world of fungi in this amazing read. Dive into how “fungi make our worlds, change our minds and shape our futures.”
Accounts I’m Following:
@be.the.chang - sustainable fashion
@e.mcgrady - queer running community
@sacredstoke - Indigenous skier and advocate
~Maya
If you made it here, we appreciate you BEYOND words.
Gracias for tagging along on this ride,
~ The Oath Team:
Pattie, José, Gabaccia, Maya, and Hanna
