Fall 2025
Speaker Series Re-Cap
On August 27, Michael Bastine was the keynote speaker for the Fall Speaker Series in the Indigenous Cultural Garden at the Unitarian Universalist Church of East Aurora. Mike’s presentation included a description of the ceremonial burning of sage and tobacco in preparation for the gathering of medicinal plants by Indigenous people. The cool evening air, campfire, curious deer in the adjoining yard and circle of attendees provided a perfect ambiance for Mike’s talk.
On September 3, Lyn Chimera gave a talk in the Indigenous Cultural Garden on working with Nature to achieve sustainability instead of against it. She explained why we should avoid pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers and the advantages of using plants that are native to this region. She also explained the difference between true native plants and “cultivars” of native plants and the disadvantages of the latter.
On September 10, John Snodgrass gave an inspirational talk on what makes land sacred. On a perfect moonlit evening before 23 attendees, John referenced the Haudenosaunee Creation Story as an example for how spiritual connections can be deepened in land and climate. He spoke on how the Indigenous qualities of respect and reverence support our bond with Nature.
For information about upcoming talks, see our events page