Have you reached the golden years of marine education?
We would like to invite all retired members of NMEA or any of its regional chapters to our 2023 “MAME” (Masters & Mavens of Aquatic & Marine Education) event! Come join us at our Monday evening event at the Lummi Nation Wex’liem Community Building to:
Enjoy a traditional feast on Lummi Nation land
Share stories and memories of the good times from past conferences
Connect with friends and colleagues and rekindle old friendships
Get to know the next generation of marine and aquatic educators
What started as a picnic at a local park, catered by Lummi Nation community members, has turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In the spirit of true Coast Salish generosity, Althea Wilson and her canoe family have invited all NMEA Conference participants to join them on Lummi Nation land for a traditional Coast Salish feast Monday night. The evening will include a salmon dinner, learning about Coast Salish culture, and music by local band, Ebb, Slack, and Flood, all in the Wex'liem Community Building, near the water on the Lummi Reservation.
Coast Salish communities have always had marine education woven into the fiber of their lifeways and this includes a very special event: Canoe Journey, a healing, strengthening, and culture-revitalizing gathering of coastal nations. Learn about Canoe Journey directly from a Lummi canoe family, eat First Foods, including salmon caught by Lummi fishers, clams generously donated by Taylor Shellfish, roasted potatoes, salads, and local berries for dessert (vegan, dairy, and gluten-free dietary needs will be provided for), then dance to the rockin' tunes of Ebb, Slack, and Flood in celebration of all of us pulling together to heal our seas.
Note: Lummi Nation does not serve alcohol on the reservation.
Location
Lummi Nation—Wex’liem Community Building
2100 Blackhawk Way
Bellingham, WA 98226
Schedule
6:00 - 9:00 pm, Monday July 24, 2023
6:00 Arrive at the Wex'liem Community Building
6:30 Blessing and buffet style food service
6:45 Canoe Journey knowledge sharing with Althea Wilson and family during dinner
7:00 - 9:00 Ebb, Slack, and Flood music and dancing
8:00 Evening beach walks and traditional reef net fishing knowledge sharing
We will meet at the Lummi Nation Wex’liem Community Building in Bellingham for this once-in-a-lifetime event from 6:00 - 9:00 pm on Monday July 24. Plan to arrive by 6:00 pm at the Wex'liem Community Building. There is plenty of parking available at the Community Building or in the parking lot at the adjacent school. Directions to the Wex’liem Community Building can be found here. Here is a link to the location in Google Maps. Carpooling is highly encouraged.
The event will mainly be indoors, but there is an opportunity to walk outside down to the water so please dress for the weather.
Ocean Networks Canada will be hosting the IPMEN 2023 conference at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island BC, Canada, from Tuesday July 18 to Thursday July 20. More information can be found on the IPMEN website.
