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| "What Turtle Island Institute is attempting is a fine thing. One of the necessary changes is to begin to think of ourselves as part of that sustainable world, maybe stop using the word tourist, but think more of ourselves as pilgrims and farmers. I once heard the definition of a tourist as someone that takes, and a pilgrim as someone that leaves something." James T. Hubbell - 1999 | ||||||||
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MISSION STATEMENT
Using ancient wisdom coupled with alternative technology to create a sustainable future through ecotravel." | |||
ABOUT TURTLE ISLAND INSTITUTE The TURTLE ISLAND INSTITUTE is best described as a "virtual university" designed to provide for education/information programs while at the same time, acting as a cultural exchange medium through which to combine the best of new and emerging alternative technologies in our current culture with that of the ancient wisdom of indigenous cultures to provide for a sustainable future for all life on Earth. We operate as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
The name Turtle Island Institute (TII) was taken from a Gary Snyder poem and Native American story using the analogy that the earth resembles the back of a swimming turtle - if you tip the turtle upside down -- that is, disrupt the natural balance, the turtle has no chance for survival. In ancient times, the turtle served as a "spiritual" symbol to many indigenous cultures throughout the world, not just those in the Americas, and turtle shells have been found in many different places in archaeological sites far removed from where turtles occur naturally. The Hopi of Northern America told their version of the turtle in "The Book of the Hopi," the first time Hopi traditions were ever recorded in writing. The ancient stories, handed down from generation to generation, orally, recall long and ancient migration routes, first entering into the Americas through the Bering Straight, going into the Four Corners region of North America and then heading off into all directions as they were told to do by the Great Spirit; stopping only when they reached water. Some believe that "turtle island" is North America with one flipper of the turtle being Baja, another the Bay Area peninsula, another Florida, and the other being Nova Scotia. OUR PERSPECTIVE Regardless of from where indigenous people originated and of where they journeyed, as they settled in as hunter-gatherers, they lived "lightly on the land" for the most part. And it is from this ability to "live lightly on the land" that Turtle Island Institute takes its viewpoint, believing that we can take this ancient knowledge, passed down through many generations and by combining it with the newer alternative technologies of today, utilize it as a path leading to a sustainable future. Thus providing a means by which future generations can inherit an earth which can provide for the same benefits that we have enjoyed in the past but which today are severely threatened, e.g., -- clean air, fresh water, safe food, and the other things that make for a healthy environment. THE INSTITUTE The "virtual university" is the focal point of the Turtle Island Institute plan - through the online university and its faculty, TII will design and disseminate educational programs focused on sustainable development techniques developed in cooperation with representatives of indigenous cultures who can impart ancient knowledge with which to combine alternative technologies. By exchanging information and knowledge - cultural, technological, spiritual, societal, etc. - every inhabitant of the planet will benefit. These educational programs will take the form of: online interactive computer programs, videos, documentary film, and face-to-face presentations. While intended for dissemination through the Turtle Island Institute membership network, these educational/information programs will be made available to schools and libraries everywhere, and may also be disseminated through public access television. In the design of education/information programs, interactive educational formats will play an active role to "tell the story" of sustainable development activities in such diverse areas as: water reclamation, strawbale/palapa/tent/yurt construction demonstrations, watershed restoration projects, organic agriculture projects, use of solar energy, composting toilets, use of herbs in health and nutrition, development of ecotourism projects in local communities, development of arts and culture cooperatives, wildlife preservation, ecolodge management, rainforest preservation, reef preservation, and other conservation measures which can lead to a viable and productive lifestyle within indigenous communities while at the same time providing ecotourists with education/information which can lead to more conservation-oriented lifestyles at home. Documentary films will also play a role showing how relationshps between cultures and habitats promote biodiversity in regions and serve to maintain the balance of nature. Intended for dissemination through public broadcasting and other outlets, documentaries such as these can aid in bridging cultural gaps, revealing how indigenous cultures contribute in many positive ways to the preservation and restoration of vital natural resources. Indigenous culture activities can be utilized to preserve severely endangered ecosytems such as those necessary for healthy maintenance of rain forests and coral reefs, and to maintain wildlife, and plant biodiversity; and can as well provide us with safe food sources and cultural enlightenment while providing economic development opportunities for themselves. SATELLLITE CAMPUS/ECOTOUR LODGE PROGRAM To ensure that these education/information programs reach everyone, the Turtle Island Institute will also develop a "live" satellite campus program in conjunction with the "virtual campus," utilizing ecotravel as a medium for dissemination of education/information through setting up alternative campus sites in the form of ecotravel lodges. The campus sattelite/ecotravel lodge program, will seek out sites within indigenous communities on which to develop a "live" satellite campus for TII. At these sites, ecotourism lodges will serve as campus facilities for TII program development while at the same time providing for lodging, classroom education, guided tours, conservation activities participation in the surrounding region, and cultural and arts activities. Sites are to be provided voluntarily by indigenous cultures who want to enter into an alliance with the Turtle Island Institute and become part of the network. However, it is not the intent of TII to build these facilities, but to offer guidance and consultation to the community in developing these types of facilities. PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS In order to promote the efforts of the Turtle Island Institute and its mission, an online magazine is being published. Named KOKOPELLI SPIRIT, this magazine will be distributed electronically via the Internet. In addition, a web ring is being formed: KOKOPELLI SPIRIT RING. Along with the symbolic turtle, the humped back flute player, Kokopelli, was chosen as a symbolic figure to signify a leader who beckoned many to follow. We hope that many individuals and organizations will follow the beckoning flute player and form a network dedicated to preserving quality of life on Earth for all lifeforms, for all time to come. REGIONS OF OPERATION Presently the Turtle Island Institute is mainly concerned with the regions of North America, Central and South America including the Caribbean. However, TII is open to expansion into other regions if there is a volunteer who will take on the responsibility for that region as a Department Chairperson for a particular region and set up a separate website, linked to the Turtle Island Institute main website. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED *Working group volunteers needed for development of TII programs include: 1. Department Chairpersons, Co-Department Chairpersons, and Associates 2. Curriculum developers for all areas relating to sustainable development and ecotravel. 3. Grant writers 4. Website developers 5. Photographers & Journalists 6. Ecotravel lodge, satellite campus development personnel including (a) personnel for site selection/construction and development and, (b) personnel for management, community development, and (c) education/information program designers and presentors in all areas relating to ecotourism programs 7. Researchers and Scientists 8. Satellite campus site locators 9. Writers for Kokopeli Spirit magazine 10. Administrators *Note: Volunteers for faculty positions in our virtual university need not be degreed professionals, but must have good working knowledge of their subject and be able to provide back up information and references for consideration of appointment to a position as: Dept. Chairperson, Co-Chair, or Associate. We urge seniors who want to continue an active lifestyle and who love to travel to become an member/associate of the Turtle Island Institute. To volunteer your services, please contact the Executive Director MEMBERSHIP and FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Turtle Island Institute needs not only assistance in helping to develop our virtual university, but financial assistance as well. For information on how you can become a member, and/or make a financial contribution to the Turtle Island Institute go to the MEMBER SERVICES Department of the Turtle Island Institute. Show your support! Join the Kokopelli Spirit Ring !
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