On Feb. 4, 2015, we are proud to present six featured guests at the Yellowhead Brewery! These lovely people exemplify our idea of resiliency and will also be hosting workshops at The Resilience Festival on Feb. 7 & 8 at Boyle Street Plaza!
First and foremost Lewis Cardinal will introduce the evening; speaking to us about the importance of resiliency.
Lewis Cardinal has spent most of his professional life in public service. As a communicator and educator, he has dedicated his work to creating and maintaining connections and relationships that cross cultural divides that brings together communities to create new opportunities. Cardinal Strategic Communications (CSC) specializes in Education, Governance, and Communications projects and initiatives utilizing Indigenous worldview and perspective. Lewis was born in High Prairie, Alberta, and has made his home in Edmonton since 1968. Lewis is member of the Sucker Creek First Nation. His education includes a Diploma in Native Communications from Grant McEwan University. He also completed three undergraduates degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder: Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Bachelor of Arts in Film Study, and a Honours Degree in English. As well, Lewis is a Candidate for a PhD in Indigenous People’s Education at the University of Alberta. His long track record of public service includes his involvement with many Human Rights and Social Advocacy Boards. He recently received Canada’s highest Aboriginal recognition award the National Aboriginal Achievement Award, now called the Indspire Award, for Public Service, as well as receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award from Grant MacEwan University, the Anti-Racism Award from the Centre for Race and Culture, and received the Alberta Centennial Medal for his work in Human Rights and Diversity. Internationally, Lewis is the founder of Global Indigenous Dialogue, which meets annually in Switzerland, and recently elected to the Board of Trustees of the Council for the Parliament of World Religions.
And now, our featured guests:
Jana Sacco 
Certified Holistic Nutritionist, teacher, social worker, apprenticing master herbalist and permaculturist, she has been exploring the concepts of resilience for over six years. She has been learning from experts and tasting and trying recipes that will help her embrace a sustainable lifestyle that is possible through body, mind and spirit. From living and working in eco-villages, being a leader in community initiatives, getting her hands dirty in the soil to sitting in community healing circles and teaching fermentation/ whole food workshops, Jana gives practical tools through her teaching that helps those who are questioning what is their next step on their journey to sustainable living.
www.sustainablenutrition.c
Dustin Bajer
Dustin Bajer is a teacher, permaculturalist, master gardener and self-described network nerd living in Edmonton, Alta. Raised in the country but living in the city, Dustin is passionate about design that combine natural and built elements.
With a background in physics and mathematics, Dustin graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of education. After teaching in Edmonton and Mexico, Dustin enrolled in a permaculture design certificate (Pacific Permaculture) in 2009.
www.DustinBajer.com
Matt Simard; SolBird Energy
Matt started his apprenticeship as an electrician right out of high school. He has been working in the electrical industry for eight years and has experience in residential, commercial and industrial as well as maintenance, construction and project management.
In 2012 Matt was looking for a way to kick start his career. With renewable energy always being a strong interest of his, he discovered the NAIT alternative energy program as the perfect career move. After graduation, Matt quickly teamed up with a friend from the class, Clayton Thiel, and SolBird Energy was born.
www.solbirdenergy.com
Anna & Kalea, The Alberta Yarn Project
The Alberta Yarn Project hosts Craft & Draught Nights, a Pop-Up yarn bar selling Alberta-made yarn and beer! They sell patterns, yarn, knitting kits and beer
https://www.facebook.com/
Brea Johnson, Heart and Bones Yoga
Her responsibility as a yoga teacher and movement educator is firmly grounded in healthy alignment, functional, whole body movement and giving people the keys back to their own bodies. She said she feels that the most effective laboratory for self-understanding is through the body. The healing benefits of yoga becomes vastly improved when rooted in a strong mechanical foundation — when people move the way their bodies are designed to move, deeper healing can occur. Biomechanics is the framework for this understanding and she has felt the difference in my own body and has witnessed the shift in many others.
http:///www.heartandbonesyoga.com
Sonya Myllymaki & Alecia Shreyer, Deep Winter Herbalism
This dynamic duo use herbal medicines and explore the ways we can all incorporate them in our own kitchens. What better place to be in these cold winter days! At the upcoming Resilience Festival they will be focusing on immune-enhancing plants and recipes for cold and flu season and herbs to lift our moods as we move through the last dark days of winter.