Society of Mother Earth (S.O.M.E.)

Oyate Hotanin (Voice of the People)—in collaboration with musical duo Buffalo Weavers and Change Narrative, a climate programming producer balancing science with art, empathy, and emotion—presents a year-long climate action-driven project, Society of Mother Earth (S.O.M.E.). Developed with funding as an awardee of the Minnesota Humanities Center 2022-2023 Cultural Heritage and Community Identity Grant, Society of Mother Earth intends to foster relationships between humans and the environment to prompt healing in our broken world through performances, gatherings, and storytelling initiatives. Music videos featuring guest artists and a documentary film will also be produced as a culmination of the experiences to expand the project’s reach.

For news and updates, please follow along on social media at @oyatehotanin and @changenarrativellc on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the Buffalo Weavers newsletter here.

Upcoming Events:

Buffalo Show
Jan 10, March 14, May 09, July 11!
6:30 pm doors // 7 pm show
Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater
Tickets are available at bryantlakebowl.com

Buffalo Show is a regular, creative adventure featuring Buffalo Weavers’ Dakota elder poet and storyteller Strong Buffalo and musical bike-riding singer-songwriter Ben Weaver. The duo takes over the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater to weave guest artists with live musical performances and storytelling by Change Narrative, to awaken the world to climate change and its impact, and celebrate our ability to move to solutions (and have fun along the way!).

Wilder Buffalo Ride
May 25, June 21, watch for more dates!
Free, with donations appreciated
Sign up here to be notified of the events here

As we find ourselves in a time of immanent cultural and ecological adaptation, it is important to hold space to nurture connection, share ideas, and process grief with each other. This musical and bicycle collaboration between Buffalo Weavers and friends offers monthly concerts—rain, cold, snow, or sunshine. Each show begins with a group ride from Perennial Cycle to the location (those who do not wish to ride will be given the concert location once they RSVP). Events and locations are announced approximately one week in advance.

Healing Circles

Oct 4, 2022
April 4/2023 Learn More and Register Here – Space is limited
July 13/2023 Learn More and Register Here – Space is limited
August 12/2023 Learn More and Register Here – Space is limited

Held as small group workshops, healing circles provide a vessel for Rooted in Indigenous thought, and held as small group workshops, Healing Circles provide a vessel for participants to name, hold, and release intense emotions around climate change, while also contextualizing how we ended up here. Through cycles of music and poetry, participants engage in an outdoor, moving journey that engages the senses and prompts a path to our individual and collective healing, unlocking the potential to shift the stories we tell and re-imagine the future we are building. These circles are best suited for anyone who would like more support in processing their emotions surrounding the climate crisis and dreaming what will follow. Registration is required and limited to 12 people.

Past Events:

Changing the Narrative: Climate Stories for Justice
Presented by Change Narrative as part of Minnesota Fringe Festival 2022
Bryant Lake Bowl & Theater
August 2022

An evocative experience of the senses intended to connect both the head and heart on climate change and spur action on this critical issue, this five-run show brings together live, spoken narratives interspersed with graphic illustration, music, and poetry. Features local climate justice organizers Whitney Terrill (Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light), Nicole Ektnitphong (Climate Advocacy Lab), and Leslee Gutiérrez (COPAL); with illustrations by Drawnwell and music by Buffalo Weavers. Changing the Narrative: Climate Stories for Justice was selected as a Golden Lanyard Award Winner At The 2022 MN Fringe Festival for Best In-House Venue Pick.

Flower Power VII
Aug 5 at Mounds Park
Sunrise (6 am) to sunset (8 pm)
Learn more here

Bring flowers and gather from sunrise to sunset with Oyate Hotanin’s 6th annual Flower Power event at Indian Burial Mounds Park in Saint Paul—an effort to build a community of a billion good relatives to stand with all life, to decolonize our systems, create gun sanity, and seek climate rescue.