[Sdpg] Permaculture Teachers NEEDED Indian Nations University near Ojai CA

[Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

hi everyone
        Over a number of years we have been in contact with Maiwo as the
idea of
the Indian University was floated and then became a reality as land near Ojai
Ca was donated , I have just got an email  from Rebecca who has passed on the
following message from Miawo, he is looking for PC Folks who could teach a
Permaculture Course on their land., read below. Please call his cell phone as
he has limited computer access. And read below about the Indian University ,
great if we could find some teachers to help them , as they begin to first
steps by bringing Permacultureon the land
                wes and margie
For more info, please contact INU Director, Mahiwo Agdeppa, at 
805-947-6713, 

FRom Rebecca 
. Anyway, Maiwo
told me that right now the land is being leased to the INU project ,
supposedly
the acreage donation is now 1,000 acres. Maiwo is living up on the land
part-time in a trailer, but would like to have some eco-friendly structures up
there. He has plans to offer a 2-month (!)permaculture course, this September
and October, and I hope that you might be able to have a chat with him about
this? It will certainly be rustic living, and therefore probably offered for a
very good price. Do you know of any adventurous, engaging permaculture
teachers
who would want to do this 2-month course?

For more info, please contact INU Director, Mahiwo Agdeppa, at 
805-947-6713, or at maiwo at in

About Indian Nations University http://www.inuniversity.org/

Spring 2004
Statement of Intentions

This statement has been written and edited by some of the members of the 
INU steering committee. It is a work in progress, and as other people join 
in the INU community, the words may change.

The intention of Indian Nations University (INU) is to become a center of 
learning that focuses on connecting native peoples' cultures and knowledge 
with contemporary environmental studies. Disciplines to be taught will 
include, but are not limited to, law, environmental studies, economics, 
politics, organic agriculture, anthropology, sustainability, business 
administration, and the arts.

INU wishes to bridge the gap of the newly acquired wealth of Native 
Americans and the absence of a commensurate academic center.

INU requests the assistance of all the Indian Nations to work together to 
establish and support the university which will be located in California. 
This state is viewed as an appopriate location for INU, as one in eight U.S 
American Indians lives in California, and thus the university can draw upon 
this large population of American Indians for its development. INU also 
calls upon all people with a sense of reverence and respect for the earth 
and the environment to collaborate on this crucial project. A generous land 
donation near Ojai, California shall serve as the university site.

The campus structure and social environment will emphasize concepts of our 
predecessors, while utilitizing all appropriate technological tools of the 
21st century. INU hopes to honor and respect the thousands of years of 
indigenous wisdom, and to educate native americans and all other peoples 
about the vast breadth of this wisdom. Students will be encouraged to apply 
their learning to transform and solve current social, political, and 
environmental issues.

INU is dedicated to honoring our ancestors who sacrificed their lives and 
freedom to protect our environment and our earthmother for future 
generations. INU is committed to furthering this work of protecting the 
environment through its curriculum and through the actual land development 
at INU. Students and faculty will participate in addressing the 
environmental issues of the campus and the surrounding communities. Green 
building practices and sustainable energy sources will be given precedence 
in the university's planning.

Making the INU Vision a Reality

We invite and welcome people to get involved with the planning process for 
Indian Nations University. The internet allows us to call upon the 
expertise of people in other regions of the country (or in other countries) 
to contribute to the INU project. Physical meetings are planned, but email 
and conference calls can also keep people linked together and apprised of 
the latest updates at INU. Creating this univerisity will take the time and 
the effort of many people. We seek people who can give short, distinct 
periods of time and those who can stay with the project for a longer 
duration. At this point, we are a volunteer organization, though we are 
seeking grantwriters to help us locate funding. We want people to be 
realistic and sustainable in their volunteering, particularly for the 
committee work.

Please feel free to contact anyone already involved in INU if you have
questions about the project.

INU currently seeks people to help out in the following areas:

Steering committee

Oversees all of the different aspects of the INU project, and welcomes 
people who have experience in finance and budget matters, non-profit 
organizations, small business operations, green building and architecture, 
fund-raising and grantwriting, environmental education, curriculum 
development, organic agriculture & permaculture, communication studies and 
conflict resolution. Members of this committee may meet in person on a 
regular basis, so it would be helpful if a member could attend a few 
meetings per year.

Curriculum committee

Educators, covering a wide range of teaching topics, and curriculum 
developers, are needed to create the INU curriculum. The broad areas of 
native american culture and contemporary environmental studies will infuse 
through all of the teaching. Addressing body, mind and spirit in the 
curriculum shall also be an important dimension of the INU pedagogy.

Disciplines that INU now intends to consider for the curriculum include:
law, anthropology, environmental studies, the arts- including environmental 
art, ecology and sustainability issues, healthcare and alternative 
healthcare practices, green building and architecture, organic agriculture 
and permaculture, and business administration. People having grantwriting 
experience could also work with this committee.

Board of Directors

As this project is in its formative stage, those people who can commit to 
being on the Board for at least a year would help establish some initial 
consistency and continuity. Anyone with a passion for the INU vision shall 
be considered for the Board. We are seeking those who have former 
experience serving on a board or working for a non-profit or educational 
institution. We particularly need those who can help us with legal matters 
and financial advising. Fundraising and community outreach are also 
important areas for the Board. People to serve in the specific roles of 
treasurer and secretary are being sought. The Board members will need to 
meet in person a few times a year.


We thank you all for taking the time to learn about INU and we invite your 
participation in the project. Feel free to contact INU Director, Maiwo 
Agdeppa, at maiwo at inuniversity.org

ndian Nations University ~ General Information & Programs

The mission of Indian Nations University is to provide a resource for the 
general public for training and research in environmentally sustainable 
practice in the areas of permaculture, archaeology, anthropology, law, and 
sustainable agriculture. Indian Nations University will provide trained and 
knowledgeable practitioners in these fields who will in turn train students 
in supporting communities of people dedicated to environmentally 
sustainable lifestyles.

Indian Nations University will design all of its courses to meet the 
guidelines of the Western Association of Colleges (WASC) so that any degree 
earned at this institution will be honored and respected by professionals 
in the field. The design and structure of Indian Nations University honors 
the recommendations set forth in the Environmental Education Standards from 
the State of California.

Vision

A public university community totally integrated into its environmental 
setting, operating in harmony with the surrounding environment. Buildings 
and land use will support the native condition of the local ecology, its 
plant and animal life, and will not harm the water or other resources 
located within the campus and surrounding area. Systems and resource 
management will include recycling and low-impact resource use like solar 
and wind energy, gray water technology and other design features that will 
support its mission. The management of the campus facilities will include 
volunteer training and opportunities for the student body to participate in 
daily operations. The University is expected to operate at a much lower 
cost than similar facilities of its type. The university is also expected 
to be a model of sustainable design and practice.

Five-year Plan

Operation will commence in the fall of 2004, with the first buildings to be 
Yurt style tent structures. Housing will be offered on site for students 
and faculty. The rental fees for housing should provide for some of the 
start up revenue. The first program planned to start will be the law 
program with a clinic planned for current issues in the Ventura area and 
the Permaculture offerings. We are applying to the UCLA law center for 
sponsorship of this program. The faculty may be flexible, with visiting 
experts from other programs leading seminars and workshops that add to and 
strengthen course offerings. At the end of five-years it is expected that 
the 5 schools will be complete and a Curation facility for the processing 
of artifacts including human remains will be in operation.

Indian Nations University plans to recover the remains of ancestors 
excavated from burial sites in Southern California, now held by private and 
public institutions. 10-Year Plan: After ten years a series of colleges 
around the state with the same emphasis and structure will be established. 
The original college should be self-sustaining and supporting other 
projects in the community.

Colleges

1) Archaeology

The focus for the department of archaeology will be on Native American 
artifacts and ancient culture to the present. Indian Nations University 
expects to train students to understand the importance of Native American 
culture and daily living strategies to human life today. Students will 
develop an understanding for the significance of ancient cultures to modern 
life. Students will develop awareness of the value of preserving and 
studying the indigenous cultures from our hemisphere and protecting these 
artifacts. Students will learn and practice techniques of preserving 
artifacts to aid in the education of the public. Educational Outreach will 
strengthen public awareness and support for the programs being developed at 
the University.

At the completion of this program, the students will have the skills to 
gain employment in the field of archeology as field scientists, museum 
staff, or preservation specialists.

Course offerings:
    Ancient Geography of Native Centers
    Legal Issues and Political Solutions
    Issues in Contemporary Practice in Archaeology
    Locating artifacts and Site Excavation
    A Survey of Curation Techniques and Practice
    Chemistry of Preserving Organic materials and Structures
    Management of Specimens
    Administration of Museum and Artifact Management
    Design and Display Techniques
    Environmental Systems and Preserving Artifacts

Anthropology (Within the School of Archaeology)

The study of Anthropology provides students with a background of knowledge 
to build careers in science, archaeology, research in many fields, 
education, and sociology. Anthropology also provides a background for the 
practice of law. Students studying in this field will be prepared to work 
as paralegal researchers, work in museum staff support, and build careers 
in other fields from this base. The focus of this program will be the study 
of the current climate for indigenous cultures in this country and creating 
awareness of the foundations of research into human culture. An emphasis on 
transformational use of the knowledge will be given to the students through 
service learning projects.

Course Offerings:
    Physical Anthropology
    Cultural Effects of Human Behavior
    Language and Culture
    Prehistoric Archaeology
    Ethnographic Research Techniques
    Comparative Social Issues and Organization

2) Sustainable Architecture

The school of architecture is designed to provide the student with a firm 
understanding of architectural principles and practices necessary to work 
in this field in the United States. The program will be designed according 
to the principles and guidelines established by the American Architectural 
Society. Students will study under professionals working in the field and 
will design, plan, and actually build structures for local communities in 
partnership with the University. Design focus will be on a sustainable 
practice emphasis for "greener" building and energy use.

Course Offerings:
    Sustainable Design
    Intro Design Studio
    World Design Survey
    Hybrid Adobe Construction Intensive
    Alternative Materials Seminar
    Modern Building Construction
    Ethics in Modern Culture and Urban Design
    Structures 1
    Building Climatology and Aesthetics
    Structures II
    Structures III
    Building Design and Landscape
    Environmental Control Systems
    Energy Design Seminar
    Electricity and Mechanical Systems 1
    Electricity and Mechanical systems II
    Solar Design and Practical Use
    Solar Energy Generation
    Wastewater and Greywater systems

3) Urban Studies and Planning

The Urban Studies and Planning program will provide students with the 
knowledge of urban planning issues that impact and alter the natural world. 
Students will study and design sustainable living communities that have a 
low footprint or impact on the natural world. The purpose of studies in 
this area is to prepare students to gain jobs in local governments and put 
sustainable design into local government planning and practice. Students 
will learn the practical aspects of integrating sustainable theories, 
resource management, and public policy.

Course Offerings:
    The Urban Environment
     Humans and the Natural Environment
    Growth and Development of the Urban Environment
    Urban Research Methods
    Urban Challenges Seminar
    Community Based Urban Design
    Environmental Impact Studies
    Environmental Health, Policy, Law, and Administration
    Population Biology
    Studies in Pollution Mitigation
    Environmental Policy

4) Sustainable Agriculture/Permaculture

Sustainable agricultural practices are a cornerstone of societies that 
maintain a favorable balance between their food production and the natural 
environment. Current technology is returning to some of the practices of 
our ancestors that respected the ecology of our environment. Some practices 
of construction, like cobb and hay bale structures, use waste products and 
recycle them into usable construction materials. Students in this program 
will study, design, and build structures that combine the wisdom of past 
cultures, with research based practices that will revolutionize the way 
that living structures are built and food is produced. Indian Nations 
University is applying to the Solar Living Institute and The Center for 
Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona for sponsorship of these programs.

Course Offerings:
    Introduction to Permaculture
    Designs For living: World Structures by Habitat
    Basic Agricultural Practices
    Native American Building Techniques
    Tools of The Trade, Their History, Use and Care
    Principles of Organic Farming and Production
    Overview of Ecological Design
    Designing with the Earth in Mind: Siting, Water Use, and Sustainable
Yields
    Fieldwork
    Fruit and Vintner Husbandry
    From plant to Fiber; Growing your own Textiles
    Medicinal Plants and Seed Saving
    Biodiesel-Fuel From Vegetables
    Alternative fuel Survey-International Practices
    Aquaculture: Ancient Practices To Modern Applications
    Solar Electric Systems overview
    Introduction To Photovoltaics
    Sustainable Living By Design
    Agricultural Architecture; Building Your Own
    Animal Husbandry

5) Indian Sovereignty Law

The legal program at Indian Nations University will offer programs in 
undergraduate and graduate law. The focus of our legal programs will be 
practice in the area of supporting native American rights in regards to 
property issues, remains of ancestors and artifacts form ancient burial 
sites, environmental issues impacting the health and safety of all of our 
citizens. The university mission values the continued advance of the rule 
of law for the good of the people and the environment. Sustainable practice 
community wide must include sound practices for managing resources for the 
future as well as our commitment to our ancestors.

Course Offerings:
    Overview of Environmental Law
    Land Use Regulations
    A History of Native American Issues
    Research, Analysis, and Case Writing
    Federal Indian Law and Policy
    Case Studies: Local Government Interaction with Indigenous Issues
    Cultural Ethics and Native American Issues
    Case Studies in Native American Law
    Issues in Public Resource Management
    Internship
    Field work

6) Environmental Law

Legal practice today involves resource management more and more
because the wise use of our environment and the finite resources
available to us provides more opportunities for a higher quality of
life. Misuse or misallocation destroys the ability of the community
to make use of the resources and causes damage to both the resources
we depend upon and the health of our citizens. Native American
cultures respected the environment because it provided all life.
Indian Nations University provides a program for work in the field of
environmental Law because it is so important to our continued
survival. Upon completion of this program students will be able to
work in the fields of law, politics, or journalism.

Course Offerings:
    Overview of Legal Case Studies in the Field of the Environment
    International Corporations 1700-2000
    The NAFTA Primer
    Fieldwork in Environmental Studies
    Ecology and Homeostasis in the Environment
    Issues in Public Resource Management
    Research, Analysis, and Case Writing
    Land Use and Planning Issues
    Agricultural Practices and Federal Law
    The United Nations Plan For a sustainable Future 2004
    Resource Management into the 22nd Century
    Water Pollution Mitigation Survey of Issues in Contemporary Practice
    Environmental Politics and the Economy
    Internship


For more info, please contact INU Director, Mahiwo Agdeppa, at 
805-947-6713, 

Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
(805) 962-2571
sbpcnet at silcom.com
www.sbpermaculture.org

"We are like trees, we must create new leaves, in new directions, in order to
grow." - Anonymous