





So I just returned with my husband from the 32nd American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES) Conference. This year we were in Portland, Oregon. Winds of Change was there in 2000, I had not been back since. This was the first AISES conference that my husband had ever attended. He was a great help during the career fair, helping me run the Winds of Change http://www.wocmag.org/ booth, handing out extra copies of our fall issue and college guide so that we wouldn't have to ship them back. He enjoyed meeting all the Indian people who I have worked with over the last 15 years. The opening ceremony was very moving as usual with a drumming group and singers and the Nez Perce Elder Horace Axtell doing the sacred blessing in his language. We were amazed to hear the powerful speaker Winona LaDuke give the keynote address. An economist educated at Harvard, she deconstructed the amount of money we spend as a nation on food distribution. She used numbers to validate her position that we should all look at buying local. Tony also accompanied me to several seminars that were interesting in their "futuristic" technology that is certainly fast approaching. One such seminar was about early detection of disease using magnetic nanoparticles and GMR sensors.
We also enjoyed the traditional dinner celebration where thousands of scholarship dollars are given out to students who presented remarkable studies, such as: DNA Sequencing of the Large Sub-unit of Chloroplast Enzyme Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase in Native Plants. And this from a 9th grade high-school student!
But the bittersweet part of the conference was when I received my Sequoyah Fellowship Award. This is a medallion given to me by a sponsor who gives $1000 in my name to AISES and I become a lifetime member. It is a great honor to be smudged with sage and a huge, sacred eagle feather by Horace Axtell. My husband wiped tears away as he took the photos. The ceremony is very moving. It was particularly moving for me because with my illness at hand, I don't know if I will be able to go to another conference. Traveling, especially by plane, is more and more uncomfortable for me. But we shall see. Michael J.Fox had this to say in one of his books: "I decided not to panic and just wait and see what would happen." This is wise advice and has pulled me through some tough mornings when I can barely move.
My managing editor was also at this conference and of course my marketing director. One night, the four of us ventured out on the light-rail that winds through the city and enjoyed a wonderful dinner out at Davis Street Tavern. Sounds weird and boring with a name like that, however, it was anything but! Take a look one of the entrees: Seared Sea Scallops, Roasted Sunchokes, Spinach Puree and Lardon Cracklings
The chef, Gabriel Kapustka, came to our table to ask if we were pleased! You can see more of this awesome food at: http://www.davisstreettavern.com/
And finally, after a day of workshops, we all went to the most precious, peaceful place imaginable; The Portland Japanese Garden: http://www.japanesegarden.com/
If anyone is interested in Winona LaDuke's "buy local" message, visit: http://www.speakoutnow.org/
You will probably have to search the site by her name.
All in all, this was perhaps the most beautiful conference I have been to. It was nice to sleep in a luxurious king-size bed and order room service breakfast! I treat myself to this luxury every year, but it is so much more fun with your lover.








