For the first time ever, we are proud to present the new Cascadia Pride Flag, with black and brown stripes added as an inclusionary way to highlight black and brown LGBTQIA+ members within our movement and the Cascadia Bioregion.
Remembering Mike Barnes - By Lansing Scott
Cascadia represents bioregionalism at California Unity Conference
Launching our New Cascadia Co-Creators Network
Indigenous Voices of Cascadia
Eugene Embassy 1st Cascadia Meeting
Diplomat Newsletter December 2019
Diplomatic Corps Newsletter
December 2019
Towards 2020
Fulfilling our Vision
As our first year of work with the Department of Bioregion comes to a close, a time to reflect and focus arises. Our weekly meetings in Seattle have grown in attendance and scope. From them, many activities and projects have taken place around the bioregion. This year we've hosted a fun run, presented at Cascadia Convergence, made a splash in the Seattle Pride parade anchored by the Cascadia Bus, had a handicraft focused Cascadia Day, hosted Camp Cascadia in the Willapa Hills and had our Cascadian Passport Station pop up around the bioregion. All of this has only been possible because of the dedicated work and enthusiastic volunteerism of you our Diplomats. Cascadian visibility has certainly increased due to all of your efforts, and for this, the sincerest of Thank Yous!
Looking forward, we're optimistic about continuing to grow the Department of Bioregion and the Diplomatic Corps. A meet up the first week of this month in Eugene mobilised a local group of Cascadians there, while contacts in Corvallis and Everett indicate meetings there are forthcoming. We've created some wonderful foundational documents and systems that will help us remain organized as we grow. Perhaps most importantly, our group projects have become more focused around the question "If 10,000 people wished to join our movement tomorrow, how can we be ready?"
It is with that question in our minds that we go into the coming decade. While we can't predict what the coming year and future will bring, we know some of the challenges facing Cascadia, and can prepare to face them with confidence. A general election in the U.S. will doubtlessly have profound effects on public sentiment and offers us an opportunity to highlight how, regardless of the outcome, Cascadia offers a pathway forward with greater democracy, decentralized power structures and a decolonizing spirit. Meanwhile, the advancing threat of a pipeline across British Cascadia threatening our waterways, ecosystem and overrunning indigenous sovereignty creates a rallying cry to protect all of the principles that define Cascadia and all of the life here.
Facing these adversities and opportunities, is what the Department of Bioregion is all about. With a positive message rooted in our love of place, unity through community and a desire to ensure a better future for all life in Cascadia, I look forward to continue building this movement with all of you.
Tolo tillikum, and Rise Cascadia Rise!
“Rise, Cascadia, rise. Protect our waters and skies. Rise, Cascadia, rise. Salmon and orca, cedar and fir. Rise, Cascadia, rise. Crows and otters, sons and daughters. Rise, Cascadia, rise.”
New Diplomat
Claudia Esplugas Masvidal
Catalonian native and recent University of Washington graduate Claudia Esplugas Masvidal has joined the Cascadian Diplomatic Corps bringingextensive experience as a writer, organizer and activist. With a focus on magnifying marginalized voices and innovative organizing methods, we are excited to see her contributions to the Cascadia Movement. Acting as a Diplomat at Large, Claudia's plans for 2020 include international outreach as she traverses the globe conducting interviews with other movement organizers and explores ways to connect them to bioregional principles. Welcome Claudia!
Passport Pop-Up
Last Sunday, Department of Bioregion founders Brandon Letsinger and Trevor Owen took the Cascadia Passport Station to the Seattle Freemont Sunday Market. While there, they issued Cascadian Passports, stickers and patches to the community. Many curious onlookers learned a thing or two about Cascadia and bioregionalism, while other stalwert Cascadians were elated to get their hands on our first issue, first printing Passports. They will be there again this week if you'd like to come by or join in spreading the Cascadian word. Market Info.
Thank you for all that you do diplomats!
Bioregionally yours,
Trevor Owen
Dean of Diplomacy
Introducing the Department of Bioregion: By Trevor Owen
Your Guide for Dougsgiving, November 28th
Diplomatic Corps Newsletter - November 2019
New Cascadia Membership Designs Are Here!
We love Cascadia, believe in bioregionalism as a philosophy to save our region and planet, and are tired of the craziness and insanity that has become commonplace in our world today. We want to be able to directly impact the issues that we care about, and so those living on this planet can have a real life and livelihood better than our own, rather than worse.
Team Cascadia partners with Western Washington Premier League to build future team.
New Article by the Georgia Straight: Watersheds of Cascadia revealed in map created by organization that challenges colonial narratives
The Department of Bioregion received a wonderful mention in a new article by Charlie Smith with the Vancouver based Georgia Straight titled “Watersheds of Cascadia revealed in map created by an organization that challenges colonial narratives”.
Department of Bioregion has a wonderful meeting with Bioregional Learning Center of Devonshire
The Cascadia Department of Bioregion was excited to meet with members of the Bioregional Learning Center in the South Devon Bioregion in the United Kingdom. One of the primary focuses of the meeting was sharing skills and knowledge regarding our two groups, and building a global model of collaboration as we move forward.
First Cascadia Home Match Less Than Two Weeks Away! Cascadia V Darfur United in Kent, WA
Department of Bioregion has productive meeting with California National Party
The Cascadia Department of Bioregion had a very pleasant meeting with representatives of the California National Party. It was great to be able to make introductions, share a bit about each others past histories and movement histories, and talk about pitfalls and strategies for success. It was interesting also to hear of their challenges with fallout regarding Russia and the various different groups working actively for an independent California, and how they are working together as a movement to overcome these hurtles.
2019 Cascadia Convergence: Event Recap
The 2019 Cascadia Convergence took place July 5-7th at the North River Reserve in Brooklyn Washington, and was a wonderful time for Cascadians to come together to connect, share and learn. This year saw vendors from around the region, a 30 foot yurt being raised as a future classroom, and discussions by Free Cascadia, Your Cascadia, the Department of Bioregion, Olympia Ecotopians, and Seattle CascadiaNow on creating a centralized backbone for coordinating ideas, resources and events. The Department of Bioregion also provided the Cascadia Bus to help get everything down there.
Seattle Sounders reveal massive Cascadia Rainbow TIFO Display for Pride Month against Vancouver Whitecaps
Introducing Cascadia Karen - Using her powers for Good!
Meet Cascadia Karen! Cascadia Karen is a work-a-day superhero. Between the school run, organic gardening, yoga and Bunco, she makes time to protect the Cascadian way of life. She realized that with great power comes great responsibility, so she is here to shine a light on how local businesses and citizens can live up to Cascadian values. Don’t worry, as a women of a certain age, she’s not afraid to talk to the Man-ager.
