Dakota artist Gwen Nell Westerman's roots are deep in the tallgrass prairie and reveal themselves in her art and writing. She values the place names in the landscape that connect us to the language, history, and culture of the peoples who have lived there. She will share her work and how the power of poetry and song help tell our stories and connect us to the land.

"Hogan brings her feeling for language and story to these quietly beautiful and provocative musings on the nature of nature" (Booklist).

This presentation will offer a historical perspective on how 19th century businessmen extracted labor, debt, and land from the Ho-Chunk and Dakota nations to obtain the start-up capital for real estate, steamboat, and railroad companies in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Every one of us has a unique, still-unfolding pandemic story. As we emerge from last year’s ways of being and enter new ones, let us help one another listen to our inner wisdom.

Our living creation story reveals the deep-time values of differentiation, interiority and communion. These universal dynamics provide a comprehensive context from which to reflect on our tradition’s evolving religious consciousness and teachings. In this light we will reflect on Pope Francis’ teachings, Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home and Fratelli Tutti – On Fraternity and Social Friendship.
(image of Pope Francis illustrated by Greg Joens)

This 2-hour interactive workshop traces the historic and ongoing impacts of the Doctrine of Discovery, the 15th century legal justification for European subjugation  of the land and peoples of this continent. The goal of the exercise, which is a response to a call from Indigenous leaders of the UN and World Council of Churches, is to increase awareness of these impacts, recognize them in ourselves and our institutions, and explore how we might begin to take actions toward right relationship with Indigenous peoples.

Emotions, both "positive" and "negative" are part and parcel of being human. Yet we often find ourselves struggling with or against certain "negative" emotions, for example: anger, jealousy, sadness, depression, etc. Nonetheless, these "negative" emotions carry important messages for us.

September 25th is the twenty-fifth anniversary of Henri Nouwen's death. In honor of Henri's contribution to the spiritual life we offer this reflection on icons. Henri developed an eye for icons and invites us to "re-see" them too. Icons can bring us into the inner room or prayer and closer to the heart of God.

This tour will take us on guided visits to Indigenous sacred sites at Effigy Mounds National Monument (Harpers Ferry, IA) and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Space is limited for this trip.

Coddiwomple means to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination. So often our journey becomes weighed down with the seriousness of a desired and/or expected destination or outcome. In this retreat, we will approach our spiritual deepening with no idea what to expect.

We will explore the four types of claries - clairvoyance (pictures), clairaudience (hearing), clairsentience (feelings), and claircognizance (knowing) - trying to discover one that resonates with you to help you better connect with the Divine power and bring awareness to where you are spiritually.

Begun in Japan and now spreading globally, Forest Bathing is a practice that combines a slow walk in a natural area with a clearly defined sequence of guided events that provide structure to the experience.  An opening guided meditation helps participants to enter into an embodied state in which they engage with nature through the senses rather than the intellect. 

Sarah Barnes, artist and owner of Create It Art Studio in Dubuque, Iowa will guide you step-by-step in how to paint on canvas. All supplies will be provided. Bring along your friends for an enjoyable and creative evening out! 

Coddiwomple means to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination. So often our journey becomes weighed down with the seriousness of a desired and/or expected destination or outcome. In this retreat, we will approach our spiritual deepening with no idea what to expect. Just asking the question and waiting patiently and remaining open to what will be offered.

"Curtice is a brave truth-teller and a prophetic voice we need to be listening to, and Native is a book that will guide us toward a better future" (Richard Rohr).