TUES JULY 7, 2026
12-1:30PM PT / 1-2:30PM MT / 2-3:30PM CT / 3-4:30PM ET

with Condoled Mohawk Clanmother “Mommabear” Louise Herne, Baratunde Thurston, and Reverend Sara Jolena Wolcott

Join us on Tuesday, July 7th as we apply a critical, historical lens to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, learn about the Indigenous roots of American democracy, and discuss the unfinished work of truth-telling, repair, and right relationship for the next 250 years.

We will be in conversation with Condoled Mohawk Clanmother “Mommabear” Louise Herne, How To Citizen host Baratunde Thurston, and Reverend Sara Jolena Wolcott, a theologian and descendent of one of the signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

In this webinar we will…

• Learn about how the Founding Fathers and the yet-to-be-realized ideals of the United States – liberty, justice, equality – were inspired by Haudenosaunee democratic tradition spanning over a 1000 years.
• Learn about the fundamental Indigenous principles and civic structures that were ignored or misunderstood in the formation of the Republic, and the foundational political philosophy that is still on offer from Haudenosaunee elders.
• Reflect on the current state of our democracy and what's needed as we enter a new era.
• Ground in what it might look like to de-center “Independence” and move towards becoming a society that honors our Interdependence.

In advance of this event, we invite you to consider these reflection questions and read this essay from LJF’s Sarah Bradley. While not required to participate, we hope these resources offer you important context and insights to think about in the weeks ahead.

Wakerakats:se “Mommabear” Louise Herne is the Condoled Bear Clan Mother of the Mohawk Nation Council within the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. A traditionalist leader and elder, she carries clan responsibilities within and outside the Longhouse, from advising her chiefs and faithkeepers to working with youth and families to overseeing traditional ceremony grounded in Haudenosaunee values. She also runs and hosts the Haudenosaunee Universe, a multigenerational center for learning, healing, and language.

Baratunde Thurston is an Emmy-nominated host, writer, and comedian weaving stories of interdependence across our relationships with nature, humans, and technology. Creator of the acclaimed “How To Citizen” podcast, best-selling author of How to Be Black, and former host of PBS’ America Outdoors Baratunde connects the dots between politics, climate, culture, and advocates for enacting “citizen as a verb” through active participation, responsibility and community building. He is honored to have been asked to write the foreword for the new book American Indigenous Democracy: A Call for Interdependence.

Rev. Sara Jolena Wolcott is a minister, theologian, and educator who centers decolonization work as essential to the spiritual development and innovation necessary in our times. She is a spiritual director, host of the ReMembering and ReEnchanting Podcast, and director of the eco-spiritual initiative Sequoia Samanvaya. A descendant of America's founding fathers, including one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Sara Jolena actively collaborates on decolonizing and healing initiatives with her Haudenosaunee friends, neighbors, and extended kin.