GROUNDED IN FREEDOM

Grounded in Freedom is a three-day gathering, with community and connection at the heart of our celebration. This event will take place from July 11 to 13 at Ayeko Farm in Enumclaw, WA, and will feature a series of workshops that explore the principles of land stewardship, the movements of capoeira, samba, bhangra, and the communal joy of sharing meals made with fresh ingredients from local farms.

This is a very special year - our 5th annual!

Our workshops are designed not just to share knowledge but are hands-on experiences that encourage participation, learning, and the exchange of ideas. They aim to inspire us to deepen our connections to ourselves and each other, the land, and our cultural practices. We are honored to have the presence of master teaching artists who come to share their skills, insights and joy with us as we explore the connections between the land and the cultural arts as tools of liberation, nourishment, and healing.

The theme this year is “Vamos Aquilombar,” which roughly translates to “Let’s get liberated.” Quilombos, also known as Maroons in the US, are free societies built by Africans who escaped enslavement, along with Native Brazilians and Europeans looking for a life outside of colonialism. Key elements of Quilombos are self-governance, collectivism, having access to land, growing your food, martial arts, spiritual practice, and music. We are dedicating this Grounded in Freedom to learn and share the Quilombo way of fighting for freedom and communal survival.

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Learn more about the legacy of Quilombos

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SCHEDULE

Friday 7/11

3:00 PM – Check-in Opens
5:00 PM – Opening Roda
7:30 PM – Dinner

Saturday 7/12

8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Morning Circle
9:30 AM – All-Hands-on Land Stewardship
12:00 PM – Lunch
12:30 PM – Panel & Small Group Discussions
3:00 PM – Cultural Arts Session 1: Capoeira, Samba, Bhangra
4:30 PM – Cultural Arts Session 2: Capoeira, Samba, Bhangra
6:30 PM – Dinner & Party

Sunday 7/13

8:00 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Workshops – Herbalism, Fermentation, Qi Gong
11:30 AM – Closing Roda
1:30 PM – Lunch, Clean-up, Farewells

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WORKSHOP INFORMATION

Navigating Co-Regulation and Transparency in the Roda with Contra Mestre Tagan

When in the roda with your camarada, we have an opportunity to learn. Often lessons are missed out on account of not being able to be fully present with your camarada. We are going to explore playing without having an agenda or "skin in the game". Being transparent instead of concealing, orients us into a new way of presence in the roda. Through listening and observing we will learn how to play in the center of the roda. We will explore how we can co-regulate our nervous systems to play a beautiful game together.

Qi Gong with Contra Mestre Tagan

Qi Gong is an ancient internal martial art and the origin of all eastern martial arts. The goal of the practice is to align movement with breath in order to connect with our center. Through movements and breath work, we gain a new understanding and develop awareness with our inner world which transforms and amplifies our peace and power in the outer world. This workshop will be an introduction to the basic movements and breathing exercises.

Bhangra with Guru

Bhangra is a lively and energetic folk dance that originated in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Traditionally performed during harvest festivals, it's characterized by powerful, rhythmic movements, vibrant costumes, and the infectious beats of the dhol drum. Over time, it has evolved into a popular dance style at celebrations and on global stages, symbolizing joy and cultural pride. Participants will learn a set of steps accompanied with music. The steps will progress from simple to more advanced level. By the end, students will know a short choreography, or more if time and energy allows!

Landstewardship with Melissa Meyer

Melissa will kick off our community land stewardship session by sharing a little bit about herself and her journey in land stewardship. She will co-lead the session with Victor (Ayeko Farm's main land steward), providing her guidance and insights throughout the work session. Finally, she will be on the panel on Saturday afternoon to share more about her work with Rose Island Farm and her insights on the connections between cultural arts, community, and caring for land.

An Introduction to Fermentation Workshop with Carey Thornton

Join us in the kitchen for an exploration of fermented foods and our cultural connections to them. Fermentation is a traditional method of food preservation that uses microorganisms to transform fresh ingredients into funky and flavorful nutritional powerhouses. We'll discuss the benefits of making and eating fermented foods, as well as the science behind all those bubbles and blobs. Then we'll get our hands messy as we chop and squish cabbage to make sauerkraut together. By the end you'll have a jar of kraut to practice fermenting at home.

Herbalism Workshop with Gerard Miller

This hands-on workshop is designed to help folks get familiar with some of the herbs that grow abundantly in our area, and learn to use them sustainably for healing. We will meet a few plants, learn their traits and how to identify them in the wild, and work together to blend some herbal formulas to address common summertime issues.

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TICKET INFORMATION

Early Registration (April 18 - June 15)

Early Registration, Adult, Full Weekend = $175.00
Early Registration, Child (5-17), Full Weekend = $75.00
Early Registration, Adult, Saturday only = $75.00
Early Registation, child (5-17), Saturday only = $35.00

Late Registration (June 16 - July 11)

Early Registration, Adult, Full Weekend = $250.00
Early Registration, Child (5-17), Full Weekend = $125.00
Early Registration, Adult, Saturday only = $100.00
Early Registation, child (5-17), Saturday only = $50.00

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DETAILS

Location

Ayeko Farm 41633 236th Ave SE

Dates

July 11 to 13

Frequently asked questions

Are children welcome? Yes please!
Are pets welcome? Dogs on leash are welcome. Please clean up after your companion.
Where do we park? Follow the drive way down as it curves to the left, look out for folks to direct you.
Can I just come for one day? Yes, both full weekend or Saturday-only registrations are available.
Where will we sleep? We will be camping. Bring your own gear or let us know by June 15 if you need to borrow gear
What if I have never done Capoeira or the other arts before? No problem! The instructors are prepared for learners of all levels.
What if I want to attend but cannot pay the full fee? Please talk to us! You can email us at ayekofarm@gmail.com. We aim to make this event accessible and do not want to turn anyone away. See below for the work trade options as well
What are the work trade options? Work trade is an option. We are making 8 work trade positions available this year. You can purchase a work trade ticket for $15. Roles include kitchen and site prep. Contact us at ayekofarm@gmail.com for more details
Can I just drop in? Do I have to pre-register? We are asking for folks to register ahead if possible so we can plan. Registration fees go up after June 15. We have noticed that when we dont't have a solid count, we could end up wasting food. That is our biggest concern. But, we won't turn you away!

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TEACHING ARTIST

Contramestre Taganyahu Swaby

Contramestre Taganyahu Swaby (Gaza) is known for his magnetic vibrant energy and emphasis on Capoeira Angola as a liberatory art form and holistic healing practice. His innovative approach to teaching and his commitment to the art's cultural roots have inspired many. Tagan's work extends beyond the practice itself, emphasizing Capoeira Angola as a tool for social change and community development.

Taganyahu is an acupuncturist and bodyworker. A 16 year practitioner of the internal art of Qi Gong. He has practiced Capoeira Angola for 25 years. Originally from Jamaica, Tagan first began training in Capoeira Angola in Bahia, Brazil in 2000. He has trained extensively with his Mestres, Mestre João Grande, Mestre Boca do Rio, and Mestre Alberto "Chorão" Nunes.

In 2010, Tagan founded the Brooklyn branch of Quilombo do Acupe (formerly Angoleiros do Brooklyn). In 2018, he went on to receive the title of Professor from his Mestre, Mestre Chorão. He has created, directed, and participated in presentations for the Brooklyn Museum, BAM Dance Africa, and the International African Street Festival in Brooklyn. He has stewarded the first Saturday monthly outdoor roda at the Brooklyn Museum for the last 20 years. Originally trained as a visual artist, Tagan explores and celebrates Capoeira Angola in his award-winning films, Se Safando and Flavio, and through printmaking. He currently practices at Yaad Wellness and leads classes at Quilombo do Acupe’s GCAA's chapter in upstate New York group.

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Gurvinder

Gurvinder (aka Guru) is a local techy with a decade long history of acting, dancing and teaching in the Puget Sound Area. Guru is the President for local arts non-profit, Pratidhwani. Born a Sikh, Guru shares the most valued heritage of Punjabi culture through Bhangra Dance! Guru is thrilled to partake in this jubilant dance form with you, which he describes as 'Zumba on Steroids’

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Melissa Meyer

Melissa Meyer is a compassionate, Tsimshian First Nation Healing and Wellness Coach centered around trauma care, community care and resiliency. Melissa is also Traditional Plant Practitioner in Washington. She currently serves at Nisqually Traditional Medicine providing plant healing care and most recently ear Acu detox to the relatives there. Melissa also stewards a one acre sharing and teaching farm in Tacoma, on Puyallup territory called Rose Island Farm, named after her home village, Lax kw’alaams. Many families come to help us learn, grow and practice our indigenous food ways on the land.

Ear AcuDetox is a healing protocol that came from the Black Panthers in the 1970’s. Their kin were downstream from terrible racial oppression and suffering, so they researched with Acupuncturists in Canada and China to provide this healing modality to their community. 5 Point Ear AcuDetox accesses the Vagus Nerve via the ear and

helps to regulate the nervous system and detox stress and excess adrenaline from living in a prolonged fight or flight state. This modality has been successful at supporting folks with PTSD, addictions, digestion issues, sleep support as well as tension release. The protocol takes 30 minutes of uninterrupted focused care. For more information, please see The National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) or the documentary on the healing origins “Dope is Death” on Utube.

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‍Carey Thornton

Carey grew up in a family where abundant plates of food were central to every gathering and so developed a strong love for growing, cooking, and sharing food with others. She's been gardening and teaching classes with Tilth Alliance for fifteen years, with expertise in community gardening, food preservation, and ecological design. Previous to her work at Tilth Alliance, she taught gardening and nutrition in elementary schools and cooked in restaurants around Seattle. As a self-proclaimed garden nerd, she loves to talk about wild and perennial food plants, making herbal medicine, and experimenting with microorganisms through fermentation and composting.

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Gerard Miller

Gerard Miller is a Black, non-binary, queer community educator & aspiring Ancestor. They are a child of Baltimore with deep roots in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and northern North Carolina, on a journey to reclaim their legacy as a Sacred Other. Central to Gerard’s vision is amplifying the voices and experiences of the most marginalized folx in society, reflecting their own Afro-Indigenous heritage as well as their queer identity. Working with plant medicine, birthwork, movement, and storykeeping/-telling; they hope to integrate the parts of the 7-pointed star: the World Above, the World Beneath, the World Around Us, and the World Within.

MEMBERSHIP

This event is not included in memberships.

GROUNDED IN FREEDOM