The Buffalo Treaty

St. Louis - 2024 Event Series on Contemporary Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Sustainability 

Humans, Nature and the Buffalo Treaty

A dialogue with Leroy Little Bear, Roxann Smith, and Chance Weston 

Hosted by the Native American Studies Program, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 

Date: October 11th, 2024 
Time: 12:30-2:30 pm CDT 
Location: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Center for Spirituality & Sustainability the Fuller Dome
Cost: Free of charge; All attendees must register online and check in at the registration table. There is a 50 person limit.

Register for the Event

View the Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability Event Series and register for other events.

For more information, contact Prof. Greg Fields, gfields@siue.edu, 618.650-2461.

Itinerary

• Noon:  Doors Open 

• 12:30 pm: Welcome by Julie Zimmermann, Professor and Chair of Anthropology, SIUE 

• 12:35 pm: Introduction of presenters by Dr. Ed Spevak, Saint Louis Zoo 

• 12:45 pm: Presentations and dialogue with specialists on bison and the Bison Treaty: 

  • Leroy Little Bear, JD (Kainai Nation, Blackfoot Confederacy) Alberta

  • Roxann Smith, M.Ed. (Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian

  • Reservation) MT 

  • Chance Weston (Oglala Lakota) Porcupine, SD 

• 1:15 pm: Dialogue 

• 2:00 pm: Dialogue concludes  

• 2:00 pm: Refreshments  

• 2:30 pm: Event concludes

70th Anniversary of the Geodesic Dome Patent

On June 29th, 1954, Buckminster Fuller was awarded with the United States patent for the Geodesic Dome. 70 years later, on the weekend of June 29th, 2024, the Fuller Dome, Center for Spirituality and Sustainability, on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardarsville, will be hosting a series of three special events to commemorate the occasion. All the events will be held in the miniature earth geodesic dome that Bucky built with his partner Shoji Sadao in 1971 for the SIUE campus. The dome was historically known as the “Religious Center” and today as the Fuller Dome, Center for Spirituality and Sustainability it is working to “promote humanity’s sacred connection to the earth and each other.”

“The World of Buckminster Fuller” • film screening • 6/28/24

On Friday, June 28th, at 7:00 PM, we will screen “The World of Buckminster Fuller” a film by Academy Award winner Robert Snyder. Robert Snyder married Bucky’s daughter Allegra Fuller Snyder and their son, Bucky’s grandson, Jaime Snyder will zoom into the Fuller Dome at SIUE for the event to introduce the film and share his personal impressions on this film that is so integral to his family’s legacy.

This film by Oscar-winning filmmaker Robert Snyder, like his other documentaries on “the greats” (Michelangelo, Henry Miller, Willem De Kooning, Pablo Casals, among others), transports the viewer into Fuller’s mind and soul. Told entirely in his own words, the film is an intimate, personal and inspiring message from Fuller to our fragile world.

“The Future Happens Under a Dome” • dome lecture • 6/29/24

On Saturday, June 29th, at noon, the Fuller Dome’s Director Benjamin Lowder will take attendees on a deep dive into the history and geometry of geodesic domes. This picture and illustration filled presentation will convey the utility and wonder of this architectural marvel that so efficiently reflects the patterns of natural growth within its structure.

A Geoview Sound Bath: Go In To Go Out • sound bath • 6/30/24

On Sunday, June 30th, at 6:00 PM, Los Angeles based Ceremoni Sounds invites you to explore the unique acoustic properties of The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability’s Fuller Dome for an immersive and transformative sound bath experience. Aligning with Fuller's holistic worldview, this event integrates the principles of whole health and sound healing practices. 

As Fuller described, "One goes inside to go outside oneself and into the center of the Earth and thence outward to the stars in seconds. The Edwardsville Center becomes at once a cathedral of universal reality and a cathedral of universal mystery." Join us for this remarkable event and embark on a journey of inner and outer exploration!

For more information, contact us at (618) 650-3246 • fullerdome@outlook.com

Allegra Fuller Snyder, at the Fuller Dome Gallery Inauguration

Buckminster Fuller’s daughter, Allegra Fuller Snyder attended the Inaugural Reception of the new Fuller Dome Gallery. This new exhibition space was made possible by a grant from the Meridian Society. It is located inside of the Fuller Dome on the SIUE campus. This inaugural exhibition created an opportunity to exhibit the Buckminster Fuller print portfolio, “Inventions, Twelve Around One.” Allegra had donated this portfolio of her father’s artwork to the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability in December of 2017 as way to recognize the good work being done by the Center to continue Bucky’s legacy.

Allegra Fuller Snyder and Benjamin Lowder

Ribbon cutting of the Fuller Dome Gallery Inauguration 11/9/18

The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability Board and staff members

The evening of the Fuller Dome Gallery Inauguration 11/9/18

Artist Kool Koor and Allegra Fuller Snyder

Allegra Fuller Snyder at the Fuller Dome Gallery

(L-R) Jasmine Aber, CEL Director, Allegra Fuller Snyder, Jason Deem and Bucky’s granddaughter Alexandra May

The evening of the Fuller Dome Gallery Inauguration 11/9/18

Going forward, the Fuller Dome Gallery will share exhibitions curated from the SIUE University Museum Collection that align with the Center’s mission to “promote humanity’s sacred connection to the earth and each other.”

Celebration of World Faiths 2018

“Religious Freedom in America: Building Bridges of Trust.”

Please join us at the Center for Spirituality & Sustainability in Edwardsville on October 20, 2018 at 7:00 for our 2018 Annual Celebration of World Faiths. This year’s program is a presentation on “Religious Freedom in America: Building Bridges of Trust.” It will begin with an animated video that explains in clear terms the origins of the separation of church and state doctrine and its importance to all faith traditions within the context of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. 

The presenter will be Dr. Jaymeson Stroud, M.D., who is the president of the O’Fallon Illinois Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. He will share stories of religious persecution that LDS Church members experienced in Illinois and Missouri in the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries to demonstrate the importance of religious freedom as intended by the founders of our country. Questions from the audience will be entertained as Dr. Stroud finishes his presentation. Refreshments and opportunity for fellowship will be provided after the program. 

The event is free and open to the public

"Women's Voices" tour the Dome

The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability was proud to host a terrific group from St Louis, Women's Voices Raised for Social Justice. The Fuller Dome's creative consultant, Benjamin Lowder, shared the dome's history, the legacy of Buckminster Fuller and the social justice implications of resource consumption as it relates to architecture. The Women’s Voices’ mission is:

• To identify, research and discuss critical issues
• To mobilize, energize and inspire ourselves and others to action
• To work as individuals and in community for social justice

Women’s Voices achieves their mission through education and advocacy. Their program committee selects a variety of knowledgeable speakers to provide  information on a variety of social justice issues.   Programs are held on the second Thursday of each month, September through May, at 7 p.m. at The Heights (Maplewood-Richmond Heights Community Center), 8001 Dale Avenue, Richmond Heights 63117.  Programs are open to the public, free of charge, and guests are welcome.