Introduction to the Department of Bioregion

The Department of Bioregion was launched in 2019 by many organizers who have been active with bioregionalism an the Cascadia movement for many years. Inspired by groups and individuals like the Yes Men, as well as Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and others, we chose the State Department as a base for what we want to do (more than just a satirical jab), because, well, the state department does exactly everything that we want to do. We advance the interests of Bioregionalism and Cascadia. We train and manage diplomats, who promote this goal. We develop policies that reflect these issues, conduct original research and create resources. We issue passports and welcome new citizens.

Ultimately — institutions and symbols have an incredibly power. They have tradition, instutional knowledge and language — and by subverting these, and infusing it with bioregionalism and our own principles — we begin to shift the dominant discourses to our own, and show people alternative frameworks that begin real grassroots narrative building and change.

By adopting the Department of Bioregion, we wanted to challenge ourselves to envision what a Department of Bioregion would mean – what would it look like? By asking these questions – it is our hope to begin to shift thinking away from simply US, Canadian or other nationalities, and inspire people to begin to think locally, bioregionally and globally, as both a citizen of their watershed – and the world. We also do so with full acknowledgement that we live on ceded, and unceded lands of dozens of First Nations and Peoples, and do so with respect, and working for their sovereignty within the bioregion, using indigenous languages and Chinook wawa for place names wherever possible.

Our Mission is to make Cascadia a reality
&
Grow and connect with a network of interconnected bioregional movements around North America & the world.

Who We Are

Cascadian Diplomats are long term volunteers who make the Cascadia movement happen.

Aaron Carasco
Department of Education
Diplomat Page

Alex DeVeito
Special Projects
Diplomat Page

Alexander Baretich
Bioregional Designer
Diplomat Page

Brandon Letsinger
Sasquatch of Bioregion
Department of Bioregion
Public Relations
Diplomat Page

Chad Duskin
Department of Education
Diplomat Page

Christian Newton
Special Projects
Diplomat Page

Claire Bishop
Department of Education
Diplomat Page

Clàudia Esplugas Masvidal
Public Relations
Diplomat Page

David Thanos
Department of Indigenous Sovereignty
Diplomat Page

Hallie Roberts
Eugene Embassy Director
Department of Education
Diplomat Page

Jay T. Conrad
Public Relations
Diplomat Page

Joe Brewer
Bioregional Designer
Diplomat Page

Laura Lanning
Department of Bioregion
Diplomat Page

Lisa Bade
Public Relations
Diplomat Page

Matthew James
Diplomat at Large

Nicole Bade
Diplomat Page

Sue Letsinger
Special Projects
Diplomat Page

Trevor Owen
Senior Dean of Diplomacy
Department of Bioregion
Public Relations
Diplomat Page

Van Anderson
Department of Education
Diplomat Page

Wesley Irwin
Special Projects
Diplomat Page

Yogi Uriah
Chamber of Commerce
Diplomat Page