Note: the folks who put this press release together say it the best, so I’m running it as I received it…Kate Poss
A team of Whidbey Island residents is playing a key role in organizing a landmark global event this July in Ireland, bringing together Indigenous leaders, artists, and peacekeepers from around the world. The event, Kindred Spirits Ireland 2025 (KSI 2025), runs July 10–20 and honors the deep-rooted connection between the Irish and Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (North America)—a bond that began with the Choctaw Nation’s gift to Ireland during the Great Hunger of 1847.
Inspired by this historic act of solidarity, KSI 2025 will gather over 30 Indigenous wisdom keepers and cultural leaders for 11 days of ceremonies, storytelling, music, and cultural exchange, culminating in a three-day World Peace Gathering at Dripsey Castle in County Cork.
Whidbey Island artist Melissa Koch and her partner Jamen Shively are among the core team leading the initiative, and are co-founders of Kindred Spirits. “This is a love story between three islands—Whidbey Island, Turtle Island, and the Island First Nation of Ireland,” says Koch. “We’re uniting to uplift Indigenous wisdom and foster planetary peace, healing, and collaboration.” Please visit Melissa Koch’s website to learn more about her perspective and support for healing our Earth and its people.
The event begins on July 10 with a Full Moon Eighth Fire Ceremony at the Kindred Spirits Sculpture in Midleton, County Cork—erected in 2017 to commemorate the Choctaw’s aid to Ireland. The final three days (July 18–20) feature the World Peace Gathering, with leaders from the Council of the Condor, Eagle, Quetzal, and Hummingbird, and Indigenous communities as far afield as Friesland and the South Pacific.
Chief Phil Lane Jr., a Hereditary Chief from White Rock, Canada, will lead ceremonies and gatherings throughout the event. “This Peace Gathering is both sacred and historic,” he said. “It’s a call to action rooted in unity, Indigenous wisdom, and a shared commitment to Mother Earth.”
Participants will sign a Planetary Peace Treaty and explore topics ranging from cultural preservation to climate healing and intergenerational leadership. Irish artists and storytellers will also contribute to the celebration.
For those who cannot attend in person, all events will be live streamed globally via OneWorld.Earth, with interactive Zoom sessions hosted by Whidbey Island volunteers, with gratitude to Jon and Sommer Ramer of the Whidbey Island based SINE Network.
The event is the latest chapter in a growing movement led by Kindred Spirits Ireland, co-founded by Cork-based visionaries artist James Desmond, and his daughter, Stephanie Desmond, who has a background in film and TV production. It is also led by Koch, Shively, and environmentalist Marco Elstermann from Michigan. It follows earlier gatherings, including the inaugural KSI celebration and conference in 2022. It is also supported by local Whidbey community members, such as Kristi O’Donnell, “born with a crayon in one hand, and a green thumb on the other.” Art for Kristi is a vehicle to transmit joy, visualize peace, and send love. She is also a well-known musician and horticulturalist. More info. at Kristi’s webpage.
“Our aim is to build bridges between cultures, honor Indigenous wisdom, and invite all people to take part in shaping a peaceful future,” says Shively. “We believe this is not only possible—it’s urgent.”
To learn more, donate, or join the livestream on Zoom, visit this Kindred spirits webpage.
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I met Kristi, Melissa and Jamen at the South Whidbey Commons July 2nd. Kristi and Melissa host pop up art gatherings to promote the event. They and others make creative coasters that announce the upcoming World Peace Gathering. Their positive energy is catching.
“We’re here to spread the word and raise consciousness,” said Kristi. “This is top flight. I was thinking when we have a cup and we keep adding water or coffee, and the energy is growing when it reaches the top, and one drop overflows in joy. There’s no stopping it. All of a sudden there is a certain amount of energy connected, and bing! the lightbulb goes on.”
“Look at the light we’re generating here,” said Melissa, regarding the good juju in abundance at our meeting. “It’s contagious.”
A description of the upcoming event notes that “Kindred Spirits Ireland is designed to unite communities, cultures and nations in a spirit of peace, healing and collective stewardship of our planet.” The World Peace Gathering at the medieval castle northwest of Cork hosts 500 attendees and will be live streamed.
Jamen Shively, a past Microsoft executive and co-founder of Kindred Spirits, said we’re in the times of realizing “collective human intelligence is a vast uncapped potential, which, combined with indigenous wisdom, will help guide us toward living more holistically and harmoniously, both with each other, and with planet Earth and all species.”
With more than 20 key delegates from diverse countries such as Russia, Netherlands, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Greenland, Bolivia, Indonesia and the United States, as well as Irish speakers, artists, singers, storytellers and poets, the event is dedicated to world peace and environmental healing. Kindred Spirits Ireland was founded in 2022.
To learn more, visit the link at Kindred Spirits Ireland 2025.