The Seed Keeper with Diane Wilson

Join us for the grand finale of the Elizabeth River Project's Seek Keeper series, featuring a captivating lecture by Diane Wilson. This special event will unveil the region's first native seed library, emphasizing the vital connection between native plant restoration and Indigenous land sovereignty.

Diane Wilson, acclaimed author of The Seed Keeper, will share insights from her haunting novel that spans several generations of a Dakhóta family's struggle to preserve their way of life. Through her discussion, Diane will explore the resonances between her work and the pressing environmental justice and resilience challenges we face today.

The Seed Keeper follows Rosalie Iron Wing, who grows up learning about plants, stars, and her people's origins from her father, Ray. After Ray's disappearance, Rosalie is sent to live with a foster family, where she forms a transformative friendship with Gaby Makespeace. Years later, as a widow and mother, Rosalie returns to her childhood home, confronting her past and seeking a sense of belonging. Through her journey, she discovers the strength of her ancestors and the importance of protecting their traditions and seeds.

This event promises to be an enlightening and inspiring evening, highlighting the profound connections between storytelling, cultural heritage, and environmental stewardship. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with Diane Wilson and celebrate the launch of the native seed library.

Arrive early for an optional tour of the Ryan Resilience Lab at 5:00pm

All are welcome – Suggested minimum donation $10 per attendee to support a healthy Elizabeth River though not required in our commitment to providing equitable access to our river-related programming.

About Diane Wilson

Diane Wilson (Dakota) is a writer, educator, and environmental advocate, who has published four award-winning books as well as essays in numerous publications.

Wilson’s recent novel, The Seed Keeper (Milkweed Editions) was awarded the 2022 Minnesota Book Award for Fiction. Her memoir, Spirit Car: Journey to a Dakota Past (Borealis Books) won a 2006 Minnesota Book Award and was selected for the 2012 One Minneapolis One Read program. Her 2011 nonfiction book, Beloved Child: A Dakota Way of Life (Borealis Books) was awarded the 2012 Barbara Sudler Award from History Colorado. Wilson’s middle-grade biography, Ella Cara Deloria: Dakota Language Protector, was an Honor selection for the 2022 American Indian Youth Literature Award. She is a co-author of a 2022 picture book, Where We Come From.

Her most recent essays–which explore seed advocacy, food sovereignty, social justice, and cultural recovery–have been featured in acclaimed anthologies: Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations; We Are Meant to Rise: Voices for Justice from Minneapolis to the World; and A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota. 

Wilson is the former Executive Director for the Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance, a national coalition of tribes and organizations working to support food sovereignty, and Dream of Wild Health, a Native-led farm. Wilson is a Mdewakanton descendent, enrolled on the Rosebud Reservation. She lives near the St. Croix River in Minnesota, where she cares for an Indigenous seed garden, native perennials for pollinators, and a Tamarack bog.

Visit Diane's Virtual Bookshop

Part of The Ryan Resilience Series
Made Possible by Virginia Natural Gas