Frequently Asked Questions

What is rewilding?

Rewilding is the process of creating autonomous, place-based, regenerative subsistence cultures. It is rooted in social and environmental justice: in order to shift our culture to a regenerative subsistence model, we must dismantle the social systems in place that prevent people from doing so. At its core, rewilding is about restoring the health and vitality of our minds, bodies, relationships, communities, and ecosystems.

A note on the word wild: Though it carries many connotations, wild comes from the word willed. The “wild” things were and are the willed things: things that exist outside of civilization’s domination. This is why the myths of civilization simultaneously demonize and romanticize the “wild”; civilization hates and fears what is out of its control, yet also desires and fetishizes them (think: wild stallion). It is this attempt to control that which cannot be controlled that leads to destruction of ecosystems, health, and human relationships. Rewilding is, therefore, an attempt to return to lifeways that work with the flows, the wills, and cycles of nature rather than waging an all-out war to control them.

I’m new to rewilding. Is this the right place for me?

Yes. This conference is a cross section of people into rewilding, from those just learning about it to those who have been doing it for years. Come down and make new friends. It’ll speed up your process!

You seem to be using the word rewilding in a way that I am unfamiliar with. What gives?

The term rewilding has been in popular use among many subcultures to mean various things for decades. It may be that our definition of rewilding differs from yours. That’s okay! One purpose of the conference is to bring our various understandings of rewilding together and to see where different subcultures overlap on this subject.

One huge difference that we (the hosts of this conference) have with “conservation rewilding” is that we do not believe humans are separate from nature nor do we wish to exclude humans from the wild. Conservation has focused on removing humans, believing that our presence is destructive. Rather, our focus is on learning and practicing the myriad of ways that place-based humans have lived in accord with their environments since time immemorial. We believe humans can be amazing tenders of the wild and wildness, and this is our starting place for the conversation around what rewilding means.

I can’t afford the ticket price. Is there another way to participate in the conference?

We do not have work/trade positions this year. If you are experiencing financial hardships and cannot afford the minimum, please reach out to us. We want everyone who feels passionate about attending to be able to attend the conference and are willing to work with you to find a way, from volunteer positions to scholarships. We prioritize our scholarships for people who are members of communities that are not currently well represented within the rewilding movement.

Do you accept day-of registrations?

If we still have space, we will accept day-of registrations.

Will the presentations be recorded and available to view at a later time?

Yes. We are using the online conference format Whova. All speakers will be recorded and available to watch later. The Open Space portion of the conference will not be recorded, but we will have a summary sheet for attendees to fill out during Open Space sessions so that others can read what each conversation was like.

How do I become a presenter at the Rewilding Conference?

The Rewilding Conference committee determines who will be a presenter. We do not currently accept submissions.

Where does the money from this event go?

This event is hosted by Rewild Portland, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are on a break-even budget. We do not have investors who make money from this event, nor do we have large corporate sponsors. Any money earned above our expenses is rare, and when it happens it goes back into our mission to create cultural and environmental resilience through the education of earth-based arts, traditions, and technologies. Click here to read more about our organization and our values.