Ed McGaa, a decorated Marine fighter pilot, author of "Nature�s Way," and member of the Oglala Sioux nation, will speak at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Tuesday, February 28 as part of the GEM Critical Issues International Seminar Series.

McGaa, the fourth speaker in the series, will present "Native Wisdom for Living in Balance with the Earth," in the Laird Room of the Dreyfus University Center beginning at 7p.m. The seminar will be open to the public free of charge.

McGaa has studied under influential Sioux holy men Chief Eagle Feather and Chief Fool�s Crow. He also has been honored by the Sioux for having participated six times in the Sun Dance ceremony. McGaa served as a fighter pilot in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, flying 110 combat missions in F-4 Phantoms, receiving eight air medals and two Crosses of Gallantry, and was recommended for a Distinguished Flying Cross.

McGaa is the author of the seven books including "Red Cloud - Biography of an Indian Chief;" "Mother Earth Spirituality - Healing Ourselves and Our World;" "Rainbow Tribe - Ordinary People Journeying on the Red Road;" "Native Wisdom - Perceptions of the Natural Way;" "Eagle Vision - Return of the Hoop;" "Nature�s Way - Native Wisdom for Living in Balance with the Earth;" and most recently, "Crazy Horse and Chief Red Cloud - History of the Sioux and its Warriors."

The GEM Critical Issues series is hosted by the Global Environmental Management Education Center (GEM) with funding through grants from the UW System Institute for Race and Ethnicity, USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The 2005-2006 series theme is "Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Development," and the series features five renowned speakers from Native American and indigenous cultures overseas who discuss sustainability from the perspective of indigenous cultures� traditional knowledge, spirituality, community and health.

More information about the series and GEM is on the Web at www.uwsp.edu/cnr/GEM.

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cnr/vc/ GEM International Seminar Series-McGaa