International Conference on Matriarchy, May 12-15

Registration is now open for an international conference on matriarchal cultures, both ancient and contemporary, in St. Gallen, Switzerland, May 12-15. Sponsored by the International Academy Hagia, with the theme, "The Time is Ripe," the conference will focus on insights from matriarchal studies and perspectives on matriarchal politics. It will also mark the grand opening of the MatriArchiv and the 70th birthday of Academy Hagia founder Heidi Goettner-Abendroth.

(NOTE: Many English-speaking Goddess scholars don't use the term "matriarchy" because they feel it erroneously implies that the cultures referred to are exact reversals of patriarchy whereas anthropology and archeology reveal that the "mothers" don't "rule" but rather share power in these gender-equitable cultures that emphasize peaceful rather than violent resolution of conflict. Other terms for these societies have been proposed, for example by Riane Eisler in The Chalice and the Blade, and by Max Dashu. Academy Hagia, however, prefers to reclaim the term "matriarchy" to refer to these egalitarian cultures.)

Conferences speakers announced thus far are from at least 10 nations and include: Barbara Mann (Seneca Iroquois, USA), Marina Meneses (Juchitan, Mexico), Letecia Layson (Philippines), Bernedette Muthien (South Africa), Irene Mariam Tazi-Preve (Austria), Marguerite Rigoglioso (USA), Veronika Bennholdt Thompsen (Germany), Genevieve Vaughn (Italy/USA), Heide Goettner-Abendroth (Germany), Claudia von Werlhof (Austria) Ina Praetorius (Switzerland), Christa Mueller (Germany), Katie Hoffner (USA), Angela Cuevas de Dolmetch (Colombia), Siegran Laurent (Germany), Kathy Jones (Great Britian), Lara Mallian (Germany), Johannes Heimrath (Germany), Lydia Ruyle (USA), and Lin Daniels (USA).

The conference with end with a procession through St. Gallen led by Cecile Keller (Switzerland).