Two Keynote Speakers:
Nicole Telkes
&
Bibianna Ancheta
Nicole Telkes, RH (AHG)
Nicole’s Keynote: Herbalism as Resistance: Protecting Plants, People, and Culture
While the Green Path is often painted as a dreamy escape into simplicity, the reality is a far bumpier journey. In this calling, "success" is measured by something much deeper than profit. This keynote is an invitation to move beyond the role of the Herbal Entrepreneur and become a successful Herbal Guardian —one who resists by protecting the Earth, uplifting marginalized voices, and preserving fading cultural wisdom.
Join me as we honor the Elders who sacrificed to keep these wild ways open and learn how to reframe our work for a more localized, resilient future. Standing on the shoulders of those who came before, we will explore how herbalism serves as a beacon of reality and humanity in an increasingly illusionary, "plugged-in" world. It is a journey fueled by the gentle strength of our green allies and a fierce, joyful devotion to our communities.
Bio: Nicole is an award-winning clinical herbalist, author, and educator with extensive experience in botanical medicine, plant conservation, and community health efforts. With a strong foundation in botanical studies and grassroots activism, she has been instrumental in the creation of direct action and disaster response herbal first-aid clinics and promoting sustainability and plant conservation in practice.
Nicole is the author of Medicinal Plants of Texas and Herbcraft: The Complete Guide to 21st Century Holistic Western Herbalism.
She created and maintains a United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary and Apiary, and currently oversees the gardens at Bastyr University. In addition, she sits on the Board of Directors for the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.
As the founder and lead instructor of the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine, established in 2003, Nicole has trained countless students in the art and science of herbalism. She is also widely recognized for her leadership in the Fire Cider movement, known as one of the “Fire Cider 3,” advocating for the protection of traditional herbal formulas.
Bibianna Ancheta, LMP
Born in Washington and raised on the Tulalip Tribes Reservation, located just north of Seattle, she was highly influenced by the cultural values and traditional teachings of her tribal Coast Salish people; commitment to community and family are placed in a foundational position amongst her values. Currently a 2026 graduate with her Bachelor’s of Herbal Science at Bastyr University, she has educational aspirations to pursue the Naturopathic Doctoral program at Bastyr University. Her true commitment to her community and family, she plans to return to her people and provide a safe and nurturing Traditional Medicines Program with intentions to invite her people to bring their traditional knowledge and teachings for preservation and conservation. At Northwest Indian College, she earned her Associate of Arts in Native American Studies and her Washington State Massage Therapy License at Spectrum Center School of Massage in 2010. She holds high hopes to teach future generations the crucial natural medicinal knowledge.
Looking many generations in the future and acknowledging the countless generations of the past, future research on traditional medicines could provide important protection and encouragement of conservation for this vital knowledge of the Coast Salish People. Her pursuit to protect traditional medicine knowledge is held closely to her heart and her work. She dreams of creating a safety network of vital Tribal Elders and allies to establish a coalition of cultural individuals working to preserve and protect medicine knowledge and techniques for processing and harvesting. Proper harvesting techniques and protocols are one of her many passions when focusing on traditional medicines and the protections that could preserve wild crops for future seven generations, including what information is shared with outsiders and why it is protected. Sharing stories of her experience with the powers of plants have provided opportunities to share the reverence she has for her plant relatives.