Seventh Generation Fund For Indian Development
Sovereignty
Celebrating 33 Years of Keeping the Homefires Burning (1977-2010)
Newsletter No. 2 May 2010
To recover and sustain a traditional relationship to land, community and spirit.
KEEPING THE HOMEFIRES BURNING Vision-Action-Future
This year marked the 10th successful Keeping the Homefires Burning gathering! On January 15-17th about 130 people came together from all different regions, converging on the Marin Headlands Center north of San Francisco in the traditional Coastal Miwok territory. From youth to adult, we all had a warm welcoming home! Old friends united and new friends connected as the Seventh Generation Fund family and friends came together to discuss current actions and future changes regarding the health and security of our communities. A morning prayer circle started each day. It was a time for us to share and give thanks to the Earth for allowing us to exist upon her and for us to show our humbleness for being in such a new and beautiful place along the ocean. The participants worked in collective groups and conducted visioning sessions where they discussed present and future issues concerning spiritual, mental and physical health of their communities. The participants reported back what they envisioned and strategized for positive changes for future generations.
The capacity building sessions touched some in a very emotional way, while others got fired up and were ready to write letters and take action. Overall, everyone walked away with a sense of enlightenment and encouragement. Plenary sessions proved to be very interesting and informative. Group evaluations indicated a strong interest in the “Mayan Cosmovision and Prophecy of 2012” and “Transcendental Meditation” sessions. Little ones were graciously occupied with art projects, supplied by Artists Resistance Movement for Dignity. Not only did the youth have fun, they also made works of art they can share with their families. “I appreciate being able to attend functions with Seventh Generation Fund, they help keep me stay grounded and focused.” The Seventh Generation Fund staff would like to say “Thank You” from the bottom of our hearts; youʼre the reason we work so hard. A special thank you goes out to all the foundations, supporters, and projects who made this yearʼs Keeping the Homefires Burning such a great success! Check out SGFʼs 2010 Keeping the Homefires Burning video at: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLei9VjYhqY [1]
By: Mary Campbell, Special Projects Associate
ARTS & CULTURAL EXPRESSION: Mexica New Year Seventh Generation Fund used its exhibit “Tochtli” space to host Arts Digital Arcata on Friday March By: Vico 12th. The art centered around the Mexica New Year. This is the year of the Rabbit or Tochtli; itʼs associated with the direction of the south; signifying fertility, energy, accomplishments, sensitivity, versatility and a belief that everything sacred results in experiences of self-transcendence. Eight Mexica artists showed 23 art pieces both 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional. A variety of art mediums such as oil, acrylic, cloth, bronze, and digital media made up the art pieces. Even with cold weather, 20 people came to view the Mexica art. One piece
of art was sold that night. Artists and the guests were also treated to an alter, prepared by Kalpulli Xalchiuhtlicue in honor of the celebration. The art showed in Seventh Generation Fundʼs gallery space for the duration of the month on exhibit and for sale to the public.
Art: Top “TLACUILO” Spray Paint, Acrylic on Paper By: Damian Campos Art: Left “Tlazolteotl” Oil on Canvas By: Junior
James Cameron Supports Indigenous Peoples Mr. Cameron answered questions following a special evening screening of Avatar, at the New York Directors Guild Theatre in Midtown Manhattan, to about 400 participants of UNPFII. Seventh Generation Fund got to meet with Cameron in a private setting hours before the events on April 24th. Cameron and his wife Suzy have been contacted by a number of interested persons regarding the film and they all want to know how they can help the Cameronʼs in their efforts. He said on the panel discussion, he wants “to become an advocate” and to use what media power he has to raise awareness. He has genuinely committed to illuminating these struggles worldwide. Seventh Generation Fund is looking forward to future talks and possible relationships.
Avatar Director, James Cameron with Chief Oren Lyons, SGF Board Member
Deneka Peniston Photography
On Saturday April 24th, Seventh Generation Fund in connection with Indigenous Environmental Network, Amazon Watch and Cultural Survival, sponsored a Media Panel, “Real Life ʻPandorasʼ on Earth: Indigenous Peoples Urgent Struggle For Survival,” with Avatar Director James Cameron. The discussion took place at the Paley Center for Media in Midtown Manhattan, NY. Other panelist included, Tonya Gonnella Frichner, co-chair of SGF and North American U.N Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Regional Representative; Karmen Ramirez Boscan, representing Wayu communities in Colombia; Oren Lyons, Fairthkeeper, Onondaga Nation and board member of the Seventh Generation Fund; George Poitras of the Mikisew Cree First Nation in Canada; and Moderator, Atossa Soltani, of Amazon Watch.
May 2010
SGF President, Christopher Peters, and James Cameron
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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & JUSTICE : UPDATE
7th Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum
Disturbing news has reached us in Indian Country. Uranium Mining in Navajo and Pueblo communities is okayed by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Navajo Nation placed a ban on uranium mining on their homelands. To make matters worse, the effects from the 1940ʼs Uranium Mining are still being felt by the young and old alike today. Surfaces sites are littered with dust and rock mining debris that emit more radiation than regulations allow. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is challenging the sovereignty of these nations and not factoring in the existing radiation from sites, itʼs only considering the radiation from the future activities. More infuriating is the fact that the ground water, which Native and Non-Native peoples need to survive, is being polluted. In an area of this Earth where water is rare, you might think a court would take polluted
water into consideration when making a final decision. What has the world come to? Now is the time for heavy prayer and positive energy, a doctoring of Mother Earth. Please keep our brothers and sisters of the Southwest in your prayers. Check out the SGF video on Uranium Mining in the Southwest http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GXpCr66Nw5I
Happy 80th Birthday! Chief Oren Lyons Photo: Jessica Sargent (Akwesasne Mohave)
9th Session UN Permanent Forum Almost 2,000 Indigenous Peoples from all regions of the world registered for the 9th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Seventh Generation Fund sponsored a 28-person delegation, including affiliates and projects from all over the Americas and one project from Africa.
16 other co-signatories. In addition, each Affiliate and Project carried statements forward for issues of the highest concern for their communities such as Violence Against Women and Children, Protection of Sacred Sites and Traditional Homelands, Food Sovereignty and Cultural Revitalization. All the years of hard work were successful; the 2011 UNPFII will include a half-day discussion devoted to Indigenous Peoples and the right to Water. A copy of the statement can be found on the SGF website. You can also find a full report of the 9th Session, including SGFʼs collective statement on the UNPFII website at www.un.org/ esa/socdev/unpfii/
SGF Delegation and Friends in front of UN
The special theme this year was Indigenous Issues: development with culture and identity; articles 3 and 32 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. For the past six years SGF has carried forth a collective statement with issues about the Protection of Water; and this year SGF did so with
May 2010
Mariana Francisco, Evie Reyes-Aguirre and Sandra Creamer, Co-Chairʼs for the Global Indigenous Womenʼs Caucus, convened at the American Indian Community House in NYC
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Leadership and Staff Board of Directors
Staff
Rosalie Little Thunder (Sicangu Lakota) Chairperson Tonya Gonnella Frichner (Onondaga) Vice-Chairperson Arthur Manuel (Secwepemc) Treasurer Ray Williams (Swinomish) Secretary Tupac Enrique-Acosta (Xicano-Nahuatl) Member Susana Geliga (Boricua/Lakota) Member Dr. Luis Macas (Saraguro) Member Dr. Henrietta Mann (Southern Cheyenne) Member Chief Oren Lyons (Onondaga) Board Member Christopher Peters (Pohlik-lah/Karuk) President & CEO
M. Mary Campbell (Hupa) Special Projects Associate Jessica Clayburn (Yurok/Tolowa) Secretary Jonathon Freeman (Choctaw/Chichimeca) Program Director Heather Freitas, Development Assistant Christopher “Mo” Hollis, Media Director Argelia Muñoz (Xicana) Program Associate Chisa Oros (Zuni/Pohlik-lah) Program Assistant Tia Oros Peters (Zuni) Executive Director Chris Ruano (Pipil) Program Assistant Alice Woodworth Full Charge Bookkeeper
Santa Fe Indian School Policy Academy
Dineʼ Agriculture
Maya Vision
Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development is a 501c3 Non-Profit. All Donations are Tax Deductible. www.7genfund.org
Sovereignty
Seventh Generation Fund for Indian Development PO Box 4569 Arcata, CA, 95518