“Make No Bones About It.”

September 21, 2008 from 5pm - 6 pm.

On “Make No Bones about it.”

  ”The Misuse of  Native Sacred Images-Cultural appropriation.”

Please join us the panel Robert Guerrero ( Tlingitg/Blackfoot), local artist Erin Genia (Sisseton-Wahpeton) and myself Raven Redbone (Metis) for a discussion on Cultural appropriation.

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by a different cultural group. It denotes acculturation or assimilation, but often connotes a negative view towards acculturation from a minority culture by a dominant culture. It can include the introduction of forms of dress or personal adornment, music and art, religion, language, or social behavior. These elements, once removed from their indigenous cultural contexts, may take on meanings that are significantly divergent from, or merely less nuanced than, those they originally held. Or, they may be stripped of meaning altogether.

reference: wikapedia

The 4th Generation Tsimshian Dancers of Metlakatla,Alaska will be performing at TESC Longhouse Saturday September 13, 2008 at 2:00 PM Free and open to the public

The 4th Generation Tsimshian Dancers of Metlakatla, Alaska will be performing at The Evergreen State College Longhouseon Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 2:00 PM. Led by Glenn Guthrie, Jr, the 4th Generation Tsimshian Dancers are always a favorite of audiences who attend the biennial Sealaska HeritageInstitute’s Celebration. They have also performed at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.The 4th Generation Tsimshian Dancers will bring 20 of its dancers to WesternWashington. The performance at th Longhouse is free and open to the public. For more information please call the Longhouse at (360) 867-6718

The Misuse of  Native Sacred Images- Cultural appropriation.”

Discussion with , Robert Guerrero -Poet Warrior,local artist Erin Genia and myself Raven Redbone.

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by a different cultural group. It denotes acculturation or assimilation, but often connotes a negative view towards acculturation from a minority culture by a dominant culture.

It can include the introduction of forms of dress or personal adornment, music and art, religion, language, or social behavior. These elements, once removed from their indigenous cultural contexts, may take on meanings that are significantly divergent from, or merely less nuanced than, those they originally held. Or, they may be stripped of meaning altogether.

All eyes are on the Puget Sound Partnership, the new state agency viewed by many as the last chance for saving Puget Sound. (SALISH SEA)

Will be talking about the importance of the Salish Sea, how we can help clean it up an what the tribes have been doing to help this process. Steve Robinson, a policy analyst for Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission in Olympia, will either be in the studio or call in to join the discussion. Also sharing songs from the First Peoples and some dialog Chal.Si.Nam.Men.

ONLY ON KAOS

Stay tuned! More to come on Make No Bones about it!

To Our Friends of All Races, Creeds and Vocations:

Seven years ago, tragedy struck America, and all the freedom-loving people of the world. This year, the First Nations of the Northwest invite you to join in memorializing that historic event in a way that conveys peace among all people, and a collaborative commitment to improved stewardship and respect for our Mother Earth.

We invite you to attend the special Salmon Homecoming Forum and Reception AND the cultural ceremonies to be held Thursday, September 11, through Sunday, September 14 at The Seattle Aquarium and Waterfront Park on the Seattle waterfront.

Our theme this year is “The drum beats for everyone,” which reflects the great importance of uniting all communities in the effort to protect and restore natural habitat in the Pacific Northwest. For thousands of years, tribes have passed along legacies of stewardship and principles of natural resource management that have not been factored into urban sprawl, pollution of land and waters or exploitation of natural resources.

It is time for all people to listen to the wisdom of our ancestors. The legacy of stewardship and connection with the planet that sustains us is one that must be taken to heart by everyone, in the spirit of teamwork needed to provide for our children and future generations.

Please take the time now to review the information provided on our website at Salmon Homecoming . Here you will find general descriptions of Salmon Homecoming, a draft agenda of our forum and reception, a draft schedule of our overall activities and registration forms for exhibits, performances and events. If you have the time, please also considering being a volunteer. An event of this magnitude takes a lot of support, and yours would be most welcome.

We thank you for considering this opportunity for people from all communities to join together and take a stand for peace and for our Mother Earth through our commitment and ceremony.

Sincerely,

Billy Frank, Jr., Chairman            Gerald (G.I.) James, President
NW Indian Fisheries Commission        Salmon Homecoming Alliance

Greygrass grew up in Hayward, California — far from his mother’s Lakota and Cherokee roots. He has experienced many of the problems facing urban Indians. As a young adult seeking a better way of life, Greygrass started to explore his Lakota heritage and began to turn his life around. What followed were years of traditional spiritual practices; sweats, vision quests, Sundance, listening to the Elders, learning the language, history, stories, and years of activism with the American Indian Cultural Center.

Along the way he rediscovered his love for acting. He was invited to be on stage with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for two years. He then toured with them for two years on their highly acclaimed school tour program. He was voted best actor of the year in Ashland in 1993 and 1994. Since then he has toured his one man show “Walking on Turtle Island” across the United States (Turtle Island) British Columbia, Australia, and Germany. ……

Robert Greygrass

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mary Scott
Skilled2Succeed

WASHINGTON INDIAN CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION

     Bringing Civil Rights to Indian Country

•       P.O. Box 13126, Olympia, WA  9850

      Website:  www.waicrc.org

       Print courtesy of jd challenger

PRESS RELEASE:           

• WHO: Washington Indian Civil Rights Commission, lead by and for the First Nations People.

• WHAT: “The People’s Council”,

• Bringing Civil Rights to Indian Country

WHEN:  September 7 – 10, 2008

WHERE: Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound, WA – 1-800-640-WOLF

Why:   

This conference profiles dynamic speakers, experts in their fields with compelling information for promoting individual civil rights of Native people while protecting tribal sovereignty.  They are attorneys, professors, tribal leaders, teachers and grassroots community members.  They are, by turn, educated, traditional, grassroots men and women with a profound understanding of topics for discussion.  They are deeply involved in and steeped in the history and realities of civil rights struggles still faced by Native people.   

The newly formed Washington Indian Civil Rights Commission (WICRC) will be hosting the People’s Council, a four day conference on individual Indian civil rights.  The People’s Council is co-hosted by the Blackfeet Nation.  The mission of the WICRC is to uphold the sanctity of tribal sovereignty and guarantee our individual civil rights through education and advocacy in order to prevent and overcome injustices.  We are proud of the quality of the People’s Council and respectfully request your attendance.

Plenary Keynote Speakers:

Eloise Cobell (Blackfeet), Lead Plaintiff,  Cobell vs. Kempthorne

Dennis G. Chappabitty (Comanche)  “Forty Years After the Indian Civil Rights Act”

Billy Frank, Jr., (Nisqually), “The Second Wave of Individual Indian Civil Rights”
People’s Council Workshops on:

● Adequate Public Defense

● Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

● Education Discrimination & Protecting our Youth

● Historical & Generational Trauma, Residential School Injustices & Healing

● Indian Civil Rights, Tribal Leadership and Protecting Tribal Sovereignty

● Indian Child Welfare Act

● Law Enforcement and Jurisdiction

● United Nations Indigenous Rights Treaty