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Calling Back the Salmon: Tsi Akim Maidu Tribe Celebrates Indigenous Peoples Days

by Dan Bacher
From a round dance on the streets of downtown Nevada to a historic gathering at the South Yuba River “Calling Back the Salmon,” the local Tsi Akim Maidu tribe invites friends and supporters to four days of free public events at the Tenth Annual Indigenous Peoples Day in Nevada City.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TSI AKIM MAIDU TRIBE CELEBRATES

TENTH ANNUAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAYS

Descendants of Famous Native Americans Join Effort to Honor and Heal

For more information, contact the Tsi Akim Maidu Thrift Store, 530-477-0711

GRASS VALLEY, CA. Descendants of famous Native Americans, including Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse, will join members of the local Maidu tribe in a four day celebration October 9-12, 2009. The tenth annual Indigenous Peoples Days is expected to draw hundreds of native and non native supporters, including Mohawk musicians from the East Coast and Maori healers from New Zealand.

The gathering of descendants is a new addition to a local cultural event that has grown in ten years from a small candelight vigil on Broad Street to a four day gathering. The event opens Friday night in downtown Nevada City with a round dance in the street.

On Saturday traditional runners will carry a salmon seven miles from Parks Bar to Bridgeport State Park at the South Yuba River, to an ancient riverside Maidu gathering called “Calling Back the Salmon”. This year the town of Smartsville will honor the runners as they pass through the town.

On Sunday, descendants of famous natives will join Navajo flutists, Maori healers, Hawaiian dancers, and a women’s drum circle for a day of celebration at the site of a traditional Maidu village, now the Maidu Active Cultural Center, or MACC, just outside Nevada City.

Story telling, a round dance, and fry bread are part of the children’s celebration on Monday morning at Miners Foundry, in downtown Nevada City. A ‘mother drum’ will hold the stage during an afternoon of discussions. Descendants, elders, and others will talk about healing soul wounds and reviving the Maidu language. The four day celebration ends with the Richard Prout Memorial Dinner.

IPD is an effort by local Tsi Akim Maidu tribal members to honor ancestors and heal the wounds of a history of genocide that began long before the Gold Rush. “Indigenous Peoples Days is not just a celebration of American Indian culture, but every culture that has been oppressed by colonial power.” according to Michael Ben Ortiz, a Choctaw man and a primary organizer. “People gain a greater sense of their identity. We share a deeper sense of respect for each other and the land we live on.”

The all volunteer, drug and alcohol free event is free and open to the public. Contributions are requested, especially for food. Guests are asked to bring table ware and seating to the outdoor events. For more information, see or , or call the Tsi Akim Maidu Thrift Store, 530-477-0711.

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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAYS 2009
Four days of celebration bring native and non-native people together

FRIDAY, October 9, 6-7:30 PM, Union and Broad St. Nevada City

SATURDAY, October 10, 11 AM – 4 PM, Bridgeport State Park, S. Yuba River, outside Nevada City

SUNDAY, October 11, 9 AM – 7 PM, the MACC, Maidu Active Cultural Center, 16200 Lake Vera-Purdon Road, outside Nevada City

MONDAY, October 12, 10 AM – 7 PM, Miners Foundry, Nevada City

From a round dance on the streets of downtown Nevada to a historic gathering at the South Yuba River “Calling Back the Salmon,” the local Tsi Akim Maidu tribe invites friends and supporters to four days of free public events.

To help heal the pains of history and to celebrate native cultures, these gatherings offer the public unique opportunities to enjoy and engage with a variety of speakers and entertainers, including drummers, Hawaiian dancers, Maori healers, and elders of different first nations.

FRIDAY – a round dance on Union Street, downtown Nevada City.

SATURDAY – greeting the spirit runners at riverside as they “Call Back the Salmon.”

SUNDAY - descendants of famous Native Americans, including Sitting Bull and Geronimo, gather to tell their stories.

MONDAY – premier of local movie produced by the Tsi Akim Maidu tribe and Nyssa Productions, telling the story of our unique community.

Sunday and Monday will be broadcast live on KVMR-FM Community Radio, Nevada City, KFOK, Georgetown, and KZFR, Chico.

All gatherings are free and open to the public. They are alcohol and drug free, and no animals, please.

For more information, go online to: http://www.indigenouspeoplesdays.org, or http://www.callingbackthesalmon.org. Or, call the Tsi Akim Maidu Thrift Store, 530-477-0711.
Volunteer Requests: Click here for more volunteer needs.

We are looking for sleeping accomodations for our elders who will be visiting from out of town during IPD '09, October 10-13. If you have a comfortable space available, please let us know. Call Stephanie at 530-272-5994x1.


Calling Back the Salmon Runner Information:

Please go to http://www.callingbackthesalmon.com/spirit-run.php to learn more about running in the Calling Back the Salmon run, and to signup for the run.

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Mark Your Calendars

Indigenous Peoples Days and Calling Back the Salmon Ceremony

Friday - Monday October 9 - 12 Info: 530.477.0711


CONTACT

For more information about IPD 09, please contact Michael Ben, 530-277-3423, or the Tsi-Akim Maidu Thrift Store, 530-477-0711.

To volunteer for IPD 09, please call Stephanie Lorenson, 530- 272-5994.


INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAYS 2009
Friday, October 9 - Monday, October 12, 2009


WHAT: Opening celebration

WHEN: Friday, October 9, 6 PM – 7:30 PM

WHERE: Friday, Broad Street and Union Street

WHO: Hosted by the Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe, with speakers Fred “Coyote’ Downey, Roberto Garcia, and the Niki Eshko drummers

ADMISSION: Admission to the public, no charge

INFORMATION: Call 530-477-0711, or go online to: http://www.indigenouspeoplesdays.org.

WHAT: Calling Back the Salmon, traditional Maidu gathering

WHEN: Saturday, October 10, 11 AM – 4 PM

WHERE: Bridgeport State Park at the South Yuba River

WHO: Spirit runners and other tribal members and supporters

ADMISSION: Open to the public, no charge

INFORMATION: : Call 530-477-0711, or go online to: http://www.indigenouspeoplesdays.org, or http://www.callingbackthesalmon.org.

WHAT: Celebration at the MACC (Maidu Active Cultural Center)

WHEN: Sunday, October 11, 10 AM – 7 PM

WHERE: 16200 Lake Vera-Purdon Road, Nevada City

WHO: Traditional dancers, drummers, and singers, including Lawrence Laughing, Teresa Bear Fox, Paiute Dancers, the Grass Valley Hula Group, Selu Sisters, Loping Wolf, the Sami Chanters, Neena McNair and Family Drums. 3-6 PM – diescendants of famous ancestors tell their stories.

ADMISSION: By donation

INFORMATION: Call 530-477-0711, or go online to: http://www.indigenouspeoplesdays.org.

WHAT: Indigenous Peoples Day

WHEN: Monday, October 12, 9:30 AM – 7 PM

WHERE: Miners Foundry, 325 Spring St, Nevada City

WHO: 10 AM-12 noon - children’s activities. Drumming, dancing- Lawrence Laughing, Bear Fox, Nena McNair and Family Drum, Fred “Coyote” Downey. Afternoon – interactive discussions on what is ‘indigenous,’ “Healing Soul Wounds,” and “Mercury in Our Water, Our Land, and Our Bodies”.4:30 PM – premier of 14 minute video about the Tsi Akim Maidu. 5 PM - the Richard Prout Memorial Dinner,

ADMISSION: By donation; dinner, suggested donation $20, $5 for children and elders.

INFORMATION: Call 530-477-0711, or go online to: http://www.indigenouspeoplesdays.org.

INFORMATION: Call or 530-477-0711, or go online to: http://www.indigenouspeoplesdays.org.

Sunday and Monday broadcast live on KVMR, 89.5 FM, kvmr.org. Also live on KFOK, 95.1 FM, KZFR, 90.1 FM.
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