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Sixth Annual AIM West Coast Inter-Tribal Conference

by Govinda Dalton
The theme for this year’s Conference is the “Forty Year Retrospective of the Trail of Broken Treaties, a Review of the Twenty Point Position of 1972, and Indian Manifesto” and how it aligns with the 2007 United Nations “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. Conference attendees will be encouraged to explore how these historic documents can serve as guides to prioritize, address and implement issues we are facing today
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AIM WEST
Sixth Annual AIM West Coast Inter-Tribal Conference November 19-23, 2012 PDF | Print | E-mail
Thursday, 08 November 2012 02:25

November 2, 2012

AIM-WEST is proud to host its Sixth Annual AIM West Coast Inter-Tribal Conference in San Francisco, November 19-23, 2012. The Conference features guest speakers, regional reports, films, solidarity statements, panel discussions, cultural performances, the traditional Un-thanksgiving feast, Alcatraz Sun Rise with honoring and memorials, and a concluding concert. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided Monday and Tuesday, dinners are on your own!

The theme for this year’s Conference is the “Forty Year Retrospective of the Trail of Broken Treaties, a Review of the Twenty Point Position of 1972, and Indian Manifesto” and how it aligns with the 2007 United Nations “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. Conference attendees will be encouraged to explore how these historic documents can serve as guides to prioritize, address and implement issues we are facing today.

Monday, November 19th registration begins at 9 am (on-going) at the San Francisco Public Library, located at 100 Larkin Street (at Grove St., near Civic Center BART station) in the Koret Auditorium, on the Library’s lower level (enter at 30 Grove St.), proceed downstairs. We will host a press conference promptly at 10 am and the Conference program begins at 10:30 am until 6 pm.
On Tuesday, November 20th the Conference will be held at the Bahai’i Center, 170 Valencia St. (near Duboce St.) starting with registration at 9 am and panel discussions, lunch and film, until 6 pm.

Wednesday, November 21, the annual Un-Thanksgiving dinner will be held at the Bahai’i Center at 12 noon until 6 pm where the “Eagle and the Condor” come to feast. The public and their families are invited. There will be a cultural program that includes drumming, singers, solo and group performances with Sami peoples, and David Smith and California Pomo Dancers, the Teokalli-Mexica traditional dancers, guest speakers and a special life time achievement award to honor Mr. Wounded Knee De’Ocampo. Please come to honor the occasion!
Special invited guest speakers, facilitator, moderator, and panelists include;

• Mr. Fred Short, AIM spiritual advisor, Conference invocation;
• Mr. William Jimbo Simmons, Conference facilitator, international Observer;
• Mr. Antonio Gonzales, AIM-WEST Director, Conference moderator;
• *Mr. Hank Adams, Special Guest, author of 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties, Indian Manifesto;
• Mr. Len Foster, Guest Speaker, 1973 Wounded Knee veteran, Leonard Peltier Spiritual Advisor;
• Mr. Mike Upshaw, Key-note Speaker, student participant at workshop in 1972, attorney;
• *Ms. Madonna Thunder Hawk, Wounded Knee Vet, Foster Grandparent advocate, life on REZ;
• Dr. Jose Cuellar, Elder, cultural reflections re: racism & use of peoples as mascots in sports;
• Dr. Roxanne D. Ortiz, status on Treaties and Agreements, and UN perspectives;

• Mr. George Galvis, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice;
• Mr. Michael Flores, U.S. & Mexico tribal Issues, military harassment and escalation;
• Ms. Raquela Arthur, Nevada bear and horse issues, relations with B.I.A. and B.L.M.;
• Ms. Carol Russo, Dept. of Justice, community relations regards to hate crime;
• Mr. Wounded Knee De Ocampo, on Bay Area Sacred Sites, update on Segorea Te/Glen Cove;
• Mr. Doug Duncan, California disenrollment, 18 un-ratified treaties;
• Ms. Courtney Cummings, newly appointed Richmond Human Rights Commissioner;
• Mr. Jorge Castillo, Alcohol justice and Alco-pop drinks, war on youth;
• Don Pasqual Yaxon, traditional Mayan educator, new dimensions in 2012 and beyond.

The Conference will be covered with live streaming/webcast by *Ms. Brenda Norrell of Censored News, and *Govinda Dalton of Earthcycles Broadcasting at http://www.earthcycles.net

Student volunteers are needed as Conference recorders, as well as kitchen support on Wednesday the 21st. Teachers and instructors may consider offering credit to students for participation at the Conference, submit report assignments, etc. There will be table space for literature, and information booths (no vendors on Monday only).
AIM-WEST is in need of funding sources and donations are appreciated to help make the Conference a success. A call in the Bay Area for resident volunteers to house one, two or three visiting guests during the week’s activities is deeply appreciated and welcomed. This will be an opportunity to share in AIM experiences with local residents, and getting more involved with local, regional and national issues. It is preferred that housing be available in or near the Mission District of San Francisco, and or near the BART, or other public transportation.

AIM WEST 6th Annual Conference Agenda:
Monday, November 19:

9 am - Registration and information. Drum, song, and dance…..continental breakfast;
10 am – Press conference: Post-elections, four more years, standing issues to address. AIM sets the course for the next four years;
10:30 am - Welcome Plenary by AIM-WEST with dance/drum and AIM Elder Advisor Fred Short;
Facilitator Jimbo Simmons– Introduction, opening remarks, memorial recognition, review agenda;
11 am - Special guest speakers and solidarity statements from California Indigenous community;
11:15 am - Keynote speaker: Mr. Mike Upshaw, attorney, participated in drafting of Indian manifesto;
• Questions and Answers
11:45 - AIM Grand Governing Council statement;
12 noon - Lunch and film “Indian Summer in Geneva” (52 minutes).
1 pm – Chapters & Affiliates, regional and community reports, to include a five year vision related to this year’s Conference theme regards to 1972 Indian manifesto, and how to assert local political will to implementation of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIP);
2 pm - Preparation to identify issues to address for workshop presentations and how does it measure with the Conference theme; short & long term relations (tactical & strategic), what do we want from this Conference, goals/objectives, resolution or indicators to measure progress, and follow-up related to the Trail of Broken Treaties 1972;
(General round-table discussion setting the stage for identifying issues, whether improving internal membership and community collaboration; or educational needs; racism and mascots in sports and other forms of hate speech/crimes; or legislation and relocation; and protection of sacred sites, treaty and land rights; youth and development; foster- care; the media; prison rights, political prisoners including a national and international strategy for Leonard Peltier; participatory democracy, partnerships, and non-partisan voting; cultural protection of ceremonies including bears, horses and animal rights; medicine plants and the environment; water and food security issues; mineral extraction and mining contamination; REDD, Climate Change, and health and well-being)
2:45 pm - BREAK
3 to 4 pm – Panel with a focus on youth; a discussion with Mr. George Galvis on Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, health and changing life-styles, and also with Mr. Jorge Castillo on Alcohol Justice, White Clay and alcohol free zone, city resolutions, and how corporations are targeting youth and flooding cities with sugar and color beers;
• Questions and Answers
4:15 pm - Plenary Assembly
4:45 pm – Closing prayer and drum

Tuesday, November 20 (at Bahai’i Center):

9 am - Registration, coffee, radio interviews, support your local vendors, and literature tables;
10 am – Plenary with Jimbo Simmons explaining the day’s panel discussions, and on international and United Nations report regards to Indigenous peoples;
10:15 am – Panel addressing human rights issues; a discussion with Ms. Madonna Thunder Hawk, on Elders rights, foster grand parenting & life on the REZ, and Wounded Knee 40 year anniversary in February 2013; and Ms. Carol Russo, DOJ, community relations liaison addressing hate crimes in California; Ms. Courtney Cummings, Richmond Human Rights Commissioner, on strategies for strengthing partnerships, and purpose for organizing city, and or county Human Rights Commissions; and with Ms. Raquela Arthur, on Nevada human rights, B.I.A. relations, and protection of bears for ceremonial purposes, the B.L.M. and horse culture, and plant medicines;
11:15 am - Mr. Wound Knee DeOcampo speaking on Sacred Sites in Bay Area, with update on status of Segorea Te/Vallejo;
11:45 am - Jean Whitehorse speaks about biases in education, materials for children parents & grandparents
12:15 am – Lunch and film screen of documentary “Guatemala Vive” (30 min.) is a new documentary on the daily struggles of Indigenous peoples to attain justice, self-determination and presence in Guatemala today, and also “The Game of Life, Heart and Spirit of Onondaga” (15 min.) filmed on location, explores the cultural and spiritual significance of Lacrosse to the people of the Onondaga Nation.
1 pm – Plenary with guest speaker Mr. Len Foster, participant at drafting 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties, spiritual advisor to political prisoner Leonard Peltier;
• Questions and Answers
1:30 pm – Facilitator opens discussion with a critical look back at what has been accomplished, or gained since the period 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties? How did the Indian manifesto serve to provide guidance to the progress achieved, and direction for the political and spiritual movement today? And, how can the UN DRIP serve to enhance the strength of the AIM 20 point program in a five year vision?
• Questions and Answers
2:15 - Mr. Michael Flores, speaking on US & Mexico border issues and military presence escalating;
2:30 pm - Break
2:45 pm – Prof. Roxanne D. Ortiz, with a critical view of US Treaties and Agreements, and update on UN status on Treaties;
3 pm – Mr. Doug Duncan, on California disenrollment, un-ratified treaties, a call to action;
3:15 pm – Plenary with hands on training on implementation of the UN DRIP;
3:45 pm – Plenary with speaker Don Pasqual Yaxon, a traditional Kaqchikel Day Keeper and educator of Mayan culture and calendar knowledge, with David Escobar, Lenca-Poton, as translator. What is the direction beyond 2012?
4:15 pm – Dr. Jose Cuellar, with a brief summary of reflections, perspectives on the Conference;
4:30 pm Plenary World Conference for Indigenous Peoples scheduled for 2014 at UN in New York;
4:15 Preparation conference in Norway June 2013; AIM-WEST delegation to UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in May 2012;
4: 30 - Closing statements;
5 pm closing prayer and song.

Wednesday November 21st (at Bahai’i Center)

12 pm - UnThanksgiving “Eagle and Condor” Dinner and Feast, program introduction with AIM-WEST M.C. Luta Candelaria, and a song;
12:30 pm - Elder for Prayer, drum, and special guest speaker Len Foster;
12:45 pm - Alvaro Tellez and Traditional Mexica Teo-Kalli Dancers;
1:15 pm - Special recognition by Luta Candelaria and Laura Cedillo on behalf of AIM-WEST of Mr. Wounded Knee DeOcampo as the recipient of the “Bill Wahpepah Human Rights Life-Time Achievement Award” and honor song and drum;
1:30 - pm Prayer and blessing of food, Feast and Dinner; Film TBA
2:30 – M.C. introduces David Smith and Traditional Pomo Dancers;
3 pm – Musical group with Nathan Muus and Sami trio;
3:15 pm – Flute player, *Ernesto Olmos;
3:30 pm – Open microphone, summary of conclusion, and resolutions;
4 pm - Closing prayer
(Clean up, and take home food to share…)


Thursday, November 22, all are encouraged go to Alcatraz Island for the annual Sun Rise Ceremony/Gathering.

And finally, on Friday, November 23, Native American Day “Red n Blues” concert performance at San Francisco Brava Women’s Center, 2781 24th Street, in the Mission District, from 7 to 11 pm, doors open at 6 pm. Tickets $15 or sliding scale or advance tickets $10 on line at http://www.bravatheater.com
The musical group/bands include “Twice as Good” 2XG with Paul and Rich Stewart, and Tharon Weighill as “Dr.T and the Blues Criminals” with Sampson Wolfe, Gilberto Rodriguez, Luta Candelaria, and special guests TBA! The event will be recorded for visual and audio production.

This is a benefit event for AIM-WEST http://www.aimwest.info 415-577-1492. Wheel chair accessible, drug and alcohol free event.
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

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