SALMON AND SOVEREIGNTY: Indigenous perspectives on water and cultural survival in CA

SALMON AND SOVEREIGNTY:
Indigenous perspectives on water and cultural survival in California

“We were born from water, we are of the water, and we fight to protect it.”
—Chief Caleen Sisk

Friday, April 18th
Doors: 6:30 Start: 7:00pm
Resource Center for Nonviolence
612 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz
$5-20 donation, no one turned away
Proceeds will benefit the Winnemem Wintu tribe

Retaining a concept of sovereignty based on deep ancestral ties with place, indigenous people are on the front lines of critical environmental battles everywhere. Their voices and actions are leading the way forward.

SPEAKERS:
* Chief Caleen Sisk, Winnemem Wintu Tribe
Strongly rooted in their traditional practices, the Winnemem Wintu of Northern California are engaged in ecological, cultural, and spiritual restoration, including bringing salmon back to their home river, the McCloud. Chief Sisk will speak about the tribe's struggle for survival and their current work of restoring natural water systems and stopping disastrous proposed megaprojects such as the Delta Twin Tunnels and the Shasta Dam raise that would flood large portions of sacred Winnemem land—for the second time.
More info: http://winnememwintu.us/

* Gregg Castro, Ohlone/Salinan
Gregg will speak about his Rumsien Ohlone and T'rowtraahl Salinan community work, over the last two decades, in cultural protection, preservation and perseverance. These two Central Coast tribes have been pushed to the brink of extinction, yet communities are recovering, revitalizing their heritage, and reestablishing their presence that will remain “for as long as the world continues—always, now and forever.”

FILM:
"Dancing Salmon Home"
An award-winning documentary chronicling the Winnemem Wintu tribe’s remarkable journey to Maori territory in New Zealand to reunite with their salmon relatives after 70 years of separation.
Film website: http://dancingsalmonhome.com/

“My experiences have confirmed for me that, whatever the issue is affecting any indigenous California communities and peoples, it is the same root issue: that we are all still in First Contact conflict with foreign cultures that have no regard for our ancient culture that has been here since the beginning of time.”—Gregg Castro

"We may be few but we are not alone. There are people all over the world who are standing up and fighting for Mother Earth. To stop development, to stop the dams, and the mining. We’re getting ready to win. Its coming to us. Whatever it takes to get ready, we’re doing it.”
—Caleen Sisk

Facebook event page link (invite friends!):
https://www.facebook.com/events/547492322034727/

Event hosted by Santa Cruz Indigenous Solidarity
Co-sponsored by Central Coast Rising and Santa Cruz Forest Keepers
Santa Cruz is Awaswas Ohlone territory