Deaf Community Welcome - Kyle Laitenin to interpret at Native American event

In the beginning of Redbird's history, over twenty years ago, a group of native people would attend Tri County GLAD's (Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness) holiday parties, bringing to them a little taste of indigenous culture with powwow dancing and singing. The powwow drum, and the hand drum, are powerful medicine and they can be felt as well as heard...you can feel them in your chest, in your heart center, so that even a person who cannot hear can still be touched by the medicine of the drum.

Over the years that tradition was somehow lost...each group having their own holiday parties at different times and needing to devote their resources to their own constituents, and all the other things that keep people apart on a day to day basis...jobs, time constraints, distances, old vehicles or no vehicles.

On December 5, American Sign Language interpreter Kyle Laitenin will join Redbird for their 20th annual charitable gathering and be on hand to interpret from a unique perspective...Kyle is also a member of the Native American community and a southern straight dancer. Whether with his voice or with his hands, Kyle knows what he is talking about.

Everyone is welcome to attend, with or without a donation. Redbird's goal is to gather supplies as well as financial donations sufficient to ship them (see details of how it works below), but not to the exclusion of those who cannot afford to contribute. In fact, those in need of gently used clothing items and/or blankets, which stay in the southern California area, are encouraged to let their needs be known at the gathering, so that donated used items can be matched with people who need them. Two well known and loved powwow drums, Blue Star and Crooked Hat, will also be contributing their time and beautiful songs. Native American dancers are encouraged to bring their regalia and dance. This is an all-volunteer gathering.

Redbird’s 20th annual Blanket, Toy and School Supplies Drive and Mini-Powwow

Everyone welcome, a family friendly event including Native American singing, dancing and drumming
December 5, 2015
11- 3:30 PM
Simi Valley Town Center Mall Community Room
1555 Simi Valley Town Center Way, Simi Valley, CA 93065
In the center of the mall, in the Community Room (upstairs from the main parking lot, with street access including public transportation behind the center - look for the giant Christmas tree)

Benefitting the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota
In partnership with Walking Shield

How It Works:
New blankets and soft toys – new, hand or machine washable blankets are sent to the Porcupine District of South Dakota, directly to a respected family in the community who redistributes them to those in need; and individuals in other locations as funding for shipping permits.
New hard or boxed toys – distributed to the non profit organization Walking Shield which has a nation-wide reservation distribution network, and other local agencies/families.
New school supplies – donated to Walking Shield for distribution to reservation schoolchildren.
Financial Contributions - very much needed to ship items to South Dakota via USPS or FedEx. Shipping costs run $600.00 to $800.00 and come entirely from donations.
Gently Used Blankets and Warm Clothing Items - this year we are accommodating a request for used items; we are seeking gently used warm clothing items and blankets that will be distributed locally (in the high desert regions) to needy and homeless individuals and families, regardless of ethnicity or other factors.

Native American Dancers Bring your dance regalia! The Northern Traditional Drum Blue Star and Southern Traditional Drum Crooked Hat will be joining us
Everyone Welcome **** All Drums Welcome
Street Level Access/Handicapped Access Available behind main mall entrance
Made possible through the generosity of Simi Valley Town Center and Blue Star
Hosted by Redbird,
a 501(c)(3) non profit Native American and environmental association
http://www.RedbirdsVision.org
Event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1002334343133923/
Email: redbirds_vision [at] hotmail.com Mail: P.O. Box 702, Simi Valley, CA 93062
Voicemail: (805) 217-0364
Donate via Paypal - redbirds_vision [at] hotmail.com