Photos by Brenda Norrell
Indigenous Environmental Network's Protecting Mother Earth Gathering began Thursday morning on the land of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations in New Town, North Dakota. Indigenous Peoples arriving from as far away as Alaska, Canada, Guatemala and Mexico. Indigenous Peoples are gathered who are fighting oil and gas drilling, uranium mining, coal fired power plants and toxic dumps in their communities, and the resulting diseases and deaths in Indian country.
Listen live: http://www.earthcycles.net
Welcome to the 16th Protecting Mother Earth Gathering
Water, Energy, Climate and the Importance of Health and Culture
July 28-31, 2011, New Town, North Dakota
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
The land of the Three Affiliated Tribes here -- Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations -- has been hard hit by oil and gas drilling in North Dakota. Indigenous Peoples arriving at the gathering drove through highways heavily-congested with trucks and dust, with gas flaring and the air clogged with pollution, as the land was poisoned and destroyed by massive oil and gas wells.
Kandi Mossett, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara, spoke of the deaths and destruction from the oil and gas mining here, where 3,000 oil and gas wells are now planned. Tearfully, Mossett spoke of the deaths, including the death of a close friend from cancer.
"We really, really appreciate you coming," Mossett told the gathering.
Marilyn Hudson, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara historian, shared the history of the peoples here. "Welcome to the banks of the river," Hudson said, echoing the words of friendship that have been spoken here for thousands and thousands of years.
Hudson said the people gathered here, concerned about their air, water and land, are like the original peoples here. She said if the people camping, close to the land, listen they can hear the voices of the land, and maybe the echoes of those who have gone before.
Goldtooth spoke on the origins of the Indigenous Environmental Network and how Indigenous Peoples have been impacted by colonization and the resulting uranium mining, oil and gas drilling, and other destruction to their lands.
Today's schedule: Thursday (Central Time Zone):
5:30 am Sunrise Ceremony: Lighting of the Sacred Fire -- The Fire coals from the previous gathering at Newe Sogobia (Western Shoshone) territories in Nevada are being brought in by the Fire Keeper of Newe Sogobia and will be given to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations. This Fire will be burning for the 4 days of the Gathering.
8 am: Live broadcast begins: http://www.earthcycles.net
9 am: Prayer by Edwin Benson, Mandan
Opening and welcome by IEN and the hosting members of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nations Organizing Committee
History of Fort Berthold and introduction to local environmental justice struggles and resiliency for survival
10 -- 10:45 Overview of the Indigenous Environmental Network: Report from World Peoples Conference on Climate Change in Cochabamba, Bolivia and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
10:50 -- 11:30 am: Program Overview and Goals of the Gathering
11:30: Participants introductions to each other
12:30 -- 2 pm Demonstrations, Trainings and Activities
Straw bale housing and earth plaster demonstration
Passive solar energy demonstration
Telling your story: video training project
Creative direct action visuals; integrating art into your campaign strategy
Three Affiliated Tribes Museum Tour
Youth Activities
Listening Session: Environmental Justice Inter-agency Working Group chaired by the US EPA (to be confirmed)
2 pm -- 6 pm: Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, Original Instructions and Cultural Survival in this Time of Change
Youth and elder dialogue
Moderated by Casey Camp, Ponca traditional Drumkeeper for the Ponca Pa-tha-ta, Woman's Scalp Society
Josephine Mandamin, Anishinabe Mother Earth Water Walker, Three Fires Midewiwin Society Society
Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle of the Lakota Dakota Nakota Oyate
Video message from Oren Lyons, Onondaga, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Six Nations
Message from Mayan elders
Thursday evening:
7:30 Traditional Cultural Night in the Earth Lodge Village
Youth and elder talking circles
Traditional games of plum game, double ball, arrow game and hand games
Traditional foods, healthy living and food sovereignty
Hoop Dance Performance
Live broadcast and gathering continues through Sunday at 2 pm
Water, Energy, Climate and the Importance of Health and Culture
July 28-31, 2011, New Town, North Dakota
By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
The land of the Three Affiliated Tribes here -- Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations -- has been hard hit by oil and gas drilling in North Dakota. Indigenous Peoples arriving at the gathering drove through highways heavily-congested with trucks and dust, with gas flaring and the air clogged with pollution, as the land was poisoned and destroyed by massive oil and gas wells.
Kandi Mossett, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara, spoke of the deaths and destruction from the oil and gas mining here, where 3,000 oil and gas wells are now planned. Tearfully, Mossett spoke of the deaths, including the death of a close friend from cancer.
"We really, really appreciate you coming," Mossett told the gathering.
Marilyn Hudson, Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara historian, shared the history of the peoples here. "Welcome to the banks of the river," Hudson said, echoing the words of friendship that have been spoken here for thousands and thousands of years.
Hudson said the people gathered here, concerned about their air, water and land, are like the original peoples here. She said if the people camping, close to the land, listen they can hear the voices of the land, and maybe the echoes of those who have gone before.
Goldtooth spoke on the origins of the Indigenous Environmental Network and how Indigenous Peoples have been impacted by colonization and the resulting uranium mining, oil and gas drilling, and other destruction to their lands.
Today's schedule: Thursday (Central Time Zone):
5:30 am Sunrise Ceremony: Lighting of the Sacred Fire -- The Fire coals from the previous gathering at Newe Sogobia (Western Shoshone) territories in Nevada are being brought in by the Fire Keeper of Newe Sogobia and will be given to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations. This Fire will be burning for the 4 days of the Gathering.
8 am: Live broadcast begins: http://www.earthcycles.net
9 am: Prayer by Edwin Benson, Mandan
Opening and welcome by IEN and the hosting members of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nations Organizing Committee
History of Fort Berthold and introduction to local environmental justice struggles and resiliency for survival
10 -- 10:45 Overview of the Indigenous Environmental Network: Report from World Peoples Conference on Climate Change in Cochabamba, Bolivia and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
10:50 -- 11:30 am: Program Overview and Goals of the Gathering
11:30: Participants introductions to each other
12:30 -- 2 pm Demonstrations, Trainings and Activities
Straw bale housing and earth plaster demonstration
Passive solar energy demonstration
Telling your story: video training project
Creative direct action visuals; integrating art into your campaign strategy
Three Affiliated Tribes Museum Tour
Youth Activities
Listening Session: Environmental Justice Inter-agency Working Group chaired by the US EPA (to be confirmed)
2 pm -- 6 pm: Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, Original Instructions and Cultural Survival in this Time of Change
Youth and elder dialogue
Moderated by Casey Camp, Ponca traditional Drumkeeper for the Ponca Pa-tha-ta, Woman's Scalp Society
Josephine Mandamin, Anishinabe Mother Earth Water Walker, Three Fires Midewiwin Society Society
Arvol Looking Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle of the Lakota Dakota Nakota Oyate
Video message from Oren Lyons, Onondaga, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Six Nations
Message from Mayan elders
Thursday evening:
7:30 Traditional Cultural Night in the Earth Lodge Village
Youth and elder talking circles
Traditional games of plum game, double ball, arrow game and hand games
Traditional foods, healthy living and food sovereignty
Hoop Dance Performance
Live broadcast and gathering continues through Sunday at 2 pm
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