American Indian Movement (AIM) Fifth Annual West Coast Conference starting 21-23 November 2011, from
Greetings my relations,
AIM-WEST is pleased to be host to the American Indian Movement (AIM) Fifth Annual West Coast Conference in San Francisco beginning 21-23 November 2011, starting at 9 am to 5 pm (doors open 8 am). The Conference will be held at the Baha’i Center located at 170 Valencia Street (between 14th and Market).
Welcome, the public is invited. The Conference is intended to bridge together Indigenous peoples of all nations living in communities in and around the bay area, and the western region of North America to come share experiences and issues of their concern. These communities also include our relations from the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, Central and South America.
This year’s agenda we will discuss current issues identified as affecting our nations and peoples, and learn together how to develop and coordinate a strategy to address and effectuate the policy change we see necessary at the local, national and international levels that are of concern to us.
As the host for the AIM conference AIM-WEST has outlined the following schedule:
Monday, November 21;
(Coffee, bread rolls and fruit all morning)
-9 am Open to Registration, on-going;
-10 am press conference;
-10:45 am - Open with a prayer/sage/song and drumming. Welcome and introduction. Special invited guest speakers to include AIM leadership of the Grand Governing Council.
-12 noon to 1 pm – Lunch (provided for conference delegates). A screening of “Ishi: A Story of Dignity, Hope and Courage. A one hundred year celebration to his life when Ishi, a Yahi Indian, arrived out of the foothills of Northern California into the town of Oroville in August 1911.
-1 pm to 3 pm – Chapter and community reports;
BREAK
-3:15 pm to 4 pm - Regional Reports, and international solidarity statements,
4 pm to 5 pm - Elaboration and preparation of Issues identified for workshop presentations i.e. Department of Justice and rise in hate crimes in our communities, Power point presentation, internal chapter relations and networking, etc.
-5 pm – Announcements, open microphone, close with prayer and drum.
Tuesday, November 22;
10 am - Open (prayer/sage/song);
10:05 to 11:05 pm - Workshop on Protection of Sacred Sites, Freedom of Religion, historic sites, activities;
11:10 to 12:10 pm - Youth and Media; what is wrong with media today; write your own story, film or documentary, radio broadcasting & interviews;
12:15 pm to 1:15 pm - Lunch and screening of “A Tattoo on My Heart” about Veterans from Wounded Knee 1973;
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm – Establishing an AIM chapter or affiliate, empower communities, and training how to utilize public institutions, strategic planning, funding sources;
2:40 pm to 3:40 pm - Mining and mineral extraction industries; i.e. networking with KXL Tar Sands, Big Mountain and Peabody coal, affects of global warming, and update on Climate Change conference in Durban;
4 pm to 4:30 Panel Discussion: International report, importance of maintaining links with liberation and political movements, relationship with UN bodies, Permanent Forum, solidarity organizations and networks. Also delegates to El Salvador in March, the World Conference for Indigenous Peoples in Geneva in 2014, and AIM-WEST association for international internship program development;
4:30 to 5 pm Panel Discussion: Hands on Training on the status of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, review of principles by categories, and how and when to implement at local and national level.
5:05 Closing comments and announcements. Prayer
Wednesday, November 23; Pre-Unthanksgiving Dinner
10 am to 12 noon – Cooks and volunteers requested to come to help preparation for the dinner, set up tables, etc.
12 noon – Program begins with Prayer, Drum, sage, song and Teocalli Mexica traditional dancers;
12:45 pm – Feast dinner, Prayer and Blessing of the food “Eagle invites the Condor”
1:15 pm – State of the Nation address with special AIM guest speaker;
1:30 pm Introduction of movie “A Good Day to Die” a story about Dennis Banks and the founding of AIM, a public screening hosted by AIM-WEST (92 minutes)
3:10 pm - Medicine Warriors Dance Group (women);
3:30 pm – Contemporary Whoop Dance performance;
3:50 pm – Sami contemporary performance group & Nathan Muus;
4:10 pm – Pacific Cultural performance;
4:30 pm – Youth performance, rappers/
4:45 pm – Closing program, Prayer and announcements.
5 pm – volunteers needed (clean-up crew)
Thursday, November 24, 2011
(Alcatraz Island annual Sun Rise Gathering) Unthanksgiving Day
Friday, November 25, 2011
7-11 pm Concert “Native American Day” proclamation by Presidential Executive Order!
(has been cancelled!)
For more information call 415-577-1492
www.aimwest.info
The conference with be webcast on www.earthcycles.net and covered daily by http://www.bsnorrell.com
Wheel-chair accessible… alcohol and drug free event
www.aimovement.org
FREEDOM FOR LEONARD PELTIER, NOW!!!!
www.whoisleonardpeltier.info