PROTEST CAMP FOR STOLEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/316703041822642/

 

The goal of this protest camp is to bring awareness to the recent deaths of First Nations Women across Canada and the need for a National Inquiry, Accountability and Justice for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls.

The death of 15 year old Tina Fontaine has touched on several areas including the need for a public inquiry into missing and murdered women and the failure to protect children in care. Tina was a high risk youth who was in the care of CFS at the time her death.

All are invited to take part including those who have been personally affected by CFS and the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women crisis in Manitoba.

This will be a peaceful camp and a drug and alcohol free zone with zero tolerance.

Call out for supplies

Tents, Sleeping Bags, Blankets,Tarps, Rain Gear/Ponchos, Electrical cords, flashlights, Canned Food, Hot Food, Camp Stoves, paper plates, bowls, plastic forks/spoons ect. Hand Cleaner/Sanitizer, Toiletries.

A fire pit and fire wood is also needed and if someone from a local organization or anyone from the First Nations community could loan or take part in the camp that who owns a teepee it would be greatly appreciated.

The location of the Peace camp will be at the Memorial Park across from the Manitoba Legislative in Winnipeg

click here for facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/316703041822642/

CLICK HERE FOR A AN INTERVIEW WITH ORGANIZERS: https://soundcloud.com/politixbs/protest-camp-for-stolen-women-and-children-winnipeg

 

 

Walk and Vigil to Honour Tina Fontaine and Faron Hall

An alliance of community members and leaders announce a walk to take back the streets in peace and honour the memory of Tina Fontaine, a young Sagkeeng woman who was reported missing Aug 9 and whose remains were found on Monday, August 18. Fontaine was in the care of Child and Family Services at the time of her disappearance. She was a daughter to us all and represents the ongoing epidemic of murdered missing Aboriginal women in Canada and neglect to fully deal with this issue by governments. 

The public is invited to a peaceful assembly at the Alexander Docks at 7:00 p.m. where a moment of silence and reflection will be held. Afterwards, all are invited to a peaceful walk up Alexander Avenue to Main Street until reaching Mahatma Ghandi Way, where it will continue along Israel Asper Way until reaching the recently installed Monument for Murdered Missing Aboriginal Women installed at the Forks, where offerings of gifts and medicines can be made in a spirit of unity and change. Afterwards, a vigil will be held at the Oodena Circle where offerings of song and words will be gifted to the public by members of the family of Tina Fontaine and other leaders within the community.

This event is also held in honour of the memory of Faron Hall, a Dakota Tipi member of the Winnipeg Aboriginal community best known for bravely rescuing two people on two different occasions in the Red River. His remains were also found on Monday, August 18. Faron is a hero to many and was given awards for his courage.  This walk and vigil will be held rain or shine. Walkers may want to park their cars at the Forks and car-pool to the assembly site and all are encouraged to act responsibly.

CLICK HERE FOR FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/313140412199585/

BURT AWARD FACEBOOK CONTEST!

Do you like to read? Would you like to meet Aboriginal authors and attend a literary award ceremony? If you are between 13 and 18 and live in the Winnipeg area, you could take part in the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature Gala on September 27th. Enter our contest, and you could win a chance to attend and participate in the award ceremony*, meet authors, and take home a set of the winning books for your classroom or community program. It’s easy:

1. Post a photo, short video and/or 200 words or less, to tell us why you want to be a part of the Burt Award ceremony.

2. Invite family and friends to like your post.

The four entries with the most likes by September 7, 2014 at 11:59pm will win. For full contest rules visit https://www.facebook.com/codecan.org/app_317306548436892

*Winners must be in Winnipeg on September 27 to attend.

Current Legal Problems: Interdisciplinary Human Rights Studies

Calling all grad students! Can’t decide what course to take this year? Or looking for something better than what you’ve already signed up for 😉 ? In partnership with the National Research Centre for Residential Schools, we’re offering a unique interdisciplinary seminar series on Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation. Note that we’re also looking for a research assistant, and that the series is also open to members of the public. Find out more here:

http://chrr.info/events/411-critical-conversations-on-sexual-and-reproductive-rights

Opportunity: GUARDIANS OF CONFEDERATION CONFERENCE in Charlottetown

“The Guardians of Confederation” is a gathering of 2 students from each province/territory, plus 26 Island students, between the ages of 14 – 17 in Charlottetown, this November 20 – 23, to “Re-Imagine Canada.” Together the students will be asking and answering the question, “knowing what we know now, would we do it all over again and become a country called Canada?”

This will piggyback on the conference put on by the Association for Canadian Studies, details for which can be found here: http://www.acs-aec.ca/pdf/events/AEC_ReMakingConf_EN_V11_LR.pdf. There will be some overlap in the program of the two events, i.e., the Symons Medal Lecture with Stephen Lewis. (http://www.confederationcentre.com/en/symons-lecture-series.php) Mentors from UPEI will also be working with the students to guide them in their journey through this experience.

While there is interest from a number of potential students at the moment, only a few are confirmed just yet, so raise your hand if you’re interested, and we can talk details! I can’t promise there will still be a seat in your province or territory left, so if this pulls on the strings of your history loving heart, give us a shout sooner rather than later.

email: guardians@upei.ca

THIS SATURDAY! International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (August 9th 2014)

2014 Theme: “Bridging the gap: implementing the rights of indigenous peoples”

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (9 August) was first proclaimed by the General Assembly in December 1994, to be celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995 – 2004).

more info here: http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/

In 2004, the Assembly proclaimed a Second International Decade, from 2005 – 2014, with the theme of “A Decade for Action and Dignity.” The focus of this year’s International Day is “Bridging the gap: implementing the rights of indigenous peoples”.

The theme aims to highlight the importance of implementing the rights of indigenous peoples through policies and programmes at both the national and international level working together towards this common goal with Governments, the United Nations system, indigenous peoples and other stakeholders.

A special event at UN Headquarters in New York will be held on Friday, 8 August, from 3 to 6pm, featuring the UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, the Vice Chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, a delegate from a member State, a representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, and an indigenous representative. The event will be webcast live atwebtv.un.org.

The first World Conference on Indigenous Peoples will be held on 22-23 September 2014. The meeting will be an opportunity to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples, including pursuing the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

A Place to Hang Your Stories Winnipeg Aug 20 – 31, 2014

Find below an opportunity to show support for Residential School Survivors and their intergenerational descendants through an art display called A PLACE TO HANG YOUR STORIES. Our friends at the Indigenous Family Centre, the same place we have Meet Me at the Bell Tower Each Friday has stepped up to the plate to volunteer their space for this important project.

In fall 2013, Artist Dawn Marie Marchand was approached by a community member who knew that the final Truth and Reconciliation Commission event was going to Edmonton March 2014. Knowing the power of Walking With Our Sisters Exhibit which provided immense awareness to the issue of Murdered and Missing Indigenous women, it also gave people a voice to be heard and often much needed healing. She wondered if such a project could happen for Residential School Survivors and their intergenerational descendants who are still affected even if they did not attend themselves.

This project was born from that original conversation. A public announcement for paper bricks was made, that would be visual representations of stories from Indian Residential School or how it affected them or their descendants. Art builds were held around Alberta which included Edmonton, Calgary, St. Paul and others. Many more bricks were mailed from across Canada. Notably Winnipeg held art builds where over 72 participants contributed bricks to the art installation. These were collaged onto the canvas walls of a gazebo to create a one room school house.

Each brick represented a story that for some were the first steps towards healing. The bricks were treated in a way that honours each story and participant. They were all smudged and wrapped in prints while they were being compiled. When they were being installed they were smudged again and not allowed to touch the floor.

At the viewing, people were asked to hold a stone in their left hand and leave it with use when they left. These stones will be laid into the walking paths of theHealing Garden at Blue Quills First Nation College. It is a symbolic representation of placing the hurts under our feet.

The installation was well received with 1000’s of people attending. The feedback was incredibly positive and received good publicity as it was then moved to CBC Radio at Edmonton Place after the TRC event. It was then requested to be viewed again in Edmonton at the International Works Festival where it was one of the feature exhibits in the Big Tent with Ken Armstrong’s powerful photography on Homelessness in I Edmonton. It was the most visited exhibit averaging over 1,200 people daily.

There was a great deal of dialogue created with this predominantly mainstream non-native event.

We are looking to fund the travel expenses to Winnipeg, please help share much needed healing and awareness.

A venue has been located and donated in-kind:

Indigenous Family Centre
470 Selkirk Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R2W 2M5

With dates set for August 20 – 31, 2014

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-place-to-hang-your-stories-winnipeg-travel