Conference Speakers Topics - 10th Annual IEN Protecting Mother Earth Conference

	Thursday, June 10th
	INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK 10th Annual Ien Protecting Mother Earth Conference Conference Speakers Topics Workshops/Plenaries and Presenters and Events, Coalition Building Activities, Demonstrations, Etc. Theme: Lle tsoo (Uraninite) "A Creation Placed At The Foothills Of Our Sacred Mountains By Our Holy People"
	Prayer: Opening Remarks: Dine' CARE and IEN "Environmental Justice and History - 10 Years of Struggle" Photo Display and Recognitions Welcome: Harry Early, Governor, Laguna Pueblo (or designate) Lloyd Tortalita, Governor, Acoma Pueblo (or designate) Dr. Taylor Mckenzie, Vice-President, Navajo Nation (invited) Martha Garcia, Ramah Chapter President, Navajo Nation Eastern Agency Council Rex Tilousi, Havasupai Tribe
	Plenary Topic: "Environmental Issues in the Southwest"
	This is a meeting for all conference participants to come together to hear from speakers from New Mexico and the Southwest about environmental justice, protection of sacred sites, Indigenous land rights and other issues affecting the health of Indigenous communities. Moderator: Gilbert Sanchez, Director, Tribal Environmental Watch Alliance, New Mexico John Redhouse, Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum and Dine' CARE, New Mexico Angel Valencia, Yaqui Tribe, Yoemem Tekia Foundation, Arizona/New Mexico Roland Manakaja, Director, Havasupai Natural Resource Department, Arizona
	Friday, June 11th
	Plenary Topic: "Uranium and Indigenous Peoples"
	This is a meeting for all conference participants to come together to hear from Indigenous speakers from all over North America and Australia that are dealing with uranium mining issues. The effects of uranium mining have left Indigenous Peoples and their lands contaminated with radiation and toxin exposures. Uranium mining corporations are still targeting Indigenous lands. What approaches are Indigenous communities doing to address these issues? Moderator: Dr. Manual Pino, Laguna-Acoma Coalition For a Safe Environment, Acoma, New Mexico Dorothy Purley, Laguna-Acoma Coalition For a Safe Environment, Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico Mitchell Capitan, Eastern Navajo Dine' Against Uranium Mining, Crownpoint, Navajo Nation, New Mexico Cindy Gilday, Dene', Northwest Territories, Canada, uranium mine and radiation impacts Aboriginal Speaker from Australia Jabuluka Mine - TBA
	Saturday, June 12th
	Plenary Topic: "Breaking the Borders of Colonialism"
	This is a meeting for all conference participants to come together to hear from Indigenous speakers from Mexico and South America about environmental, economic and land issues affecting their communities. Colonial borders have divided our Indigenous Peoples. A representative of an Indigenous NGO group will tie the issues together on how development is defined by industrial countries and what activities are taking place within the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development related to these issues. Moderator: Tupac Enrique, Tonatierra Zoila Jose' Juan, UCIZONI, Oaxaca, Mexico Margarito Ruiz, ANIPA, Maya, Mexico, autonomy history in Mexico Tony James, AMERINDIAN Association, Guyana, South America Yarixa Array, Karina, Venezuela Carol Kalafatic, International Indian Treaty Council, New York
	Sunday, June 13th
	Plenary Topic: "Respect of the Sacredness of Earth Mother"
	This is a meeting for all conference participants to come together to hear from Indigenous speakers that are working to protect sacred areas. There are developments such as roadway construction, mineral extractions, water diversions and dams, deforestation, and toxic contamination that do not take into account the importance of holy and sacred sites. Moderator: Pam Malone, Petroglyph Monument Coalition, New Mexico Louise Benally, Big Mountain Dineh Nation, coal mining issues at Big Mountain (Arizona) Tony James, Ameribdian Peoples Association of Guyana, South America Sonny Weahkee, Petroglyph Monument Coalition, preservation of petroglyph site Danny Billie, Traditional Independent Seminole Nation, Florida
	Workshop Topic:
	Uranium Mining/Milling Radiation Victims Compensation Payment (RECA) Dine', Pueblo, other tribes and non-Native miners and millers have a lobbying campaign within the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) by providing payment of compensation to individuals exposed to radiation as the result of working in uranium mines and mills which provided uranium for the use and benefit of the U.S. government. This workshop will have presentations from individuals affected by uranium mining, an attorney representing them and how this strategy is working for them. Moderator: Melton Martinez, Dine' Organizer, Navajo Eastern Agency Kathleen Tso-Blackie, Eastern Dine' Against Uranium Mining Alexander Thorne, Northern Arizona Downwinders Dorothy Purley, Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment, Laguna Pueblo Wally Cummins, Attorney, Washington, DC Uranium Mining Uranium mining and the whole processing of uranium ore from "cradle to grave" have disproportionately affected Indigenous Peoples throughout North America and other parts of the world. This workshop will have presentations from community representatives affected by abandoned, active or proposed uranium mines. The presentations will offer examples of what Indigenous communities are doing to address these issues. Moderator: Carletta Tilousi, Havasupai, Arizona, proposed uranium mine development Mitchell Capitan, Eastern Dine' Against Uranium Mining, fighting uranium mining on the Dine' (Navajo) reservation Cindy Gilday, Dene' Northwest Territories, Canada, uranium mine and radiation victims Debra Abramhanson, Dawn Watch, Spokane Nation, uranium mine cleanup, radiation victims and nuclear waste Chris Shuey, Southwest Research and Information Center, New Mexico, presentation on in-sutu mining technology Chemicals in Our Communities - Toxics That Don't Go Away This workshop will discuss how chemicals are affecting the health of Indigenous Peoples and the food web. Presenters will provide background on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and how most chemicals that are produced are persistent toxics that are in agricultural pesticides, industry pollution, dioxin poisoning in pulp and paper mills, PCB contamination, forestry weed control, and other sources. Studies are showing these pollutants are causing cancers, respiratory illnesses, sexual reproduction disorders and other health affects to Indigenous Peoples and all living things. Moderator: Laura Manthe, Wisconsin Oneida Nation Environmental Resource Board, impacts from PCB and dioxin contamination Pat Costner, Greenpeace Toxics Campaign, introduction on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) Rebecca Sockbeson, IRATE, Lincoln pulp and paper mill in Maine, Penobscot Nation issue Dr. Elizabeth Gillette, presentation of a health study of Yaqui Indians in Sonora, Mexico, impacts from agricultural chemicals Jacklyn Ross, California Indian Basketweavers Association, California, pesticide impacts Introduction to Federal and Indigenous Environmental Laws, Assessments and Policies In the U.S., many Indigenous tribal governments are developing tribal environmental programs and tribal laws to protect the environment within the jurisdiction of Indigenous territories. As tribes develop environmental standards and apply Indigenous jurisdiction to enforce tribal environmental laws, state governments and industry have resisted these new tribal developments. Federal environmental laws also apply on tribal laws. This workshop will discuss many areas from an introduction of federal environmental laws, emerging tribal environmental laws, the National Environmental Policy Act, innovative development of Tribal Environmental Policy Acts, approaches to environmental assessments, etc. A presentation will also be made on citizen enforcement of environmental laws. Moderator: Jan Stevens, Sac & Fox Nation Environmental Program, Oklahoma Jeanette Wolfley, Shoshone-Bannock Nation, Idaho, tribal-based environmental policy and laws Dean Saugee, Vermont First Nations Environmental Law Program, NEPA, assessment, laws Scott Kuhn, Communities for a Better Environment, San Francisco, citizens enforcement of environmental laws Protection of the Sacred - Conflicts with Western Development There are continued conflicts within Indigenous territories where sacred areas and cultural significant areas are not being protected by federal laws. This workshop will discuss these issues. What is the balance between the development of natural resources and the destruction to the earth and the environment? What strategies are there to address these issues and protect the sacredness of our Earth Mother? Moderator: Chris Peters, Seventh Generation Fund, California Sonny Weahkee, Petroglyph Monument Coalition, New Mexico Ola Cassadore and Michael Davis, Mt. Graham Coalition, Arizona Shelley Means, Snoqualmie Falls sacred site issue in Washington state Adrian Raminez, UCIZONI, Mexico Nuclear Colonialism This workshop will discuss the affects of nuclear testing, nuclear dump proposals, transportation, depleted uranium and other nuclear impacts on Indigenous Peoples. IEN is developing an Indigenous Nuclear Free Campaign. Discussion will focus on what the issues are and what strategy communities are using to address these issues. Moderator: Steve Lopez, Fort McDowell Nation, Colorado River Native Nations Alliance Corbin Harney, Spiritual Leader, Shundahai Network, Nevada Damacio Lopez, Citizens Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping, radioactive Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) transportation of nuclear and toxic waste in New Mexico and depleted uranium Margene Bullcreek, Ohngo Gavdadeh Devia, Utah, high-level radioactive waste dump on Indigenous lands at Skull Valley, Utah Gemelda Johnson, Chippewas of Nawash, Ontario, Canada, nuclear power plant being re-licensed Biological Diversity and the Impact of Globalism This workshop will address biological diversity (species and habitats) or what as Indigenous Peoples, we refer to as, "the Circle of Life". The focus of the presentations and discussion will be the impact of emerging decisions by national governments through global or international treaties on biodiversity and the environment (natural world), the infringement on Indigenous People's sovereignty/self determination, violation of the traditional role of Indigenous Peoples as protector/caretaker for biodiversity, and the exploitation of Indigenous Peoples, their territories, resources and knowledge through non-Indigenous methods. Moderator: Tony Gonzales (invited), United Nations Liaison, International Indian Treaty Council, San Francisco, California Edmund Gus, Manager, Center for Traditional Knowledge, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Alejandro Argumedo (invited), Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Network, Cusco, Peru Stephan Schnierer, MSc, Assoc. Prof. and Director,College of Indigenous Australian Peoples, Southern Cross University. Lismore, New South Wales, Australia Roy Taylor, Director, Indigenous Environmental Network/North American Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Project, Minneapolis, Minnesota Environmental Health Study, Youth Education and Risk Assessments This workshop will discuss a broad range of activities that Indigenous communities in the U.S. are doing to study the human health impact from toxic and radiation contamination; innovative ways to educate the youth and the community on radiation impacts; and emerging models of conducting risk assessment that recognizes Indigenous cultural, historical, spiritual and the "circle of life" approach. Moderator: Virginia Sanchez, Western Shoshone National Council, Nevada Phil Sittnick and Laguna Youth, Laguna Middle School Curriculum Project, impacts of uranium Patricia George, Nuclear Risk Management for Native Communities, Nevada, test site impacts Stuart Harris, Umatilla Confederated Tribes, Oregon, culturally appropriate risk assessment Landfill, Incineration and Municipal Solid Waste Many Indigenous communities generate their own solid and hazardous waste (toxic waste), as well as exploring the potential of importing toxic waste from non-Indigenous cities and communities. The management of toxic waste has become very expensive and tribes are looking at various ways to manage the disposal of toxic waste, as well as the reduction and collection of waste. Landfilling and incineration of "garbage" has become big business. What are the dangers with the technology of landfill and incinerators and what alternatives are there? Many tribes are building transfer stations to transport garbage off Indigenous lands to other disposal facilities. This workshop will have open discussion on these issues. Moderator: Bob Shimek, Health Care Without Harm Campaign, IEN, Minnesota Rita Jojola, RCRA Solid Waste Environmental Specialist, All Indian Pueblo Council Office of Environmental Protection, New Mexico Dr. Pat Costner, Greenpeace, Arkansas, presentation on the dangers of incineration of garbage and medical waste Dr. Peter Montague, Environmental Research Foundation, Maryland, presentation on how state-of-the-art landfill technology (liners) eventually leak and could contaminate groundwater and the environment. Border Environmental and Economic Justice [ two parts to be presented in one session ] This workshop is in two parts. Both workshops will discuss environmental and economic border justice issues affecting Indigenous Peoples and Mexican communities along the "imaginary border lines" along the U.S. and Mexico borders. Also, Indigenous Peoples along the Canadian and U.S. "border" will further discuss transboundary issues affecting their sovereignty and rights as Indigenous Nations. Panel 1. Moderator: Jose' Bravo, YEUANI-SNEEJ, Tijuana, Baja, Mexico Cipriana Jurado, overview of US/Mexico border issues of concern to Indigenous Peoples Dr. Derman Rios Barcelo, illegal toxic waste site in Hermosillo, Sonora (invited) Felicitas Cardona, issues Frente Domocratico Campesino is involved with, including economic development for Indigenous communities. Tupac Enrique, border-wide trade issues, including NAFTA affects and the development of a sustainable economic/trade model for local Indigenous communities Panel 2. Moderator: Jose Matos, discuss Indigenous immigration issues on the US/Mexico border. Jose Garza, issues Casa de Colores is involved in, including border crossing to maintain family/tribal relations integral to ceremonies crucial to survival of Indigenous cultures, languages and traditions. Lucy Harrison, American Indian Health Services, Detroit, Michigan, transboundary environmental justice issues of Wahpole Island First Nations along the US/Canadian border. Kakwirakeron, Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, First Nations Environmental Network, Canada, issues concerning border crossing and pass port issues along the Canadian/US border. Global Warming and Climate Change Studies throughout the Americas and the world have discovered global temperatures are rising. Burning oil and natural gas to heat homes, power cars, and light up the cities produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases as by-products. Deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture also release significant quantities of such gases. Warming of the climate will affect all living things especially humans. What affect will climate change have on Indigenous Peoples and lifestyles? This workshop will discuss these issues and provide information on what is being done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the adverse impacts of a changing climate. Moderator: Earl Tulley, Dine' CARE, New Mexico Pat Spears, Intertribal Council on Utility Policy, South Dakota Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper, Onondaga Nation Tony Socci, Office of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC Taking From The Earth, Mineral Extractions This workshop will discuss the affects that mineral extraction has had on Indigenous Peoples and the lands that sustain Indigenous communities. Throughout the world, the lifestyles of Indigenous Peoples have been negatively impacted from mining and mineral developments that have been unsustainable. IEN is developing an Indigenous Mining Campaign that will be networking with many of the speakers on this workshop. The presenters will discuss what their issues are and what strategies are needed to protect and restore their lands from mineral developments. Moderator: Rose Main, Fort Belknap White Clay Society, Montana Pratap Chatterjee, Project Underground, California gold mining and Native Peoples Leia Vale Oliveira, Waspishana, Brazil, South America Hazel Merritt, Utah Navajo Downwinders, Aneth oil fields, Utah Steve Kretzmann, U'wa Working Group, U'wa oil issues in Columbia, South America Martin Misiedjan, Marroon, Suriname, South America Community Organizing, Coalition Building and Conflict Resolution (Training Session) A good training session on skills needed to take an environmental issue at the community level, organize, and build support, alliances and coalitions. Skills training in conflict resolution will be provided. Luz Guerra, Texas Nilak Butler, Indigenous Women's Network, California Understanding Toxic Reduction Inventory (TRI) Data (Training Session) Everything you wanted to know about interpreting the data (information) that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gathers on toxic emissions from industry and polluters. Trainer: Angele' White, Washington, D.C. Basic Media Skills and Tactics (Training Session) This will be an intensive, interactive session designed to give participants the basic and more advanced skills for shaping public opinion through the press and capturing media attention for their issue and organization. The session will focus on the "do's and don'ts" of working with the media, framing your issues for the press, media messages, press releases, media events, strategic media planning and spokesperson training. This training is geared for the low-budget, grassroots community media activism that do not need glamorous PR budgets. Not a workshop for those that do not like the media and cannot work with it for social change. Trainer: Holly Minch, SPIN Project, San Francisco Air Testing (Training Session) A good introduction to air testing and what some Pueblo tribes are doing towards developing tribal air quality programs. The training will be an interactive session designed to give participants background on how air testing is done, what kind of contaminants can be tested, and various alternatives and methods of doing air testing. Chris Armijo, Air Quality Program, Pueblo Office of Environmental Protection, Albuquerque Jorge Argueta, Communities for a Better Environment, Bucket Brigade community-based air sampling, San Francisco Y2K: The Computer Bug and Potential Impact to Indigenous Peoples (Training Session) What is the so-called Y2K "bug" and how can it affect our Indigenous communities? This training session will introduce the issues surrounding the potential computer problems facing tribes, governments, industry, and the world - rural and urban, as the year 2000 approaches. Some computers do not have the ability to advance to the year 2000 causing inaccurate calculations and computer failure. This session will provide information on what steps could be done to be prepared for Y2K. Laura Manthe, Great Lakes Regional IEN, Wisconsin Lori G, Indigenous Environmental Network Y2K Project, Minnesota
	Youth Workshops (all youth workshops are during the afternoon from 1:30 to 4:30 unless otherwise noted)
	Youth Organizing Sessions: Buiding Power, Demanding Justice, Making Change - (Thursday) Presenters: Youth Action, Ann Canton & Lisa Charley Are youth just or leaders for tomorrow or can youth be leaders in our community today? This workshop will explore the elements of youth organizing in order for youth to understand what they can do in their communities today. We will look at movement history and the role of young people in organizing. We will also do some skills development in identifying issues important to young people and how to develop campaigns around those issues. Institutional Change and Power Mapping - (repeated Friday & Sunday) Presenters: Petroglyph Monument Protection Coalition, Eli Yong Lee, Sonny Weahkee & Neri This workshop is an interactive workshop in which you will discuss how to address the root causes of the problems we face in our society. You will develop your own Power Map, a too developed by the Environmental and Economic Justice Project, and in the process, you will analyze an issue in your community and develop a campaign to win that issue. Freedom Fighters for the 21st Century - (Saturday) Presenters: National Indian Youth Leadership Project - Sonlatsa Sunshine Jim-Martin An interactive and informative workshop with emphasis on understanding the current predicament of Indigenous North American Peoples. Participants will develop interpersonal skills using a combination of traditional native teachings and grassroots movement practices. Environmental Justice Youth Sessions Toxics in the City - (Thursday) Presenters: Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles, Nevada Dove, Juan Garcia, Maria Perez & Fabiola Tostado This workshop will bring awareness to many environmental justice issues being faced by urban areas nationwide. Discussion will include what is environmental justice, what happens to the stuff you put down the drains, toxic schools, how to affect public policy, and strategies to organizing around environmental issues affecting your school and home. This workshop would be good for urban Indian participants as well as learning various strategies of dealing with environmental justice issues. Uranium Impact to the Dine people of Canada - (Friday) Presenters: Joe Tsanni Presenter: Joe Tsannie, Hatchet Lake Dene First Nation, Canada The Dene people of Northern Saskatchewan have maintained their culture and traditions. Still today, they live off the land, in the wintertime hunt for caribou and in the summer fish for food. Currently there are six uranium mines operating in the province. The Dene people are concerned about the environmental problems developing and continuing long after the mines have been shut down and been decommissioned. Toxics on the Rez - (Saturday) Presenters: Youth Action, Bineshi Albert & Andrea Garza This workshop will review the development of the environmental justice movement including Indigenous Peoples involvement. After all that seriousness, we will discuss culture and organizing, collective power and campaign development along with some other fun roll-plays and interactive exercises. How to Organize and Win - (Sunday) Presenters: Children for a safe Environment, Donovan Koontz & Cory Johnson Children for a safe environment is an organization that started 11 years ago after the organization, Children For a Safe Environment (CDC) admitted that their community was a cancer cluster, since many children in their community had died. In addition to learning about some of the environmental issues surrounding hazardous and medical waste incineration, you will learn strategies to use in your communities. Some topics covered include how to get the media's attention, how to do press releases, keeping your group together, win without violence and using every ones talents. Traditional Teachings/Cultural Learning Youth Sessions: Adobe Building - (Repeated)(Thursday & Saturday) Presenters: National Indian Youth Leadership Program, Mac Hall This will be a complete hands-on teaching of adobe making which as been used by many tribes of the southwest. In addition, during the duration of the conference everyone can participate by assisting with the project of building a turtle, this will serve as the amphitheater for the camp upon completion. Tracking & Survival Skills - To be announced Presenters: Don McCloud Sapa Dawn Center also member of Puyallup Tribe, Washington Workshop will focus on traditional/survival skills of the Indigenous people such as firemaking, arrowhead and flintmaking, atl-atle (Wooden spear throwing) and tracking. Butchering and Hide tanning - To be announced Presenters: TBA Participants will learn how to butcher a sheep and work the hide. Traditional Teachings of Medicinal Herbs & Plants - To be announced Presenters: Presenters: Joyce McCloud, Sapa Dawn Center also member of Wasco/Nisqually Tribe, Washington Identify various plants and herbs used for medicinal purposes and where and when to harvest. Traditional foods and its preparation and storage will be discussed. Teambuilding and Conflict Resolution Youth Sessions: Exploring Teambuilding and Conflict Resolution through Theatre Games - To be announced Presenters: Riti Sachdeva & Annissa Dressler Participants will experience theatre games that will build trust, listening skills and develop critical thinking about choices. Participants will create a piece to perform for peers to reinforce and share what is learned. Teambuilding activities on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be held by the Ropes Course. Because of the high interest, please attend each of the team building activities listed below ONLY once. Team Building - (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) Facilitators: Bob Walker & Marty Foxman This workshop will be experiential and adventure-based. Group challenges and initiatives will be used to develop skills in communication, goal setting, problem solving, cooperation and personal effectiveness. The World is at our Feet - (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) Faciliatators: National Indian Youth Leadership Camp Staff, Andrea Socci & Ray Hoskinson A brief introduction to problem solving and fun, including individual and group participation at various elevations. Round things, walk lines, challenge gravity. Anything is possible!
	OTHER ACTIVITIES - Open to all participants
	Educational Demonstrations and (hands on): Radiation Detection (tour to the Jackpile mine) Adobe Brick Building Straw Bale Home Construction Solar Photo Voltaic Power Pueblo Bread Making Composting Technology Report-Outs During Lunch, and Supper: Gold Summit 1999 - Thursday lunch IEN/Project Underground Mining Project - Thursday lunch The Role of U.S. Military Installations Against The Navajo People from 1851 to 1868" - Thursday supper Just Transition/PACE - Friday lunch Health Care Without Harm Campaign - Friday lunch Honor The Earth Campaign - Friday lunch United Nations Conventions - CBD, CSD - Friday supper Title VI Complaints under the Civil Rights Act - Friday supper EPA American Indian Environmental Office - Saturday lunch EPA National Environmental Justice Advisory Council & Indigenous Sub-committee - Saturday lunch EPA NEJAC International Sub-committee Roundtable Meeting - Saturday lunch United Nations Convention on Sustainable Development - Saturday supper The Earth Council, Indigenous Peoples Program - Saturday supper Coalition Building Sessions: Uranium Gold Mining Nuclear Youth Toxics (POPs specific) Y2K Events: Thursday, Friday, Saturday after workshops and before dinner, Afro-Brazilian drumming and dance demonstration at the Youth area. Performers: Loco Bloco, Bay Area, California Thursday Evening: Talent Show with unplug performance by Red Earth (ends at 10:30) Friday Day: Nature Walks for Youth and Young Adults (teachings, plants, medicines, history) Friday Evening: Cultural Presentations (ends at 10:30 p.m.) Pueblo Presentation Navajo Presentation Fort Mojave Bird Singers Havasupai Presentation Dancers from Mexico Others Saturday Day: Fun Run (Children, Youth and Young Adults) Nature Walks for Youth and Young Adults (teachings, plants, medicines, history) Saturday Evening: Intertribal Pow Wow with Social Dancing (ends at 11:00 p.m.) Sunday Day: Youth Awards and Adult/Elderly Recognition The Indigenous Environmental Network is an affiliation of the Seventh Generation Fund "An environmental and economic justice alliance of Indigenous Peoples protecting the sacredness of Mother Earth and building sustainable communities." Indigenous Environmental Network Top 10th Annual Protecting Mother Earth Conference Conference Schedule Camping at the Conference Home