 Thoughts & Information from interested parties and the news media |
 IEN Message to the Family and Friends |
 Biographies: |
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of the People
Ingrid Washinawatok |
This page has been developed to be of assistance to the family and friends of Ingrid Washinawatok, Terence Freitas and Lahe'ena'e Gay who were recently taken hostage and murdered in Colombia, South America. The Indigenous Environmental Network offers this page as a clearinghouse for information on events in Colombia, funeral arrangements, and to provide addresses to send condolences, cards, flowers, donations, etc. All information gathered will be shared with the family members. | |||||
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Terence Freitas "My son understood clearly the dangers involved in his trips to Colombia," his mother, Julie Freitas, said. "Terence took those (death) threats seriously, but because of his deeply felt connection to the U'wa, he chose to return and try to help organize an educational project." Paraphased and excerpted from The Associated Press article by Martha Bellisle
Donations in name of Terence may be sent to:
Lahe'ena'e Gay "Her work was her passion. She dedicated her life to indigenous causes and saving traditional cultures." Excerpted from New York Times article by Susan Sachs. A friend said of her, "Gay, was a 'female Indiana Jones' who survived several bouts with death while dedicating her life to others." Condolences, cards, donations can be directed to: Pacific Cultural Conservancy International, P.O. 1352, Pahoa, HI 96778. Ph: (808) 965-8855 Fax: (808) 965-5108 e-mail: pcci@hialoha.net 
From Donna Chavis, Chair, Board of Directors, Fund for Four Directions, in response to plans for Ingrid. The following message is a general report in response to all the requests for information that we have received. I am sorry that we cannot respond to each individual directly but hope that this will help answer some of your questions at this time. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers that are present at this time We have heard from many about the untimely loss of our friend, companion and loved one, Ingrid Washinawatok. The statements of concern and support have been comforting. We are sorry that we have not been able to speak to everyone directly and ask for your understanding at this time. We hope that you know how much each of you mean to us, especially now. You are probably already aware of the following information. However, in the event you are not I will recap highlights of the past few days. On Thursday, February 25, 1999, Ingrid Washinawatok, Board Chair of Native Americans in Philanthropy, was taken hostage in Colombia South American after a visit with the U'wa people there. Taken with Ingrid was Terence Freitas and Lahe'ena'e Gay. Terence was a graduate in biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a long time supporter of the U'wa people in Colombia. Lahe'ena'e was the executive director of the Pacific Cultural Conservancy International (PCCI) in Hawaii. All three held a strong commitment to the traditional ways of indigenous peoples around the globe. On Thursday, March 4, the bodies of the three companions were found in Venezuela just across the border from Colombia.
Ingrid Washinawatok
Condolences and regards may be sent to Ingrid's family at the following
locations:
Ingrid's husband, Ali, and son, Maehki, can receive condolences at Gina's address through the ceremonial time. Thank you for your expressions of concern and love at this time. As plans for memorial services and recognitions for Ingrid and her work evolve we will keep you informed. Please bear with us as we honor this time of grieving and ceremony. In order to assure that actions of honor and remembrance for Ingrid are done in a good way we must take proper care of Spirit. I know that she would expect no less of us. Her family would accept donations to help cover funeral expenses and to start up a Trust Fund in her name. P.O. 910, Keshena, WI 54135, ph: 715-799-5113
 Thoughts and Information from interested parties and the news media:
Message to the Family and Friends of Ingrid Washinawatok, Terence Freitas
and Lahe'ena'e Gay who were taken hostage and murdered in Colombia, South
America.
March 8, 1999 The Indigenous Environmental Network, consisting of an affiliation of over 200 Native communities, organizations, traditional societies and tribal nations, expresses our condolences to the families and friends of Ingrid Washinawatok, Terence Freitas and Lahe'ena'e Gay. Their work and accomplishments as humanitarians and advocates for the rights of Indigenous Peoples, environmental justice, human rights and cultural preservation was well known and respected from throughout the local to the global community. We offer our prayers to the relatives and friends of Ingrid, Terence and Lahe'ena'e to gain the strength and understanding you seek. It is the guidance of the Great Spirit - Earth Maker that we must depend on during this time of need. Indigenous villages, communities, nations, and organizations within our network extends throughout the Four Directions of our Earth Mother. We are facing environmental and economic injustice issues and human rights violations such as the U'wa tribal communities Ingrid, Terence and Lahe'ena'e were visiting with at the time of their abduction. The Indigenous Environmental Network recognizes the excellent work they did on behalf of many of the Indigenous communities that make up our network. Their deaths will not be forgotten. Our mind, heart and spirit will stand with you in solidarity. Already their passing has brought attention to the U'wa tribe of Colombia who are defending their ancestral lands from oil exploration by Occidental Petroleum as well as violence and human rights violations in Colombia. Their deaths have reconfirmed our commitment to stand fast in defense of our rights as Indigenous Peoples to protect our traditional lands and all lands against unsustainable development and exploitation of natural resources that have sustained us for time immemorial. In Memory of Those That Have Gone On and Those Yet to Be Born - The Staff and National Council of the Indigenous Environmental Network on behalf of our network affiliations - villages, communities, traditional societies, tribal nations, organizations, individuals, volunteers, interns and resource persons.
Ingrid Washinawatok was a proud member of the Menominee Nation and a humanitarian who fought for Indigenous peoples' rights throughout the world. On this specific trip, Ingrid was invited by the native peoples of Colombia known as the U'Wa Tribe to assist them with an educational and cultural preservation program for their children. She was not visiting Colombia for political-related purposes, it was for traditional religious purposes as a guest of the U'Wa. Ingrid was an activist when it came to promoting Indigenous cultures and traditions. She was Executive Director of the Fund for Four Directions based in New York City where she directed the grant-making policies and led a new effort to revitalize Indigenous language. She was active in the 1970s where Indian People rose again to claim Self-Determination. Ingrid was co-chair of the Indigenous Women's Network were she voiced concerns for Native women through activism, literature and community work. The Indigenous Womens Network was founded to assist women of the younger generation through education of the women and the struggles they faced before them. Ingrid was recently selected by the Rockefeller Foundation as an outstanding leader to participate in the National Generation Leadership Program. The Rockefeller Foundation is a philanthropic organization endowed by John D. Rockefeller for the well-being of humankind throughout the world. The Foundation seeks to identify and address at their source, the causes of human suffering and need. Ingrid was a member of the Indigenous Initiative for Peace, convened by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberto Menchu Tum and had organized and participated in the first, second and third State of the World Forums. In addition, she served as an Official translator for an International Indigenous Conference and was a delegate for the Commission on Human Rights and the Working Group on Indigenous populations. She was Chair of the Native Americans in Philanthropy and served on the Board of Directors for the Sister Fund, the National Network of Grant-makers and on the selection committee for the Letelier Moffit Human Rights Award. Ingrid was an award-winning lecturer who spoke on the rights of Indigenous peoples regionally and internationally and a co-producer of the film documentary, "Warrior". She received numerous awards from the Asian American, Hispanic American and African American communities throughout her lifelong struggle to promote each community. Ingrid is sadly missed by the Washinawatok family, Dodge family and members of the Menominee Nation. She had many friends through-out the world in her lifelong struggle to promote culture, traditions and human rights. We will all miss her energetic and zealous presence. She was a dynamic warrior and an inspiration for Natives throughout the world. She served her people selflessly in life and in her struggle continued until her life was taken from this world. Ingrid was preceded in death by her father, the late Honorable James Washinawatok of the Menominee Nation Supreme Court. Ingrid carried on much of the work that her father actively supported thoughout his lifetime. MENOMINEE INDIAN TRIBE OF WISCONSINP.O. Box 210 Keshena, WI 54135-0910
At the time of her death, Lahe'ena'e was completing her book entitled "Ancestral Voices" which details 180 years in the true life of one royal Hawaiian family. Lahe was a direct descendant of this royal family and she honored and celebrated her Hawaiian heritage. Bound by a strong spiritual and cultural code of ethics, Lahe had immense respect and love for the native Hawaiian culture and Kupuna. Lahe received her guidance from the spirit of the Earth and from her Hawaiian ancestors to do the work that she knew needed to be done.
In the course of her life, she traveled and studied extensively. Her exposure to the diversity of the human family allowed her to experience its uniqueness, passions and challenges. Lahe often spoke on behalf of the human and natural environments in numerous forums including the State of the World Forum, a national sustainability conference and the United Nations. In April 1997, Lahe presented an indigenous perspective to the United Nations, 5th Commission on Sustainable Development, she said: The U'wa people struggle to protect their ancestral homelands, but their cultural integrity is also greatly endangered. The youths are quickly losing their ability and desire to maintain their traditional language and culture. The elders see this as one of the greatest threats facing the U'wa people. In December 1998, seventeen U'wa communities proposed to reject Colombia's national education system and close down all government schools located on their reservation lands. It was at that time that the Traditional U'wa Authority requested Lahe'ena'e's assistance to implement PCCI's traditional indigenous education model into their communities. Lahe'ena'e was a visionary who recognized her place to restore and nurture the integrity of the human family. She lived her life in such a way that she has managed to leave a penetrating mark on her friends, family, community and the world. Neither she, nor her courageous work, will ever be forgotten. Lahe'ena'e was a descendent of a kamaaina family, Francis Gay and Lillie Hart Gay Torrey. She is survived by her husband, John Livingstone, her father Ernest Gay of Pahoa, her mother Margaret Stechman of Florida, her sister Zea Shimahara of California, her uncle Peter A. Gay and family of Florida, and her hanai family of Kaua'i: Aletha Goodwin Kaohi and her children: Buz Kaohi, Galen Kaohi, Vivien Tamashiro, Kawailana Mata, Lamela Kaohi, Tammy Kaululaau, Natalie Kaululaau, fourteen nieces and nephews. Information provided by: Pacific Cultural Conservancy International pcci@hialoha.net Marianne Hebert
With permission of the RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/amazonia/terry_julie.html (You can access the artictle en español, also.) March 11, 1999 To the Colombian and international media, to goverments worldwide, to non-governmental representatives of the international community, and to youth everywhere: I have received the latest news accounts reporting that leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas have attributed the killings of my son Terence Freitas, 24, Ingrid Washinawatok, 41, and Lahe'ena'e Gay, 39, to a local rebel commander. I stress emphatically that the family members and friends of Terence are not interested in any more bloodshed in Colombia. I understand the FARC frequently administer internal justice in cases like these by executing those allegedly responsible. I beg the FARC leaders not to destroy any more young lives. I do not want any mother to have to experience what I have experienced with the tragic loss of my son. If members of the FARC are indeed responsible, I would like to talk with them about the roots of their anger, about the source of this rage that prompted them to commit such a senseless act - the killings of people they obviously knew not enough about. I would like them to know that my son worked passionately in his short and tragically interrupted life to bring peace and tolerance and life to Colombia, following the example of the U'wa, the "thinking people." I have learned from the U'wa elders that my son Terence sent his spirit to them in a dream this week. In this dream, Terence gave the elders a snail shell, which to the U'wa symbolizes peace and problem solving. Let this urgent plea from my son spread from the sacred land of the U'wa, from Kajka Ika, the heart of the world, throughout Colombia, throughout the international community. Let people everywhere respond to this tragedy by working to bring peace to Colombia so that communities like the U'wa may continue to preserve human life and the dignity of the land. Before his death, Terence helped write a report about the U'wa people called, Blood of Our Mother. The report prophetically states: "Colombian President-elect Andrés Pastrana has a tremendous opportunity in this crisis. A promising peace process between the guerrillas and the government may allow the space for cooler heads to prevail. Human rights may yet triumph over multinational corporate interests." Following my son's example, I request:
A short autobiography of Terry Freitas written in 1997 is at http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/amazonia/terry_bio.html
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Terence Freitas was a twenty-four year old biologist making his fifth trip to work with the U'wa. He became involved with the U'wa in 1997 regarding the activities of Occidental Petroleum Corp. on their ancestral land.
Lahe'ena'e Gay, 39, was a native Hawaiian. A photojournalist and writer, she led
delegations of indigenous Polynesians to various international forums and
was active in Hawaii in fighting for their official recognition.
