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9TH ANNUAL INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK |
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PROTECTING MOTHER EARTH CONFERENCE August 2-5, 1998, Sunday - Wednesday
WITHIN THE MODOC NATIONAL FOREST Support the Elders, Youth, and Members of Pitt River, Modoc, Shasta, and Wintu Tribes in their fight to preserve their sacred sites - Medicine Lake and Mt. Shasta Theme: HONORING SACRED PLACES |
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• A campout gathering
• Traditional hand game tournament • Daycare provided • Workshops and training on environmental ecological knowledge protection and protection of our sacred sites and natural resources |
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• Bring your oun tipis
• Youth Events • Meals provided • Renewable energy and traditional • Largest environmental gathering of Indigenous Peoples from throughout Turtle Island |
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* Limited travel scholarships for native community groups • No alcohol or drugs allowed • This is a traditional-based gathering with a sacred fire all four days. Bemidji, Minnesota - The Modoc National Forest will be the site for this year's largest Indigenous environmental conference. The 9th annual Protecting Mother Earth conference is scheduled for August 2-5, 1998, near Alturas, California. Seventh Generation Fund will host this year's event which is in support of the elders, youth, and members of the Pitt River, Modoc, Shasta, and Wintu tribes in their fight to preserve their sacred sites - Medicine Lake and Mount Shasta. Seventh Generation Fund is a Native controlled foundation committed to the support of Native economic renewal, religious freedom, land rights, and other programs. The Seventh Generation Fund firmly believes that Native people possess the traditional ecological knowledge and cultural practices needed to heal our communities. The Medicine Lake Highlands are spectacular and should be considered one of America's greatest natural treasures. Many ceremonial sites remain from the long religious use of this area. Geothermal power companies CalEnergy and CalPine have requested permission from the Forest Service to construct a geothermal power plant in the Highlands. This would result in an 18-acre power plant, areas of well sites, over 20 miles of 120-foot electrical towers and many new roads. Enough ancient forest will be clearcut for the powerlines alone to fill 100 logging trucks! Mount Shasta has been utilized by Native Americans over countless generations for the training of medicine leaders and chiefs, for spiritual quests, and for healing and guidance. In November 1994, the Keeper of the National Register drastically revised his original determination of eligibility for recognition and protection as a National Historic District from 150,000 acres to 19,000 acres. This reduction opens Mount Shasta to development for large scale ski and condo developments. The conference will focus on preserving sacred sites throughout Indigenous territories. Other tribal topics will address solid and toxic waste, water and air quality standards; water and soil sampling techniques. Federal environmental policies, environmental health. Native community-based organizing techniques; oil and gas activities, and nuclear and toxic contamination. All workshops are developed to be relevant to the Indigenous grassroots community. "Honoring Sacred Places" is the theme for this year's conference. Sponsored by the Indigenous Environmental Network, this gathering is expected to draw approximately 1,500 Indigenous people primarily from North America with some delegates from Mexico, Central and South America. These outdoor camping conferences have been held in different regions of the country since 1990 and have been successful in educating and organizing tribal community members around issues of environmental protections, sacred sites, environmental health, and renewable energy. Other topics will include Tribal, State, Federal, and International biological diversity policies that impact the recognition of Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge and practices. (Small map, routes and directions) Conference Agenda
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