FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nancy Richler4 MARCH 2008
Honoring American Indians as our Nation’s First Environmentalists
Honors and Connections
“There were so many highlights to Heritage Month 2007—seeing the first American Indian Parade in downtown Los Angeles, having our work acknowledged in City Council, receiving international media attention for the American Indian Holocaust Memorial, and creating the beautiful relationships necessary to bring American Indian voice into the mainstream. We made important connections with our Los Angeles City Council District Leaders, the Los Angeles Superintendent of California State Parks, business leaders, our neighborhood communities, and deepened our bond with our American Indian elders and spiritual leaders.” “The most significant honor, however, was the beauty and mystery that was evoked at each Red Nation celebration. Because each event holds the integrity of being deeply grounded in our traditions, each is capable of evolving into a larger-scale entity that positively shapes our future. We are looking forward to this growth in 2008,” continues Romero. Highlights of the 2nd Annual American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles, November 2007 set the stage for Heritage Month 2008Opening Water Ceremony
Because “water is the bloodline to Mother Earth,” it was only fitting to open Heritage Month with a sunrise water blessing ceremony in the direction of the East. For the second year, the Respecting the Water of Life Ceremony was held alongside the Los Angeles River, at the Bette Davis Picnic area, Griffith Park. Volunteers arrived before dawn to post directional signs and tie red velvet markings around trees and fence posts to show the way. Pete Catches, a 38th generation Lakota medicine man, officiated, setting the tone with drum and song. At the Rivers’ edge were two Native children--a boy cleanses participants with burning sage; a young girl offers water from a large wooden bowl. Participants cup water in their hands to accept its blessing; they whisper intentions over the water, including healing for contaminated waters around the globe. Each speaks a blessing and releases the water into the Los Angeles River. Herons fly by. Eyes and faces beam. The concrete of the freeway and the River’s paving fade, superseded by the fiery ball of sun rising in the East. Little bits of life can be seen wiggling in the water. In this manner, we dedicated all Heritage Month events to the healing and harmony of all peoples. Teenage descendant of Geronimo inspires City-wide Conference Heritage Month Day Two saw two hundred youth from five Los Angeles Middle Schools converge at Calmont School in Calabasas for a Help the Earth Environmental Youth Empowerment Summit. Conceived by 13-year-old Calmont student Montano Rain, the Summit was run by youth for youth. Students spoke out about the effects of water pollution, air pollution, animal extinction, deforestation, global warming and alternative fuels. Spiritual Leader Pete Catches opened the conference with a traditional American Indian song and offered words of encouragement to the youth about living in alignment with the living systems of the Earth.
Awards and honors
At the Summit, Montano Rain received a Recognition Award (for speaking up to educate and empower youth about environmental issues) from Nancy Pearlman, founder of EcoNews Television and Trustee for the Los Angeles Community College District. Earlier in the year, Rain was presented with the United Nations Association/Pasadena Chapter Youth Environmental Award for bringing awareness to youth on environmental issues. Last fall, Rain (whose bloodline is that of Geronimo) opened Jane Goodall’s International Peace Day in Griffith Park as well as her 30th Anniversary Tribute Ceremony with a traditional American Indian honor song. Goodall also invited Rain to take a leadership role in her international Roots & Shoots organization. Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge acknowledged Montano Rain in Council Chambers on December 7, 2007, citing Rain’s leadership in producing the City’s inaugural Youth Summit. Rain, in turn, presented a signed Help the Earth poster to Summit sponsor Metropolitan Water District. “The City of Los Angeles further complemented Help the Earth by producing a spin off, City-wide environmental youth conference on December 8, 2007,” states Romero. “This affirms our vision that each event has the capacity to grow into a larger-scale entity capable of shaping the direction of our City. It is important, however, that Indian events grow organically. For their power to come forth, they must stay deeply rooted in the wisdom of our culture.”Inaugural American Indian Parade
The first American Indian parade in the City of Los Angeles was held on Saturday, November 10, 2007. Beginning at the historical El Pueblo Marketplace on Olvera Street, Native Americans retraced the steps of generations who have entered the City. The Ohlone Humaya Dancers, descendants of the original peoples of Los Angeles, and an honor guard from the Rancheria Tachi tribe of Santa Rosa led the Parade; arriving at the new Los Angeles State Historic Park (long known as the Cornfield) for the two-day Pau Wau and Indian marketplace. Drums, dancers, youth, tribal elders, dignitaries and organizations that support American Indians joined the Parade.
Photographed above is Chief Harry Charger, Chief of the Cheyenne River Lakota and his niece, Rhonda Holy Bear, a talented Lakota Doll artist.
Pau Wau and Intertribal Market Place
Los Angeles State Historic Park was chosen as site for the Pau Wau, because it marks the historical meeting point for the Chumach and Tongva nations. Los Angeles Superintendent of California State Parks Sean Woods facilitated the venues for the both the Pau Wau and the American Indian Holocaust Memorial/Tribute to Life Ceremony.
American Indians receive International Heart of Humanity Award
The Heart of Humanity Award was presented to Red Nation Celebration on the second day of Pau Wau. Internationally renowned artist Dr. Narayan deVera honored American Indians as our Nation’s First Environmentalists. Red Nation Founder Joanelle Romero accepted the Humanity Award on behalf of American Indians. She then bestowed care of the Award to Jimi Castillo, spiritual leader of the Tongva Tribe and spiritual adviser for the 2007 Pau Wau. The heart-shaped Award is carved from hardwood from Kenya. The free-standing carved heart is in the form of a mobius, with only one continuous edge and one continuous surface, signifying the Oneness of humanity. Other award recipients include Bishop Desmond Tutu, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, IONS president James O’Dea and Robert Muller of the United Nations.Pau Wau Concert Series
A Red Nation Concert Series was held on the first evening of the Pau Wau. Danilo Diaz opened with native wood flute music; followed by The Spinning Trio, a classical youth group; Barbra Williams; Joanelle Romero & the Red Nation band; Red Buffalo, Southern Host Drum; and Rock Pine, Northern Host Drum.Honoring American Indian Veterans
Military veterans are highly honored in American Indian culture. With Veterans Day falling during Pau Wau, American Indian veterans were recognized and acknowledged for their contributions in protecting the American homeland. Members of the Gourd Society, an intertribal veterans’ organization, honored M.C. Saginaw Grant for his contributions. Griffith Smith was Head Gourd Dancer. Just as the Navajo code talkers are cited by military commanders for turning the tides in World War II because their language proved to be an unbreakable secret code; similarly, we can look to the American Indian community ("our Nation's First Environmentalists") to again provide us keys for our survival.
Film Festival: raising visibility: minority representation in the media
The fourth annual Red Nation Film Festival opened with native youth films, shown in collaboration with Michael Smith of the San Francisco American Indian Film Festival. Opening night featured a screening of the first American Indian drama series in the United States (with an American Indian producer, director and cast). The Festival was attended by members of the Writers Guild, Directors Guild, Producers Guild, Screen Actors Guild, American Indian youth journalists and Jay Travera, star of Steven Spielberg’s Into the West.American Indian Holocaust Memorial/Tribute to Life Ceremony
Sunset Water Ceremony closes Heritage Month 2007
The closing water blessing ceremony on the last day of Heritage Month 2007 proved to be auspicious. The ceremony was held in the historic Ballona Wetlands Freshwater Marsh, the ancient burial grounds of Gabrieleno, Tongva and Shoshone ancestors. Rain, which had been pouring all day, cleared for the ceremony. Ducks flew overhead in V-formation, and a huge rainbow formed above. Guided by chanting and drumming conducted by Oyate Wayanka Po Win and Manny Sandoval (of Spirit Ride); participants aligned themselves with the element of water, bloodline to Mother Earth; and offered thanks for all the blessings, new connections and understandings received during the month. City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl and staff, American Indian community, environmentalists groups, religious leaders, youth and the public were present. When the sun set, and the ceremony concluded; the rain began again. Thank you for making American Indian Heritage Month 2007 a reality. So many contributed their support in honoring American Indians as our Nation’s first Environmentalists. The 2nd Annual American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles is a project of Red Nation Celebration. The 2007 American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles / Red Nation Celebration was funded and endorsed in part by Governor of the State of California, California State Indian Commission, James Irvine Foundation, Los Angeles State Historic Park, Metropolitan Water District, The City of Los Angeles Councilmembers Bill Rosendahl, Ed Reyes, Tom LaBonge, Jose Huizar, Time Warner, LA Inc./Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau, LA Corps, Cal Poly Pomona Native American Student Center, City of Los Angeles/Department of Cultural Affairs, Chinatown Business Improvement District, Pasadena Foothills Chapter of the United Nations Association, KPFK 90.7, Calmont School, Help the Earth, American Indian Film Institute, Maha Yoga, El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Color Images, Farm Lab, Riverside Indian School, A-1 Event & Party Rentals, Techovoice, Bodhi Tree, 2 Live & Let Live, Murdock Mojado Advertising Graphic Design, Chop Shop Inc, Casa de Sousa, International Indigenous Sacred Women's Council, North Valley Charter Academy, Buonora Child Development Center, Patagonia, Plaza Café, Las Palomas of Santa Fe, Red Nation Radio, Red Nation Television Channel and Red Nation Holdings, Inc. Thank you to all relations who participated or sent their blessings, all the professors, educators and spiritual leaders, our YOUTH, Red Nation producers, the general public, the City of Los Angeles, the businesses, our elected officials, the media, the press, our sponsors, all volunteers, our wonderful LA Corp volunteers, the Los Angeles State Historic Park staff. The backbone of Red Nation’s support in the American Indian community is grounded in its spiritual elders. Thank you to Jimi Castillo (Tongva), Pete Catches (Lakota) and Floyd Etsitty (Dine) for joining us in Los Angeles. Deep gratitude to our photographers: JB Letchinger, Sharon Jimenez, Darlene Zavalrey, Los Angeles State Historic Park Please submit photos to further document American Indian Heritage Month 2007 by sending jpeg files (compressed to approx. 150-200KB) to Submit photos to identify the location, people and photographer if possible.Red Nation Celebration
presents
The 3rd Annual American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles
Special thanks to Firefly Lilia Adecer Cajilog for the lead.
Last updated on March 13, 2008