[Indigsol] Ottawa Kicks off First Indigenous Sovereignty Week, Saturday October 24th

Thu Oct 22 08:21:03 PDT 2009

**

**
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
*October 21, 2009*
*Ottawa Kicks off First Indigenous Sovereignty Week, Saturday October 24th*

In July of this year Defenders of the Land, a network of Indigenous
communities and activists involved with land struggles across Canada, put
out a call to Indigenous people and their allies to organize events for a
first ever Indigenous Sovereignty Week. In response, a number of
Ottawa-based organizations and individuals have put together a comprehensive
week of public activities starting on Saturday October 24. The intent of the
week is to contribute to building a cross-Canada movement for Indigenous
rights, self-determination, and justice that is led by Indigenous
communities but with a broad base of informed support.

Indigenous Sovereignty Week events in Ottawa will start off on the 24th with
a night of food, music and spoken word at the Odawa Native Friendship
Centre. There will be something every day through the rest of the week
including workshops, talks, films and music. The week will culminate with a
walk to Victoria Island from downtown, featuring presentations on current
issues along the way and a closing ceremony at the Island. The full schedule
and details can be found at: http://www.ipsmo.org/
 Presenters for the various sessions come from nearby First Nations,
including Mireille Lapointe Co-Chief of the Ardoch Algonquin and Marilyn
Poucachiche from Barrier Lake. There are also speakers from across the
country including Ellen Gabriel from Kahnesatake (Quebec), Art Manuel from
Neskonlith (B.C.), and Gitz Crazy Boy from the Dene and Blackfoot Nations
(Alberta).

Michael Desautels, the Human Rights and Aboriginal Rights Officer for the
Public Service Alliance of Canada, one of the organizers describes the week
as “an opportunity to bring forward the challenges and strengths of
Indigenous peoples and to help build understanding between Indigenous and
non-Indigenous people.” He adds that “We want this week to be an inclusive
and welcoming event and encourage everyone to come out and join us.”

The Ottawa events are being supported by a number of local and national
organizations including: PSAC, CUPE, CUPW, Indigenous Peoples Solidarity
Movement- Ottawa (IPSMO), MiningWatch Canada, EquitableEducation.ca,
Bolivian Action Solidarity Network, OPIRG-Carleton, OPIRG-UofO and the UofO
Canadian Studies and Aboriginal Studies Student Association.

-30-

Media Contact
Michael Desautels, Public Service Alliance of Canada: 613-222-7381 (
desautm at psac-afpc.com)
Web links: www.defendersoftheland.ca, www.ipsmo.org, www.grupoqpoyo.org

* *

*Indigenous Sovereignty Week, Oct 24-31, Ottawa*

*SCHEDULE OF EVENTS*

*Sat Oct 24*

*Celebrating Indigenous Cultural Resistance!*

*3:00pm - Workshop: Circle Stories Rising Strong: Love Your Voice, Share
Your Song
**by Moe Clark, Métis, *and* Emile Monnet, Algonquin – ** *the* Bird
Messenger Collective***

*6:00pm – Dinner, 7:00pm - Kick-Off Concert for Indigenous  Sovereignty Week
*

Featuring: Elder Dumont (Algonquin) Every Women’s Drum Group, Bird Messenger
Collective, Mosha Folger (Inuit – Eskimocentricity), Suzanne Keeptwo (Metis
of Algonquin/French and Irish) Christopher Herodier (Cree) Rachel Wuttunee
(Oji-Cree), Luis Abanto (Peru)

Odawa Friendship Centre, 12 Stirling Avenue (at Scott)

*Sun Oct 25, 1:00pm*

*Remembering Residential Schools*

Presenters: Irene Lindsay Thomas Louttit, Gordon Williams, and Viola
Thomas, Jackie Miller (Aboriginal Healing Foundation). Moderated by
Violet Paul (AFN).

Ottawa Public Library main branch auditorium, 120 Metcalfe St (at Laurier)

*Mon Oct 26, 6:30pm*

*Indigenous Perspectives on the Environment *

Presenters: Daryl Sainnawap* (**Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug), Clayton
Thomas Muller (Indigenous Environment Network), Gitz Crazy Boy (Dene and
Blackfoot Nations), Marilyn Poucachiche (Barrier Lake Algonquin).***

Ottawa Public Library main branch auditorium, 120 Metcalfe St (at Laurier)

*Tues Oct 27, 7:00pm*

*Fighting for Our Rights: Indigenous Women and Youth in an Urban Context*

Presenters: Joceyln Forsma, Clayton Thomas Muller, others TBA

St. Joseph's Church, 151 Laurier Ave E. (at Cumberland) [Hall entrance at
174 Wilbrod St]

*Wed Oct 28*

*5:00pm - Kahnesatake: 270 Years of Resistance (Film)*

*7:00pm - New Frontiers of Resistance: Exploring Kahnesatake and the Tar
Sands*

Presenters: Ellen Gabriel (Kahnesatake) and representatives from Beaver Lake
First Nation.

St. Joseph's Church, 151 Laurier Ave E. (at Cumberland) [Hall entrance at
174 Wilbrod St]

*Thurs Oct 29, 7:00pm*

*Defenders of the Land: National Speakers Tour*

Presenters: Art Manuel (Neskonlith / Indigenous Network on Economy and
Trade), Russel Diabo (Kahnawake), Mireille Lapointe (Ardoch Algonquin)

St. Joseph's Church, 151 Laurier Ave E. (at Cumberland) [Hall entrance at
174 Wilbrod St]

*Fri Oct 30, 7:00pm*

*Pachakut’i (Cosmic Upheaval): the Emergence of Indigenous Peoples*

Presenters: Ben Powless (Six Nations), Marcelo Saavedra-Vargas
(Quechua-Aymara Nation and UofO), Georges E. Sioui (Huron-Wendatt Nation and
UofO), Louise Cassleman (PSAC)

Alumni Auditorium, Jock Turcot University Centre, University of Ottawa

*Sat Oct 31, 11:00am*

*Workshop: Indigenous Solidarity for Settlers*

Presented by Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement - Ottawa

room 205,  Jock Turcot University Centre, University of Ottawa

*Sat Oct 31, 1:00pm*

*Celebrating Indigenous Sovereignty march and rally*

Starting* *at the corner of Rideau and Sussex, ending on Victoria Island,
informational stops along the way.**

Followed by closing ceremony with elder Albert Dumont (Algonquin)

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-- 
"'The optimum is the enemy of the good' - the never-ending search for the
perfect political action all too often serves as an excuse for doing
nothing at all."

-- 
Check out IPSMO's Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/ipsmo

IPSMO's Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=120142932547&ref=ts
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