[IPSM] Indigenous Solidarity and the Peoples' Social Forum, Aug 21 - 24

[mattm-b at resist.ca]

The Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement – Ottawa (IPSMO) is one of the
groups organizing indigenous solidarity related aspects of the Peoples’
Social Forum, which will be happening from Aug. 21 – 24, 2014, and one of
the anchor groups for an Indigenous Solidarity Assembly:
https://organizingforjustice.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/PMA-Kit_for-PSF_fnl.pdf

We want to create a network of other groups involved in anchoring an
Indigenous Solidarity Assembly and Indigenous solidarity related aspects
of the forum.  We want you and your organization to be involved in this
organizing and in the Peoples’ Social Forum.

We are contacting groups locally, regionally and nationally for
several different reasons:

-          to learn if they would be interested in co-organizing an
Indigenous Solidarity Assembly

-          to encourage people and groups to offer indigenous
solidarity workshops

-          to begin fund raising so that indigenous people interested
in attending are able to do so

-          to learn whether they already have plans for the Forum,
and, if so, what they are

-          to know what indigenous solidarity activities they would
like to happen during the forum

-          to find out who else we should be contacting

-          to initiate a broader conversation about indigenous
solidarity both during the forum and after



What is the Peoples’ Social Forum?



The PSF is a space for the coming together of all of the different
sections of movements for social, economic and environmental justice.
It is pluralistic and inclusive and open to all groups, organizations
and movements working for a better world.



The forum will be happening from August 21 – 24, 2014, in Ottawa, on
unceded Algonquin territory.  It will include an opening ceremony with
Algonquin elders, followed by a large demonstration marching from
Victoria Island to Parliament Hill, where there will be a Round Dance.
 There will be two days of workshops, with hundreds of different
workshops planned, a Pow-Wow, a day for movement assemblies, and a
closing ceremony.



Thousands of people, as many as ten thousand people are expected to
attend.  It is important that indigenous solidarity organizations are
there to work with non-native people interested in decolonization.  In
doing this organizing we need to make sure that we are listening to
indigenous people, taking direction from them, and nurturing an
indigenous solidarity movement where people will stick around for the
long-term.



There is an Indigenous Caucus and many Indigenous activists have been
participating in the planning and organizing of the forum.  One of the
three paid staff positions is that of Indigenous Co-ordinator.  We have
been in touch with them, and they suggested we organize an Indigenous
Solidarity Assembly, and to organize for the forum.



What Are We Asking?



We want to find other groups interested in co-anchoring an Indigenous
Solidarity Assembly.  This movement assembly is an important
opportunity for the wide variety of people and groups engaged or
interested in doing Indigenous solidarity to come together, talk,
listen, learn and teach, to identify shared priorities and engage in
collective strategizing.



We want to help make sure that indigenous people interested in
attending are able to do so. This means that we will be fund raising:
this could involve both donations from groups (with many groups even
small donations of $100 - $250 will add up to thousands of dollars
going to ensure that indigenous activists can go to the Forum) and
fundraising events.



We also want to encourage groups and individuals to put on Indigenous
Solidarity workshops.  For example, workshops on being a good ally,
land defence and indigenous solidarity, solidarity with indigenous
organizing for gender justice, disability activism and solidarity
organizing, palestine solidarity and solidarity with first nations,
migrant justice and indigenous solidarity, decolonization and
anti-racism, etc.



We want to encourage groups doing indigenous solidarity to collaborate
on events, workshops on organizing during the forum: for example, a
panel discussion on doing Palestine solidarity organizing, Zapatista
solidarity and solidarity with the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and/or

a collective discussion of what meaningful allyship is, and how to be
effective as solidarity organizers.



We want to know if your group is already participating, and, if so,
what you are planning to do.  Can we and other organizations help?



We want to know what other groups should be contacted.  Can your
organization contact them?  Who else should we be contacting?  Let us
know.



Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement – Ottawa
On stolen Algonquin land
http://www.ipsmo.wordpress.com
ipsmo at riseup.net

love and solidarity,
matt



-- 
"i find it kind of funny
i find it kind of sad
the dreams in which i'm dying
are the best i've ever had"

- tears for fears

"...education alone will not raise mass consciousness to the point
necessary for resistance." - Kevin 'Rashid' Johnson, Minister of Defence,
New Afrikan Black Panther Party - Prison Chapter