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Second Weeks program for Peltier Freedom Month:
Monday, November 8, 1999
SOLIDARITY WITH THE DINEH OF BIG MOUNTAIN
Location:
Lafayette Square
Schedule:
6:30 am Sunrise Ceremony
12:00 noon-Roberta Blackgoat will do a prayer ceremony for Leonard Peltier and the fasters. She will speak about the current critical situation at Big Mountain.
Roberta Blackgoat is a Dineh (Navajo) elder who has resisted a program of forced relocation of the sovereign Dineh Nation of Big Mountain since 1977. The traditional Dineh people of the Black Mesa area are subjected to a plan, which jeopardizes their traditional way of life and existence. After 22 years of struggle against the U.S. government, the BIA, and the multi-national Peabody Coal Company, a final attempt to permanently relocate the last resistors will be made. The date set to forcibly remove the traditional men, women and children from their ancestral lands is February 1, 2000.
Tuesday, November 9, 1999
YOUTH FOR JUSTICE
Location:
Ellipse Park (White House)
Schedule:
6:30 am Sunrise Ceremony
11:30 am–2pm Speakers, Rap, Hip Hop, and Punk Rock OJ, Anishinabe from Canada, took part in the defense of the Shuswap Sun Dance ground at Gustafsen Lake, British Columbia. During the stand off, he survived a military assault when his truck hit a government land mine which blew his truck up. He was a recognized political prisoner along with Shuswap leader, Wolverine who was recently released from prison. Melissa Copeland helps to coordinate the Northern Maryland Anti-Racist Action chapter. Anti-Racist Action is an organization dedicating itself to combating racism through direct action. They confront racism on many fronts including police brutality, the Klan, political prisoners and more.
Blackfire is a rock band whose members are the grandchildren of Roberta Blackgoat, a Dineh Big Mountain resister. They use their music to raise awareness around Indigenous issues like Big Mountain and Leonard Peltier. Band members, Klee, Jeneda and Clayson Benally will also speak on the behalf of Leonard Peltier and Indigenous rights.
Natay is a Dine Hip Hop artist whose music is inspired by his experiences growing up in a traditional Dine home and later moving to the city and winding up in prison. He uses his music to positively influence young people and to raise awareness around Indigenous issues. He is a dedicated supporter of Leonard Peltier.
Warriors Blood is a Mohawk rap group from Akwesasne. They use their music to raise awareness around issues facing Indigenous peoples. They have performed at numerous benefits to help raise funds around important issues. Native Students from the DC Art Institute, TBA
2pm-5pm: Preparation of new fasters. Singing and drumming.
Wednesday, November 10, 1999
“WIPING OF TEARS”
HONORING FOR INGRID WASHINAWATOK, LAHEENAE GAY, AND TERENCE FREITAS
Location:
Lafayette Square
Schedule:
6:30 am Sunrise Ceremony
11:30 am-2pm Family members of human rights defenders killed recently in
Columbia while supporting the Uwa people will take part in a Native ceremony
to honor their lives.
Thursday, November 11, 1999
VETERANS FOR JUSTICE
Sponsored by VETERANS FOR PEACE
Location:
Lafayette Square
Schedule:
6:30 am Sunrise Ceremony
9am-2pm
Speakers and book readings by:
Sandy Whitehawk, Lakota from Rosebud, carries the staff for Native American veterans in Wisconsin and is a loyal supporter of Leonard Peltier. James Rayle is an Apache author, a Vietnam Veteran, and a long time supporter of Leonard Peltier. He will read from some of his writings including, Billy Running Dog.
John Steinbeck is a veteran and long time supporter of Leonard Peltier.
Richard Moser is a veteran and the author of New Winter Soldiers.
(More speakers to be announced)
Friday, November 12, 1999
INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION
Location:
Lafayette Square
Schedule:
6:30 am Sunrise Ceremony
Entire Day: Information table and distribution of literature
Saturday, November 13, 1999
UNITY DAY
Location:
Lafayette Square
Schedule:
6:30 am Sunrise Ceremony
10am Thunder Alliance caravan arrives
10:30am-4pm Speakers:
Ramona Africa, representative for the MOVE 9 and the International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu Jamal,
Janice Christensen, Amnesty International – USA
Keith Jennings, President of African-American Human Rights Foundation
Leslie Feinberg, National Peoples’ Campaign
Frank Velgara, national outreach coordinator for Vieques, member of the
Working Group on Puerto Rico & Amnesty Pro-Libertad Campaign
Representative for political prisoner, Fred Hampton Jr.
Representative for the Ramsey Muniz Defense Committee
Representative for the Industrial Workers of the World La Raza (invited)
United Farm Workers (invited)
Representative from Sinn Fein (invited)
School of the Americas Watch (invited)
Representative from the Washington Kurdish Institute (invited)
Bahktiar Amin, Director of the Human Rights Alliance (invited)
Music:
Shadowyze is a rap artist of Cherokee and Creek descent and a member of the Santa Rosa County Creek Tribe in Northwest Florida who writes music exposing injustices against Indigenous peoples of the Americas. He was recently featured in Aboriginal Voices and News From Indian Country. Shadow Wyze has just completed a new song about Leonard Peltier and will be debuting it in Washington DC.
Seeds of Wisdom is a hip hop group made up of young MOVE members, some of whom are children of political prisoners (the MOVE 9). Their politically and spiritually motivated lyrics express their vision of a better world. Sovereign Nations Singers – Singing and drumming
Sunday, November 14, 1999
MY LIFE IS MY SUNDANCE
Location:
Lafayette Square for the Sunrise Ceremony
Indoor Location TBA soon for the book reading
Schedule:
6:30 am Sunrise Ceremony led by Arvol Looking Horse and David Chief
12:00 – 4:00pm Book Reading from Leonard Peltier’s recently released book
Prison Writings, My Life Is My Sun Dance-location to be announced soon.
Readers:
Harvey Arden is the editor of Leonard Peltier’s new book, Prison Writings, My Life Is My Sun Dance. He is also the author of Wisdom Keepers and Travels in a Stone Canoe.
Susan Harjo is a Cheyenne writer and the director of the Morning Star Institute.
Scott Momaday (invited-not confirmed) is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and the founder and chairman of the Buffalo Trust.
Jimmy Santiago Baca (invited-not confirmed) is a Chicano poet who is the author of Immigrants In Our Own Land, and, Working in the Dark: Reflections of a Poet of the Barrio
Sherman Alexie (invited-not confirmed) is Coeur d’Alene author who was the writer for the movie “Smoke Signals.” He is also the author of bestsellers, Reservation Blues and Indian Killer.
Traditional Cultural Presentations:
Sovereign Nation Singers
Presensia Latina Taino Dance Group
Monday, November 15, 1999
INDIGENOUS VOICES
Location:
Lafayette Square
Schedule:
6:30 am Sunrise Ceremony
10am to 4pm Speakers:
Arvol Looking Horse, Lakota from the Green Grass, Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota, is the Keeper of the Sacred Pipe. He is a world recognized Spiritual Leader and he has established, with other indigenous representatives, the World Peace and Prayer Day which is celebrated each June 21st.
Lavon King is a resident of the Pine Ridge Lakota Nation and has done extensive research on treaty rights. She has used her knowledge to promote Native sovereignty and human rights. Susan Harjo, is a Cheyenne author. She is working with the Apache Survival Coalition, an organization led by San Carlos Apache Elder, Ola Cassador-Davis. The Apache Survival Coalition advocates for the respect of Apache Religious Rights and for the protection of Mount Graham. This mountain, which is sacred to the Apache tradition, is currently being desecrated by the construction of an astrophysical complex which is being built by the University of Arizona, the Max Planck Institute (Germany), the Vatican and the Arcetri Observatory (Italy).
Corbin Harney is an Elder and Spiritual leader of the Western Shoshone, a Native people indigenous to Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and California. Corbin is the author of The Way it Is: One Water, One Air, One Mother Earth. He does extensive traveling, educating people about important environmental issues and solutions.
Ben Carnes (Chahta -Choctaw- Nation) is a former prisoner and a recognized advocate of Religious rights for Native prisoners. He is the Founder and director of the Center for the Alliance of Sovereign Native People, member of the National Native American Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Coalition, of the Interfaith Council on Prison Ministries and representative of the League of Indigenous Sovereign Nations. Ben is a long time supporter of Leonard Peltier and Standing Deer and a national spokesperson for the LPDC
Billy Tayac, is the hereditary chief of the Piscataway First Nation. He is the Co-founder of the League of Indigenous Sovereign Nations, an organization advocating self determination for Indigenous Peoples. Currently, he is heavily involved with issues surrounding ancestral burial grounds. Billy is a long time support of Leonard Peltier.
Bear Lincoln (a Wailaki-Concow of the Round Valley Indian Nation) is a former Indigenous political prisoner. A California judge recently dismissed the charges against him, ending his four year ordeal in which he was accused of the capital murder of a deputy sheriff. Now that he is free, Bear Lincoln continues his struggle to expose police brutality and racism on the Round Valley Indian Reservation. He is asking for an independent investigation on the death of his close friend Leonard “Acorn” Peters, killed by the police. He is also advocating for the immediate release of Leonard Peltier.
Delphine Red Shirt is an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She is the author of Bead on an Anthill: A Lakota Childhood and she currently writes a column called “Outside Looking In” in the Indian Newspaper “Indian
Country Today”. She is the Chairperson of the NGO, Committee on the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Art Montour, is a Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) traditionalist from the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory. He took part in the famous 1990, standoff in Kanesatake/Oka, Quebec, Canada. The Mohawks took a stand to protect the graves of their ancestors and their traditional land, which was threatened by the expansion of a golf course. Similar to the Wounded Knee occupation, the Oka crisis has become a symbol for the indigenous peoples from Canada. Art is continuing his struggle by carrying on the Mohawk tradition and language and by defending the sovereignty of the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne. Bobby Castillo (Xicano/Apache) is an ex Marion Control Unit prisoner who met Leonard Peltier in prison. Since his release, he has committed himself to advocating for other prisoners (Leonard Peltier, Eddie Hatcher, Patrick
Hooty Croy, Ramsey Muniz, Luis Rodriguez, Fernando Eros Caro, Randy Reeves, etc.). He is the International Spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. He has presented Leonard’s case to the United Nations, the European Parliament, and the Italian Parliament, and was vital in obtaining the European, Italian and Belgian Resolutions in support of freedom for Leonard Peltier.
Sharon Venne is a Cree attorney who specializes in international law. She is a representative of the Confederation of Treaty 6 First Nations and of the Detcho Denendeh provisional government. Sharon is recognized internationally for her work at the United Nations – Working Group on Indigenous Peoples and for the adoption of the Draft Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which is still under consideration. She is part of the advisory board of the LPDC. (invited-but not confirmed) Glenn Morris (Shawnee) is an attorney in international laws and a professor of Political Science at the Denver University. He is the director of the Fourth World Center for the Study of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the coordinator of AIM-Colorado. He has completed several studies about the rights of self-determination of .different Indigenous Peoples around the world. He is a member of the advisory board of the LPDC. (invited-but not confirmed)
Rolland Pangowish, is an Anishinabe from Canada, a representative of the Assembly of First Nations, and a long time supporter of Leonard Peltier. He is the director of the Land Rights Unit for the AFN. He advocates for the respect of the different treaties signed between the First Nations and Canada. He has taken part and acted as a consultant in several land negotiations. He is also a representative of the AFN at the United Nations. He will be accompanied by Audrey Mayes, a Mic Mac from Canada who is currently the policy analyst at the Land Rights unit of the AFN. (invited-but not confirmed)
Music by:
Jesse Night Hawk is an Oneida folk musician who tours college campuses raising awareness about issues facing Indigenous peoples.
Paula Horn, Lakota, will be doing a song to honor the elders. (Paula Horn is the coordinator of World Peace and Prayer Day). Eagle Heart Singers, Cree from Toronto, Canada
It's 1999, why is Leonard Peltier still in prison???
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-842-5774