Observing Indigenous People’s Day

our purpose is to inspire the community to:

(1)
Acknowledge & Heal Our Past

(2)
Honor the Native American Ethic
of Care for Nature

(3)
Integrate Indigenous Values
into our Response to Climate Change 

“For millennia, Indigenous Peoples have acted as guardians
of the biological diversity of the planet.

They’ve successfully managed complex reciprocal relationships
between diverse biological and human cultures,
with their eyes on the time horizon of seven generations to come...

To get through this keyhole,
we’re going to need the enduring knowledge of Indigenous science,
as well as the best of leading edge Western science.”

~Kenny Ausebel, Bioneers Co-Founder

Schedule

Equinox Ceremony & Community Potluck
@April Hill(Greenagers), Egremont, MA
Wednesday, September 22nd | 4:00 - 8:00pm

Nature-based cultures tend to celebrate the change of seasons.  Here in the Northeast, the transition from summer to autumn is magnificent.  Let’s honor this moment together, build community, and bring our hearts and minds together, as one, to prepare for Indigenous People’s Day.

4:00 - 5:30 | Optional Walk Around the Property - 20 Person Limit

5:30 - 6:00 | Arrive & Gather around the Fire - 100

6:00 - 7:00 | Equinox Ceremony to Prepare for Indigenous People’s Day

7:00 - 8:00 | Potluck & Hangout by the Fire

Indigenous Voice & Climate Leadership
Sunday, October 3rd@Place TBD
1:00 - 4:00pm

What’s the purpose of Indigenous People’s Day?  Where did it come from?  Why does it matter?

In this workshop, we will explore the history of this event, what it represents and symbolizes, and how it is an essential part of the movement for Climate Leadership.  Most importantly, we will connect the dots between honoring Indigenous Values and strengthening our community’s resilience to climate change.

Indigenous People’s Day
@Gazebo Park in Great Barrington,
Monday, October 11th
11:00am - 2:00pm

Come together with your whole community,
and join Native American Community Leaders
from around the Northeast, and the whole country,
to observe this important holiday.

11:00 - 11:45am: Welcome@Gazebo Park
11:45am - 12:30pm: Acknowledging Our Past Ceremony

Ceremonial Walk - Take a left on Main St. until Post Office.  Cross Main St with Police Escort.  Walk on Dresser Ave. Take a right on River St., then a Left onto the RiverWalk.  Cross Bridge St. with Police Escort. 

12:30 - 1:15pm: Circle Ceremony at Memorial Park
Prayer for the Future. Stand with the Children & Future Generations. Stand in a big circle at Memorial Park.  

Invite all the children to stand on the inside of the circle and shower them with love, blessings, support and courage, for their journey into the future.  Let them know that we will do everything in our power to build a viable future for them and with them.

1:15pm - 2:00pm: Offerings to the Land & River

Walk from Memorial Park to the New River Walk Trail. Honor the Four Directions with Native ceremonial leaders.  Make a prayer with tobacco and offer it to the Housatonic River.

2:00pm - Ceremony Ends

Everyone is welcome to go back to Memorial Park where the Mahaiwe happens to be offering a BlueGrass Concert.

WHAT’S NEXT: Integration Workshop
@Unitarian Universalist
Meeting of South Berkshire
Sunday, October 17th
1:30 - 4:30pm

Let’s take time to integrate this powerful experience and clarify our next steps; together - as a community.  What new insights did you have because you participated in these events?  What new sense of community do you now feel?  What commitments are emerging, in regards to next steps for the year to come?  How can we support each other to deepen our efforts arround climate resilience in our communities?  This is where the rubber hits the road.

Testimonials on Our Facebook Page from Last Year’s Event
www.facebook.com/groups/walkforaviablefuture

MEDIA COVERAGE

Article #1: Read online

Navajo healer blesses Lower Spectacle Pond prior to Tennessee Gas Co. pipeline tests

This story has been modified to correct the reference to sweetgrass.

SANDISFIELD — The mood was different
in Otis State Forest on Monday. There
were no megaphones, no political
speeches, no arrests for stopping
pipeline work, and no lineup of state police vans ready to haul protesters to jail. A Navajo Sundance Chief and traditional healer made the only sounds. The only songs were Navajo prayers and chants. The only instruments a drum, and a small flute used to signal the four directions before the prayer to each.

Article #2: Read online

This article covered a satellite event from this year’s WALK on Indigenous People’s Day, Monday, October 12th, 2020.

“...On Monday, Oct. 12, a group of interested citizens held a meeting at the Congregational Church, followed by a walk in the Barbour Woods, with the dual purpose of recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day and acknowledging how climate change is affecting Norfolk...Much of the impetus for these initiatives comes from a larger regional organization, the Alliance for a Viable Future, which seeks to support and promote climate leadership in New England through education, local projects and coordinated action for collective impact. Those interested in finding out more can do so on their website: www.allianceforaviablefuture.org.

2020 Northeast virtual gathering

In preparation for last year’s WALK, all the local organizers came together on a Zoom Video Conference, to unify our hearts and minds, for the upcoming event.

LISTEN TO THE RECORDING ON OUR ALLIANCE PODCAST
Speakers included:

2020 INVITATION

INVITATION TO OUR FIRST PLANNING MEETING

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14TH
11:00 - 12:00PM
ON ZOOM

RSVP: Email lev@allianceforaviablefuture.org to receive the zoom link