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The "Indigenous Peoples' Day Convergence" is a celebration of Indigenous cultures, histories, and contributions. This event is a vibrant gathering that features speakers, artists, dancers, and a feast!
On May 13, Urban Native Collective, in collaboration with 21c Museum Hotel, hosted Native Indigenous artist Leonard Harmon, presenting a "Live Painting," along side Pow Wow Dancers in Gano Alley, adjacent to 21C Museum Hotel.
Solidarity action with the movement to stop line 3 & the Dakota Access Pipeline. The action will “tour” through the bank’s financing Enbridge, including Bank of America & Chase. The march will close at the Federal Building where the Army Corp of Engineers offie is located. Cincinnati joins dozens of cities across the US taking action to Stop Line 3 through March and April. There will be short stops at each location where speakers & activities will occur. The event will have visual art work. Water Protectors can expect to hold artwork & sign cards.
When: Friday April 2 at 11:30 AM
Where: Downtown Cincinnati, Corner of 3rd & Walnut
THROUGH ITS NEW OHIO NATIVE LAND INITIATIVE, UNC seeks to establish a broader platform to promote Indigenous perspectives on sacred sites, encourage land rematriation efforts, and assert Native sovereignty as foundational to some of the region’s most important natural resources and public spaces.
The Ohio Native Land Initiative is an effort intended to (1) promote greater involvement with and protection for sacred Indigenous sites in Ohio; (2) broaden alliance-building efforts leading to deeper engagement with movements that support the protection of Indigenous sovereignty and cultural rights; (3) encourage serious efforts toward the re-indigenizing of public and private spaces in order to create opportunities that honor Indigenous lifeways and promote spiritual freedom; and (4) broadening education and public outreach around Indigenous culture, lifeways, and Native habitats. The overarching purpose of the initiative is to protect Indigenous lands, sacred sites and natural resources, while advancing awareness of the critical connection between Native sovereignty and environmental preservation.
For centuries after that first Contact, US government and military policy worked to separate indigenous peoples from traditional lands and as a result from thousands of years of cultural and spiritual relationships with that land. A significant aspect of these relationships was incredibly deep ecological knowledge of local food systems. Gather is an intimate portrait of the growing movement amongst Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide.
Gather is available for virtual community screenings starting Fall of 2020. You can screen via an online platform to classes, colleagues, constituents and other types of audiences and conduct post-screening Zoom chats. A DVD option for organizations in Indian Country that prefer to give DVDs to their members. You can access that information here.
Thank you very much to Green Umbrella and to Campsite Sculpture Park for hosting the screening of www.gather.film last night in Cincinnati. Dawn Knickerbocker (Anishinaabe) introduced the film with their own personal reflections on food sovereignty and the strength of the Indigenous communities. Thank you also for everyone's adherence to social distance and mask requirements.
THREE DAYS OF AND UNITY, CELEBRATION, & SOLIDARITY
This year’s Convergence offers workshops on Indigenous sovereignty, land and water rights, education, economic development, cultural and language maintenance and promotion, religious freedom, and resistance movements.
During a time when we all have to stay so far apart, this is our chance to come together and feel our strength. This year’s Convergence brings together global Indigenous leaders, change makers, artists and wisdom keepers to offer healing through music, dancing, and story sharing. Access the whole event here.
Green Umbrella’s 2020 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit explored the theme “Cities of the Future: Becoming a Regenerative Region,” and imagined how cities could become regenerative hubs that enhance rather than deplete our natural resources, promote a vibrant, resilient built environment and support healthy, equitable communities. By examining innovative strategies to link rural, urban and suburban communities, we sough to identify new opportunities to build regions that are both socially and environmentally resilient.
Officially we were set to discuss:
“Indigenizing Colonized Spaces: Building Health and Wealth with Food Sovereignty” Native chefs, farmers and educators are cultivating solutions to food access and diet-based health problems by reclaiming ancestral traditions. Can movements to decolonize diet and food systems apply to diverse cities? Can Native culinary and agricultural education help reaffirm relationship to land and place, health and humanity?
Panelists: J. Dawn Knickerbocker, and Shane Creepingbear
Three panelists discuss George Floyd, colonial trauma, violence and property destruction. Mona Jenkins is the steering committee leader for Mass Action for Black Liberation director of development for The Homeless Coalition. Jennifer Knickerbocker is the Grants Coordinator and Board President of the Urban Native Collective.
This conversation was recorded May 30th 2020 at 3pm, prior to reports of white supremacist groups infiltrating protests and enacting their own agendas to undermine legitimate Black Liberation movements. While the views expressed here by individuals do not necessarily represent the views of UNC, UNC defends and supports the right of oppressed and marginalized people to protest, march, and engage in civil disobedience in pursuit of justice and freedom.