eNews Articles

AMBASSADOR MICHAEL MARTIN FUNDRAISING FOR AOTEAROA

A fundraising bash to benefit Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) in recognition of 2008/09 Ambassador Michael N. Martin (Onondaga) was held in North Tonawanda, New York on January 24th. The event was hosted by Michael’s family, friends and his local community in support of his participation in the Program, particularly his trip to New Zealand this September. The event included an evening of food, fun, and dancing, and some special raffles, including one for an “Evening with the Ambassador” aka a night out with the man himself, Michael Martin. Michael gave a presentation on his involvement with AIO and what the Ambassadors Program is all about. He was honored by the number of people who attended and he thanked his family for their love and support, as well as, all who worked hard on the planning committee. The planning committee took just over two months to plan, promote, and host the event which included getting all the donations that helped make the auctions and raffles a success. Michael accepted proceeds of the event on behalf of AIO which totaled over $3,200. Thanks to all who helped Michael achieve his goal! You can still donate to support the 2008/09 Ambassadors’ trip to New Zealand. Click here!

SHARING THE WISDOM OF OUR ANCESTORS WITH NATIVE YOUTH

At the national UNITY Conference in July, AIO conducted an afternoon session for youths to address the challenges to becoming an effective youth leader. Over thirty-five youth, from ten different tribes, engaged in a process developed from the wisdom of their ancestors.
AIO Executive Director, Laura Harris (Comanche), stressed how our Native American ancestors have always known the importance of civic engagement. She highlighted five principles that are needed for an effective dialogue: 1) that everyone’s voice is heard; 2) protect authenticity of the voice i.e. no debate; 3) promote group learning; 4) collective outcome; and 5) strive to uncover the root cause. AIO then engaged the group in its civic engagement tool, ILIS (Indigenous Leaders Interactive System). This system utilizes all five principles and with the help of computer technology, the group uncovered the root cause to becoming an effective youth leader. “We were very excited that these politically active teens caught on to the need and usefulness of structured dialogue,” commented AIO’s facilitation team.

A SNEAK PEEK AT LaDonna Harris: Indian 101

Julianna Brannum (Comanche) is producing LaDonna Harris: Indian 101, a documentary about Comanche activist and AIO founder LaDonna Harris. She updates AIO on the progress of this film saying, “The film is about half-way through production and I estimate the film to be completed sometime in the middle of next year, if enough funds are raised to take it to completion. We will be shooting this September in New Zealand when the AIO Ambassadors visit with the AMO (Advancement of Maori Opportunity) - a shoot I am most looking forward to. Once finished, the plan is to do a lot of outreach in Native communities all over the world to plant the seed about indigenous communities working together from all over the world and to learn about LaDonna's rich and complex experiences. For non-Native folks, I hope that this film will help to reveal all the positive things happening in Indian Country and beyond and what our young up and coming leaders are doing to preserve their cultures and advance our societies.”

The documentary highlights how LaDonna, as the wife of a U.S. Senator in the 1960s and 70s, worked from within Washington D.C.’s political scene on behalf of American Indians. Julianna Brannum’s feature documentary The Creek Runs Red (co-directed with Bradley Beesley and James Payne) was featured in PBS’ series Independent Lens, in 2007. Brannum recently produced the five part series We Shall Remain for PBS’s American Experience.

MOROCCAN INTERNATIONAL VISITORS

Four non-profit directors and journalists, hailing from Morocco, visited AIO July 08 to discuss NGO management and possible partnerships between the US and Moroccan organizations. The visitors worked in areas of women empowerment, refugee training, environment conservation, and defending the rights of the Roma people. One of the visitors, who was wearing the traditional dress of his tribe from the Southern part of Morocco, commented that Native Americans’ struggles seemed quite similar to the struggles that his people were facing i.e. issues of self governance and land.
 

NOTEBOOK

The D.C. Experience for Youth
On June 23-28, 2009 Ron Martinez Looking Elk (Isleta/Taos Pueblos) and Tracy Canard Good-Luck (Wisconsin Oneida, Muscogee Creek) ‘08/09 escorted the students from the Native American Community Academy’s 8th grade class to Washington, D.C. The students experienced Washington, D.C. through the lens of the Ambassadors Program. They were greeted by Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, Rep. Martin Heinrich, Ambassador Charles Blackwell (Chickasaw), the NCAI staff, NMAI and other AIO Ambassadors.

Presidential Delegation from CALU visits AIO

From August 8-12, President Armenti of the California University of Pennsylvania brought a delegation from the university to engage in a mini-Ambassadors experience in New Mexico. The delegation engaged in a four days of meetings and dialogue with organizations around the state.

Cherokee Preservation Foundation Strengthening Leaders and Community
In July, Laura Harris (Comanche), Executive Director of AIO, participated in a Convening on Adult Leadership Development at Cherokee, North Carolina. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are developing leadership programs for both the youth and adults of their tribe. Laura was asked to share insights from the Ambassadors Program model and AIO’s experience and expertise in leadership development. Ambassador Alum Brenda Toineeta (Eastern Band of Cherokee), class of 1994, is working with her tribe to further leadership training for Cherokee citizens. Also making presentations were Joe Garcia (Ohkay Owingeh) , President of NCAI; Manley Begay (Navajo), University of Arizona; Dr. David Gipp (Lakota), President of United Tribes Technical College; and Alum David Cournoyer (Rosebud Sioux), Class of 1994, with Native Americans in Philanthropy. Laura said, “I was honored that the Cherokee Tribe asked me to contribute to the development of their own program and to be part of such a distinguished panel. The Cherokees are carrying out some progressive and ambitious projects that are strengthening their Indigeneity and building a strong tribal government and sustainable economy.”
For more information go to: www.cherokeepreservationfdn.org

The Democracy Imperative
The Deliberative Democracy Consortium invited Laura Harris (Comanche), Executive Director of AIO, to participate in “No Better Time: Promising Opportunities in Deliberative Democracy for Educators and Practitioners.” In early July, Laura shared the philosophy and successful practice of AIO’s Indigenous Leaders Interactive System (ILIS) with nearly 1000 folks from around the country who study, teach, research and practice civic engagement.
The conference was “centered on the fact that deliberative democracy has reached a critical point in its development. Over the last fifteen years, shifts in citizen capacities and attitudes have led to a dramatic proliferation of citizen participation and deliberative practices all over the world. On the heels of these changes, new opportunities for educators and practitioners are emerging in communities, in governments, and on campuses. Meanwhile, in the midst of all these shifts, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that there are some very old, cherished traditions and models of citizenship and participation that can teach us a great deal about how to strengthen democracy in this new context.” That's one of the reasons why Laura wanted to be involved. Thanks to funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Laura was able to contribute an Indigenous worldview to issue of civic engagement.

For more information go to: www.deliberative-democracy.net or www.unh.edu/democracy/conference2009.