PEACE & FRIENDSHIP GATHERING
The Haudenosaunee Men’s Fire at Six Nations will be welcoming people from all four directions to come and participate, support or volunteer at a historic gathering at Six Nations of The Grand River. The vision for this event was inspired from the work that has been accomplished by the people of Six Nations in the spirit of the Great Law of Peace and the Good Minds that have been tireless in moving this vision forward. The event is being organized by a grass roots committee of Six Nations residents and supporters.
————————————–
The Gathering will feature:
* Entertainment each evening, with hip hop from Toronto and popular bands from Six Nations, including “The Breeze.”
* Teachings on history, language, and traditional activities from Six Nations historians and teachers, including Yvonne Thomas from the Jake Thomas Learning Center.
* Sharing around what is happening in other territories including presentations from Bob Lovelace; Co-chief of Ardoch Algonquin, Chris Reid; legal representation for Ardoch and KI First Nations, and Peter Rosenthal; attorney for political prisoner and Mohawk native rights defender Shawn Brant, and others.
* Updates from members of the Six Nations negotiation team on the ongoing negotiations with the Provincial and Federal governments, as well as on ongoing struggles to protect land in Brantford and throughout the Haldimand Tract.
* Working together, in solidarity, with labour, environmental, anti-racist groups including No One Is Illegal, ARA, RAN, BADC, the Beehive Collective, and others.
* Workshops on protest tactics and techniques, and on 2010-resistance to the Olympics, SPP and G8.
* Film screening of the award winning new documentary “A Winter Tale,” and other films.
* Full youth-focused program, including lacrosse demo and workshop
* Ceremonies
————————————
The Gathering will kick off on Friday, August 22, with orientation, introductions, potluck supper, social and entertainment (including The Breeze). Friday is hosted by the Oneida and Cayuga nations (The “younger brothers”) and will feature a Welcoming Ceremony with the theme of “unity”. Saturday is hosted by the Onondaga nation (the “firekeepers”) and is a packed day of workshops, lectures, panels and fun stuff that winds up with a “best of all worlds” stage of evening entertainment. Sunday will focus on next steps – looking ahead at what is being planned and how to work together. This day is hosted by the Mohawk and Seneca nations (the “older brothers”).
————————————-
There is camping available on site. It will help in our planning to know that you are coming, so we ask people to please consider registering by sending an email to mailto:peaceandfriendshipgathering@gmail.com. There will be basic meals provided, but please try and bring your own dishes, utensils and cups/mugs and your own snack and ‘comfort’ food. Also, please bring picnic/bbq-able food for the pot-luck meals. Thanks!
————————————
For those who need rides to (and from) the Gathering, there are a few options. First, there will be a bus leaving from and returning to Toronto on Saturday and Sunday from Downsview Station at 11am, and the return trip leaves from Chiefswood at 10pm. Second, there will be rides shuttling between Chiefswood Park and both Hamilton and Brantford from the main bus stations on Hunter St in Hamilton and the VIA station in Brantford on Wadsworth St (times tba). There will also be rides shuttling from Six Nations to Chiefswood during the day (time and location (tba):. Finally, there is the possibility for individuals and groups to use the Peace and Friendship Gathering Event page on Facebook to organize carpooling. Please send us an email if you plan on using the shuttle rides or bus, so we can make sure that we have enough seats. For updates check the website, facebook, or call Alex Hundert @ 519 500 1878.
————————————
For more information:
Email: peaceandfriendshipgathering@gmail.com
Or call Ken Hill: (519) 445-2403
Or check us out at: http://solidarityfestival.wordpress.com
Or on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=28132984466&ref=nf
————————————
Note that there will be no charge for attending the Gathering, but we are asking that people consider donating to help us cover our expenses. We need cash donations, gifts in kind (including food), and items for a fundraising auction on Saturday night. Please do not hesitate to contact Paul Tucker at (416) 892-3834 if you have any questions regarding the use of your donation. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please make cheques payable to CUPE 3903 who is assisting with the financial management of the event. Please mail cheques to: Paul Tucker, 237 Melita Ave, Toronto, ON, M6G 2A1.
