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<font size=3><br>
</font><font size=6>Oldest Urban Native American Community Center in the
Nation Under Threat!<br>
</font><font size=4>"Save the Legacy" Fundraiser Events
Scheduled to Save the Intertribal Friendship House <br><br>
</font><font size=3> <br>
Oakland, California - The Intertribal Friendship House (IFH), which is
recognized as the oldest Urban Native American Community Center in the
nation, is under threat of being lost forever. On Friday, March 23 the
IFH will be placed on the Alameda County auction block due to unpaid
taxes if necessary funds are not raised. Community members are taking
action to raise $30,000 to save the center and preserve the legacy of
this cultural and historical monument. <br><br>
It has also served as the meeting place and organizing center for
American Indian activism of the 1960s and '70s including the occupation
of Alcatraz, the initiation of the Long Walk, and the creation of the AIM
for freedom Survival School, among many other events and actions that had
far-reaching effects nationally, many of which continue today. <br><br>
For over fifty years the IFH continues to serve as the heart of the Bay
Area Indian Community. It was established in 1955 to respond to the needs
of American Indian people of many tribes who had migrated into the area
through the Federal relocation program. For Urban Native Peoples IFH has
served as the Urban Reservation and Homeland. In many cases it is
one of the few places that keeps them connected to their culture and
traditions through pow wow dance, drumming, beading classes, and the many
social gatherings, cultural events, and ceremonies that are held there.
<br>
<br>
"The Intertribal Friendship House is more than an organization. It
is the heart of a vibrant tribal community." said Wilma Mankiller,
former Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation. "When we returned to our
Oklahoma homelands twenty years later, we took incredible memories of the
many people in the Bay Area who helped shape our values and
beliefs." <br>
<br>
Intertribal Friendship House (IFH) sprang up out of the need for
relocated Indians to congregate together, to help each other survive and
to forge what became the Urban Indian Community in the San Francisco Bay
Area. IFH became the model that other Indian Centers with a specific
focus grew out of and replicated. <br><br>
</font><font size=4>"Save the Legacy" <br>
Calendar of Events <br>
March 2007 <br>
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Thursday <br>
March 15 <br>
7:00 PM-9:00 PM Film Screening: <br>
Shell Mound, Spider Kid, and Exterminate Them! The California Story<br>
W/ Special Guests Floyd Red Crow Westerman and Lee Brightman of the
American Indian Movement. Shell Mound Director Andres Cidiel and Spider
Kid Director Cha-Tah Gould will also be present.
<br><br>
Intertribal Friendship House <br>
523 International Blvd. <br>
Oakland<br>
$8 - $10<br>
Sliding scale <br>
All ages event!<br><br>
<br>
Friday <br>
March 16 <br>
7:00 PM-2:00 AM "Save the Legacy" Benefit
Show<br><br>
<br>
All Nations Drummers, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Good Shield, Colored Ink,
Ise Lyfe, Brown Buffalo Project, Entre Musicos, E-legal MC, Ariel Lucky,
DJ Oye, DJ Agana, DJ Fuse and Sake-1. Cafe' Axe'
Cultural Center <br><br>
1525 Webster St.<br>
Oakland<br>
$10-15 Sliding scale<br>
All ages event!<br>
No Drugs or Alcohol Allowed<br><br>
<br>
Saturday <br>
March 17<br>
4:00 PM –10:00 PM "Save the Legacy" Benefit
Concert<br><br>
Aztlan Underground, Blackfire, 7th Generation Rise, One Struggle, Chest
full of Arrows and other very special guests! <br><br>
Aztlan Underground is a fusion band from Los Angeles. Since the early
1990s, Aztlan Underground has played Rapcore. Indigenous drums, flutes,
and rattles are commonplace in its musical compositions.<br><br>
Blackfire a Native American (Dine') group comprised of two brothers and
their sister. Their style is high-energy and comprises traditional Native
American, Punk-Rock and Alter-Native with strong sociopolitical messages
about government oppression, relocation of indigenous people, eco-cide,
genocide, domestic violence and human rights. They strongly advocate for
the Protection of Sacred sites and the respect of all cultures. <br><br>
Good Shield is an indigenous artist of Oglala lakota and Yoeme heritage.
He is lead singer and songwriter for Indigenous Soul band, 7th GENERATION
RISE out of Humboldt County, CA. Good Shields music writing styles
consists of Folk, Funk, Rock, etc set to culturally and politically
charged lyrics. <br><br>
One Struggle an eight piece band which infuses reggae, soul and South
American rhythms with a blend of conscious vocals, spoken word,
traditional Native songs and hip-hop sure to get your booty shaking.<br>
Eastside Cultural Center <br>
2277 International Blvd @ 23rd Avenue,<br>
Oakland<br>
$10-15 Sliding scale <br>
All ages event!<br>
No Drugs or Alcohol Allowed<br>
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<font size=3 color="#FF0000">The Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
(415) 863-9977<br>
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<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.freedomarchives.org</a></font></body>
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