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<font size=3><b>For Immediate Press release<br><br>
</b>August 8, 2010<br><br>
For more information: <br><br>
Antonio Gonzales<br>
AIM-WEST<br>
415-577-1492<br><br>
The public is invited to attend the observance of the <u>“International
Day of the World’s Indigenous People”</u> at <b>San Francisco Civic
Center, on</b> <b>Monday August 9, 2010 for 11 am to 3 pm</b>. It
is organized by the American Indian Movement-WEST, a community based
human rights advocacy organization promoting the rights of Indigenous
peoples and the United Nations “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples” adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007.
The occasion will serve to coincide with activities scheduled at the
United Nations in New York.<br><br>
The day’s activities will include a press conference to include
solidarity statements from Individuals, organizations and
governments. There will be special guest speakers, traditional
dancers, drummers and singers, and performers of all Indigenous nations
in solidarity to share their culture and spiritual beliefs. Special
invited guests will include Indigenous peoples who are faced with
critical challenges and opposition by city and government policies that
affect their rights to Self-determination on a daily basis.
<br><br>
A special moment of silence and prayer will be made to commemorate the
life of ANNIE OAKES, a member of the Kashaya Band of Pomo Nation, who
passed to spirit world on August 1, 2010. ANNIE OAKES, now joins
her soul mate Richard Oakes, both promoted the fundamental idea that
Native Peoples have a right to sovereignty, justice, respect and control
over their own destinies. They dedicated their spirit of resistance
against colonization, and for the return of their sacred traditional
homelands. <br><br>
The United States, and Canada, the only two countries in the world who
have yet to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
are urged to sign and ratify the Declaration currently being reviewed by
the U.S. State Department. On 23 December 1994 the General Assembly
decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall
be observed 9 August every year during the International Decade of the
World’s Indigenous People and later also during the extended Second
Decade, in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United
Nations. This will be the fourth year AIM-WEST has sponsored the
event with the cooperation of San Francisco, where the UN Declaration on
Human Rights was signed in 1948.<br><br>
In keeping with the UN proclamation, and theme for the International Day,
“Indigenous Peoples and Film Making” AIM-WEST will show films and photos
of regional and local Indigenous people’s struggles to protect their
inherent and sovereign rights to land, food and spiritual and cultural
practices, including participatory democracy. <i><u>Join us for an
evening of solidarity</u></i> and commitment to justice, peace and
dignity. The evening program include the following
information:<br><br>
Time: 6- 9 pm<br>
Location: Freedom Archives, 522 Valencia Street/16<sup>th</sup>
near BART STATION
(<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/">
http://www.freedomarchives.org/</a><br><br>
Donation: $ 5.00 at door, no one turned away! Bring food to
share! Snacks and refreshments will be served.<br>
Drummers and singers welcome! Raffle!!<br><br>
A special showing of the film “Reclaiming their Voice: The Native
American Vote in New Mexico” starting at 7 pm. Also a slide show on
the Fort Bragg demonstration against the Marine Life Protection Act
Initiative held July 21-22, and footage of the recent security provided
by AIM-WEST members and others for the Winnemum Wintu ceremonial rights
of passage held on the McCloud River in Shasta County. Special
guest speakers are invited to present issues and provide the public with
information on how we can all help and support Indigenous people’s
rights, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
People.<br><br>
<i><u>The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is
officially commemorated annually on 9 August in recognition of the first
meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous
Populations in Geneva in 1982.<br><br>
<br>
</u></i></font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#008000">415 863-9977<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#0000FF">
<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.Freedomarchives.org</a></font><font size=3> </font></body>
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