Welcome to the May 2009 Edition of the Laconneau
Monthly Newsletter.
IN THIS ISSUE
• Book of the Month
• Film Series of the Month
• Political Action Forum
• A Sister in Need
• Sentier de la Magdalene
• Regional News
• Regional Calendars
• Contact Laconneau
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Genocide of the Mind: New Native American Writing
by MariJo Moore ( Editor)
Moore, a Cherokee whose works include Spirit Voices of Bones, describes this anthology as "a testament to American Indian consciousness continuing to circulate, regardless of past or present genocidal attempts, whether cerebral, endemic, systematic, or otherwise." ... The 33 essays are a stark and direct rendering of the Indian experience in this century and the way it is shaped by whites. The contributors are from different Indian nations and include both well-known and emerging writers.
~Library Journal
FILM SERIES OF THE MONTH
We Shall Remain
Narrated by Benjamin Bratt
Through an unprecedented collaboration between Native and non-Native filmmakers and advisors, We Shall Remain brings us the stories of Native peoples—histories that have long been distorted or denied. At the heart of these narratives, we hear the perspectives of Native men and women who have resisted and endured through invasion, diseases, war, and assimilation campaigns to eliminate their languages and cultures. Their voices insist that all Americans acknowledge their right to persist as sovereign nations and on their own terms.
We Shall Remain presents Native history as an integral part of how the United States was shaped. These heartbreaking yet inspiring stories of conflict, resistance, endurance, and survival compel us to reexamine our shared past, to better understand our current struggles, and to envision a humane and enriched future.
~Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT)
POLITICAL ACTION FORUM
In recent issues, the Laconneau newsletter has highlighted Native Americans in both its Book of the Month and Film of the Month sections. This month, the Laconneau Political Action Forum is addressing an issue which directly impacts Native Americans. Native Americans, those who inhabited this country
before the white man ever set foot on it, have been systematically deprived of their rights through the actions of the federal government. The unjust treatment of Native Americans which has been the hallmark of the government of the United States of America continues to this day. The following is an article written on the subject by Gail Schontzler, a staff writer for the Bozeman Daily chronicle in Bozeman, Montana. The article was published April 15, 2009. It is entitled, “Ordinary Justice.”
Ordinary Justice
By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer
Corporations, churches and even canasta clubs have more rights under U.S. law than American Indian tribes, and respect for human rights and basic fairness demand this must change, says a veteran Indian lawyer and rights advocate.
“All we want is ordinary justice,” Tim Coulter, a Potawatomi Indian and director of the Indian Law Resource Center in Helena, said Friday.
Coulter, who has battled for Indian rights for 40 years and has been honored by Columbia University for his work, spoke to a crowd of about 100 attending the American Indian Law and Resistance Symposium at Montana State University.
Congress has the power to take Indian tribal lands, seize millions of dollars from Indian accounts, take over tribal governments, and even wipe out the legal existence of tribes, Coulter said.
Injustice toward Indians is deeply imbedded in U.S. law, he said. The entire legal framework of U.S. Indian law is based upon the notion that the federal government possesses “plenary powers,” which aren’t written anywhere in the U.S. Constitution, but were invented by the U.S. Supreme Court, he said. That idea has been enforced by the government for the past 200 years.
Just as the black civil rights movement of the 1960s dismantled the racist “separate but equal” laws, Indians need to dismantle the racist framework of laws that deny their rights, he argued.
A key part of this legal construct is the basic idea that the federal government holds Indian lands as a trustee and oversees these properties on behalf of Indians.
The only people kept in permanent, involuntary trusteeships are “children, mental incompetents and Indians,” Coulter said.
This keeps Indian tribes in “second-class legal status,” he said, and it creates such legal uncertainty and instability on reservations that the business climate is “awful.”
“When you have this (legal) mess, it’s practically impossible for tribal governments to create a stable business environment,” he said. “This is a fundamental reason for ubiquitous poverty.”
The U.S. government cannot simply wipe out a corporation or break a contract with a private contractor operating in Iraq, he said. But it can and has wiped out Indian tribes and broken contracts and treaties with tribes.
For example, he cited the Sioux Nation, which has been fighting 140 years for the Black Hills, refusing to take monetary compensation offered to extinguish its claims to the land. In 1972, he said, Congress extinguished the rights of Alaskan native tribes to their lands with the stroke of a pen. The Western Shoshone of California and Nevada are fighting against land claims they contend are fraudulent.
To try to challenge U.S. law, Coulter said Indian tribes, led by the Six Nations Federation of New York and Canada, went to the United Nations headquarters in Geneva in 1977 to demand a statement supporting their human rights.
It took 30 years, but finally in 2007, the UN General Assembly passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It supports their rights to exist, to self-determination, to maintain their cultures and religions and to own their own lands.
The vote approving the declaration was 143 yes to four no, with only Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States in opposition. He urged people to write the White House in support of the declaration of rights or to visit the Web site, (www.indianlaw.org) and support the current effort to get the Organization of American States to recognize the rights of native peoples.
Coulter said he is optimistic that in the long run, Indians’ rights will be recognized as customary international law.
He added he has faith in the American people and their basic sense of fairness. When polled, 75 percent of people said it wasn’t right for the government to take Indians lands.
“I think the American people will be on our side,” Coulter said.
Take Action
There are two actions suggested by Tim Coulter in the above article. One is to obtain the support of the United States for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The other is to support the efforts of the Organization of American States to complete and ratify the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. To take action on the first issue, familiarize yourself with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/drip.html . Then, contact the White House and express your support for the declaration. The following website provides snail mail and email information for the White House, as well as telephone numbers: http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/ . To take action on the second issue supporting the current efforts of the Organization of American States to recognize the rights of native peoples, inform yourself on the progress of the draft of American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through the Indian Law Resource Center, dedicated to justice for indigenous peoples at:
http://www.indianlaw.org/en/search/node/declaration+of+the+rights+of+indigenous+peoples .
A copy of the most recent draft of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples can be found on the OAS website:
http://scm.oas.org/doc_public/ENGLISH/HIST_08/CP20518E07.DOC .”
This document applies to all indigenous peoples in the Americas. Once you have informed yourself as to the specifics of the declaration, contact the White House and encourage United States’ support for the declaration.
As discussed above, it is unconscionable that the United States government holds Native American lands in permanent, involuntary trusteeship in this day and age. It is indefensible that the United States was one of four countries which did not sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Your action on this issue will help to restore the rights of Native Americans. In
addition, it is essential that the United States play an active part in drafting the American Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Please contact the White House to express your opinions on both of these issues. Use the resources provided to further inform yourself on these matters and on others which impact Native Americans. Then, take action!
If you wish to respond to this article, please send a “Letter to the Editor”
to alex@laconneau.org.
A SISTER IN NEED
Helen Hervey is a dear friend of Jan Salstrom’s, a sister in the Greenville circle. Helen lives in the old ways up on a mountaintop ridge in West Virginia. She built a log cabin in the 1980's and has been heating with wood and using gravity-fed water from a cistern. She uses a solar panel/battery system to run a light bulb, radio and cell phone. Helen experienced a fall from the second floor porch shortly
after her house was built. This resulted in a T12 spinal fracture that left her paralyzed from the chest down. She chose to continue to live in her home alone. She has been able to do so with community support until March 19th, 2009. On that Thursday, her home caught fire from a spark from her wood fire and burned to the ground. While Helen and her service dogs escaped, she lost her cats and all her possessions. Her home is gone. She is currently staying with friends. The community is coming together to help her rebuild. It will cost $10,000 for materials to build a 20 x 28 frame house for her. All of the labor is being donated.
If you would like to help Helen, please send a check made out to Jan Salstrom at 2508 Madison Circle, Greenville NC 27858 and write “HELEN FUND” on the memo line. Jan will also accept cash if you can give it to her in person in a marked envelope. If you would like to donate by credit card, please email Jan directly at sandancer@suddenlink.net and she will give you more information. No donation is too small. Even $5 donations add up. Helen is not currently in need of specific items since she has no place to put them. At this time, we are only raising funds for rebuilding.
Thank you for helping a woman in need.
SENTIER DE LA MAGDALENE
Sentier de la Magdalene
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN THE DATES FOR THE SENTIER!
Friday, September 25 – Saturday, October 3, 2009
A Pilgrimage to Southern France
This fall, for the first time, Laconneau will be offering a combination of the Magdalene Pilgrimage and the Sentier des Cathares. We hope this will make the trip both practical and affordable. The trip will include two days of hiking in Ste. Baume and a week of mountain hiking in the Languedoc. Details of the trip will follow in an upcoming announcement.
REGIONAL NEWS
Laconneau Scholarship Fund
The Laconneau scholarship fund has been established to assist women who are unable to afford the cost of classes. If you are in need of a scholarship, please contact your local Laconneau coordinator.
If you would like to make a donation to the scholarship fund, please make your check out to Alex Guyol and send it to P.O. Box 261 Kingston, NJ 08528. If you have questions, please email Alex at alex@laconneau.org.
France News:
Laconneau is offering the Sentier de la Magdalene this fall from Friday, September 25 to Saturday, October 3, 2009. Please note that this is a change in the dates for this trip!
News from the Carolinas:
Laconneau of the Carolinas held their first weekend in western North Carolina on March 28 and 29, 2009. The weekend included a rainy day hike in the mountains, a viewing and discussion of the film, The Spirit of Sacajawea, a women's circle, and a discussion on Native Americans. The women who attended the weekend are already discussing the next weekend in the mountains. We are currently looking at a weekend in June 2009. Details will be forthcoming in the upcoming newsletter.
Georgia News:
The Georgia Circle held a successful yard sale on Saturday, April 4th. A beautiful day brought buyers ready to stretch their dollars by purchasing recycled items; proceeds from the sale will support the Work of Laconneau.
The Decatur meditation group welcomed Gulshan (Julie) Damanwala as guest speaker on Wednesday, April 1st. Gulshan was born in Burma, lived in Pakistan, and moved to the US in 1985. As a child, she became friends with Aung San Suu Kyi, who is a pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, and a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistance. Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. It was both informative and inspiring to hear Gulshan speak about the experiences of her long time friend who has been under house arrest for many years.
As a member of the Ismali sect of the Muslim religion, Gulshan meditates every morning and every evening and is devoted to the teachings and practices of Muhammad. Gulshan joined the group in meditation after which she said, “You know we are all the same. The only difference is the approach and the practices we choose. We find the Light and that is God. By whatever name…God is just The Light.”
The Georgia Circle continues to welcome all women who desire to work together to heal our communities, our country and our world.
This summer the Gainesville meditation group will be meeting on the 3rd Tuesday evening of the month at 6:00pm. There will be two summer series discussion topics and dinner following meditation in Gainesville beginning May 19th. The first series will be on how to go green in a variety of aspects in our lives. The second series will be on how to become politically involved in your community. Each series will be last for three sessions. Please contact Lynn at Georgia@laconneau.org for more information.
The movie, The Spirit of Sacajawea, will be shown on May 17th at 1:00 PM in North Decatur, followed by discussion.
A Level 1 Class will be taught at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 6th, at Central Congregational United Church of Christ in Atlanta. Please note the location for this class has been changed.
A Level 1 Class will also be taught at 10:00 AM on Sunday, June 7th, at Cedar Hill Enrichment Center in Gainesville, GA.
For additional information on either of these courses, please contact Lynn at Georgia@laconneau.org
Meditations are held on an ongoing basis in Decatur, Marietta and Gainesville. Women’s Circles are also regularly held in Gainesville. Please check the Georgia calendar for specific times and dates.
Pennsylvania News:
Beginning on Tuesday, May 12, and continuing on May 21 and May 26, the Philadelphia Circle will host a Level I class. All women are welcome and invited to attend. As we practice what we are taught in the classes, the positive changes that we see in our selves and our lives are undeniable. The principles that we learn and practice form the basis of our community.
The Philadelphia Circle will screen the film Iron Jawed Angels on Thursday, May 14. The film depicts the struggle of suffragists who fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment. We do not learn about these women in school, yet they succeeded in earning women the right to vote in the United States.
We welcome all women to our classes, meditations, dinners, and film screenings as we continue to build a community of women.Washington, DC News:
In March, several Laconneau women from in and near Washington enjoyed a weeklong retreat at the first Sentier de Vermont in Chittenden.
On Saturday, April 4, DC Laconneau will welcome spring with a hike and picnic along the Appalachian Trail in Maryland. Other April activities of the DC Circle will include a meditation and afternoon tea in Falls Church, Virginia.
On Friday, April 17 at 6:30 PM, the Washington Circle will host a film screening and dinner. The film, Cathares: Secrets and Legends, takes the viewer through time, through the majestic landscapes of the south of France, to discover the legends and history of the Cathares, those “good Christians” whom the Catholic Church persecuted as heretics. Famous historians and specialists Anne Brenon, Jean Duvernoy, Jordi Passerat & Philippe Contal helped create this French production, directed in 2007 by Christian Salès.
Washington, DC News:
The DC Circle began April with a morning hike along a short stretch of the C&O Canal and a communal picnic lunch, then joined women from north, south, and west of DC for a Level II class. It was a rich and fulfilling weekend.
Our film showing for April was the French-made documentary; Cathars: Secrets and Legends, which depicts the story of the “good Christians” whom the Catholic Church persecuted as heretics.
The Circle's May activities will include a Sunday afternoon meditation and tea in Falls Church, Virginia. On May 15 and 16, the DC Circle will host a seminar on the Gospel of the Beloved Companion, which
will be followed by a Level I class on Sunday, May 17.
FRANCE: Upcoming Events
Monday, September 21 – Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sentier de la Magdalene
Southern France
GEORGIA: May Events
Friday, May 1, 2009 - Sunday, May 3, 2009
Laconneau Spring Festival
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Monday May 4, 2009
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA
Wednesday May 6, 2009
Meditation 6:30PM
North Decatur, GA
Friday May 8, 2009
Women’s Circle 8:30PM
Gainesville, GA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Monday May 11, 2009
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA
Sunday May 17, 2009
Film Screening 1:00PM
The Spirit of Sacajawea
North Decatur, GA
Sunday May 17, 2009
Meditation 5:30PM
East Decatur, GA
Monday May 18, 2009
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA
Tuesday May 19, 2009
Meditation, Dinner, & Discussion 6:00PM
Going Green
Gainesville, GA
Monday May 25, 2009
Meditation 6:30PM
Marietta, GA
Tuesday May 26, 2009
Women’s Circle 8:30PM
Gainesville, GA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Atlanta Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarAtlantaGA.html
Atlanta Region Coordinator: Lynn - georgia@laconneau.org
NORTH CAROLINA: May Events
GREENVILLE, NC
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3, 2009
Laconneau Spring Festival
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Friday, May 8, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:00PM
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Meditation, Dinner & Discussion 6:30PM
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
Friday, May 22, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:30PM
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Meditation 12:00PM
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
ASHEVILLE, NC
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3, 2009
Laconneau Spring Festival
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:00PM
Brevard, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:00 PM
Brevard, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
North Carolina Calendar Online:
http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarGreenvilleNC.html
Carolinas Region Coordinator: Elaine – carolinas@laconneau.org
PENNSYLVANIA: May Events
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3, 2009
Laconneau Spring Festival
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:00PM
Philadelphia, PA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Tuesday May 12, 2009
Level I Beginner’s Course 7:00PM
Philadelphia, PA
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Film Screening 7:00PM
Iron Jawed Angels
Philadelphia, PA
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Level I Beginner’s Course (Continued) 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Level I Beginner’s Course (Continued) 7:30PM
Philadelphia, PA
Friday, May 29, 2009
Dinner & Discussion 7:30PM
Awareness in Action
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarPhiladelphiaPA.html
Philadelphia Region Coordinator: Anna - Pennsylvania@laconneau.org
SOUTH CAROLINA: May Events
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3, 2009
Laconneau Spring Festival
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Friday, May 8, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:00PM
Simpsonville, SC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Friday, May 22, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:30PM
Simpsonville, SC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
South Carolina Calendar Online:
http://www.laconneau.org/CalendarSC.html
Carolinas Region Coordinator: Elaine – carolinas@laconneau.org
WASHINGTON, DC: May Events
Friday, May 1, 2009 - Sunday, May 3, 2009
Laconneau Spring Festival
Artemis House
Greenville, NC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:00PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Gospel of the Beloved Companion 7:30PM
Washington, DC
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Gospel of the Beloved Companion (Continued) 10:00AM
Washington, DC
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Level I Beginner’s Course 10:00AM
Washington, DC
Friday, May 22, 2009
Women’s Circle 9:30PM
Washington, DC
For students who have completed the Level I Course
DC Calendar Online: http://www.laconneau.com/CalendarWashingtonDC.html
DC Region Coordinator: Lorely - dc@laconneau.org
CONTACT LACONNEAU
Please contact your coordinator with questions or updated regional information.
In France: Jehanne jehanne@laconneau.org
In California:Alex alex@laconneau.org
In the Carolinas: Elaine carolinas@laconneau.org
In Georgia: Lynn georgia@laconneau.org
In Pennsylvania: Anna pennsylvania@laconneau.org
In Washington, DC: Lorely dc@laconneau.org
Contact Information Online: http://www.laconneau.com/Contact.html
Laconneau Newsletter Archive:
http://www.laconneau.com/NewsletterArchive.html
Please visit our website, www.laconneau.org, for the complete calendar, further articles, Laconneau’s history and additional information.
You are receiving this newsletter because you attended a Laconneau course or seminar. If you would prefer not to receive emails from Laconneau, please email Alex at alex@laconneau.org to be removed from our mailing list.
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