Update -- May 27th Meeting

There was only a few of us at the meeting but the main things we are looking at right now are:

1. Preparing our Budget for the event to start applying for various funding
2. Getting more big names (Bands, Artists and speakers) to come to our event and donate their time for the youth
3. Partnering up with different community and youth-based organizations on Six Nations to make this event a community effort.
4. Finally starting to put info on this event out into the community through our own media outlets.
5. Getting more youth and elders to come to our meeting so that we can accomplish our goals more quickly (and it doesn't fall on only a few people's backs)

So if anyone has any info on any of these speaking points or can help out in any way - email us at delegationofsnyouth@hotmail.com or call at 416-662-5438 (ask for melissa) OR you can get us on our facebook group/event page!

What Help Do We Need?

The only way we, the Delegation of Six Nations Youth can even hope to put on this Youth Rally is through the assistance of the Six Nations community at all levels of planning and implementation of it. It is apparent that we need the assistance of our community - this HAS to be a community effort!!

Donation/Support Needed List

Immediate Needs:

• MONETARY DONATIONS
  
• COMPANY SPONSORS
  
• Delegates from community organizations/ businesses to ATTEND MEETINGS (every Tuesday @ 6pm at the Social Services Building)
• ACTIVE PROMOTION OF RALLY to Youth AND Elders (through mass distribution of flyers, word of mouth, media coverage, etc.)

Supplies:

• Water
• Food (canned, meat, potatoes, catering services, etc.)
• Art Supplies (Soap stone, large canvas, spray paint, tempera paint, paint brushes, markers)
• Large Canopy Tents
• Tables
• Tobacco (and other traditional medicine)
• Poster board, flip charts, paper, pens, pencils, etc.
• Wood (for Sacred Fire)
• Walkie-Talkies
• Flashlights

Interactive Speakers/Workshop Coordinators on Issues:

• Leadership(change)
• Healthy Living
• Non-Violence
• The Great Law and other Haudenosaunee Traditions
• Land Claims
• The Environment
• Traditional Roles (Men & Women, Elders & Youth, etc.)
• Education
• Pride
• Racism
• Bullying

Volunteers:

• Elders
• Cooks
• Security
• Parking
• Registration
• Clean-up personal
• Assistants for Art & Elders Tents

AND ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING ELSE!

***We especially need organizers and workshop coordinators -- so if you can't do it, find someone who can and COME TO OUR MEETINGS:

EVERY TUESDAY @ 6PM AT THE SIX NATIONS SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING IN THE BOARD ROOM!

or contact us at:
delegationofsnyouth@hotmail.com
416-662-5438 (ask for Melissa)

The Delegation of Six Nations Youth

The Delegation of Six Nations Youth is really just a group of youth have been advocating for a the involvement and inclusion of youth in Six Nations since creation in early 2007.

Some of the things we have done so far are:

A protest and toll-booth last summer (2007) on the National Aboriginal Day of Action (June 29th) on Highway 54. While on the hwy - we handed out copies of our statement and collected donations for the building of a MUCH need Youth Rally for Six Nations.

Our Statement read:

Delegation of Six Nations Youth

On this June 29th, we the Delegation have decided to take action and collectively voice our concerns regarding our territory. These are our major concerns. We ask you to read them, internalize them, and DO SOMETHING!

1. Abuse programs do NOT get to the root of the problems in our community.
2. Loss of connection to the Earth.
3. YOUTH CENTRE!!!
4. Misinterpretation of traditional roles.
5. No solid base for Youth Empowerment
6. The dominant educational system blocks cultural knowledge
7. Education should not be viewed as a weapon, but as a tool.
8. Hate and resentment should NOT be passed down to our generation. It is immature and stunts our growth!
9. Native funding is designed to avoid the problem rather than solve it.
10. The effort should be made to support Youth in cultural endeavors.
11. Factionalism is against the Law. The Great Law! We need to get past exclusive mindsets and fill the seats of the Confederacy!
12. Parents need to take the initiative to all their children to be put in situations where culture is available.

YOU SAY YOU STAND FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS, WELL, HERE WE ARE! PLEASE LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS AND HELP US STAND FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS!

- As well, this year, at a joint meeting between Six Nations Band Council and Confederacy Council, the Delegation of Six Nations Youth developed another hand-out was developed and distributed to the leaders with one main message:

WHERE DO OUR PRIORITIES LIE??? A new Bingo Hall is being built on Six Nations while a Youth Centre is still on the back-burner.

NOW we are planning this Youth Rally to get ALL Six Nations Youth on board to start getting our concerns heard in the community and FINALLY build a Youth and Elders Centre!!!

Indigenous Youth Declaration

This it the Youth Declaration that was created at the International Indigenous Elders Summit 2004 which was held on Six Nations territory. This was the last time that Six Nations Youth came together with other indigenous youth to make a statement to the world - AND LOOK WHAT HAS SINCE HAPPENED! It has been carried across Turtle Island with the Six-Nations-based youth group: Spirit of the Youth Working Group and their Unity Run (2005-2008). It was also presented at the United Nations in 2007 at the “UN International day of the Worlds Indigenous People” and at the Fourth Annual Youth Assembly. In 2008 it was presented to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.


INDIGENOUS YOUTH DECLARATION
KINDLING THE FIRE

We as Indigenous Youth have gathered on Haudenosaunee territory for four years to share our achievements and future prospects on peace and unity. We are the seventh generation and we accept the responsibility for the prosperity of the future generations and of our Mother Earth. Our Ancestors look to us to repeat the words that once fell on deaf ears and to stand strong as one. As our leaders have done before us, we as Indigenous Youth unify in order to rise to the challenge of continuing to wipe the tears of all nations. The Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island wish to reach our goals and to share with the world, peace and unity. We will continue to collectively gather all peoples to push our motion forward. The following statements call for immediate action. Our collective minds and hearts herby declare the following a living document;

1. The Voices of the Youth
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island call for our voice to be recognized and respected as equals.
1. We call for effective and active participation at all gatherings and councils to network, debate and to contribute to decisions on all matters affecting us and our communities.
2. Education
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island call historical truths to be told;
1. All books that are used in the education system must be rewritten to include the stories of Indigenous peoples, written from the perspective of Indigenous voice.
1. Indigenous Peoples have the choice to provide education which serves our best interests to preserve our culture for the coming faces.
1. Indigenous youth must be educated in the rights we have as people
1. We will create educational, social and recreational programs and opportunities to promote, encourage, and maintain healthy traditional lifestyles, which nurtures our talents whether they be traditional, artistic, athletic or academic.
1. All programs must be supported by our communities, elders, states, and international institutions.
3. Protecting/Preserving Language
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island call for opportunities for our children to learn their native language as their original language.
1. We call for more high quality programs be created and that funding be allocated to revive our Indigenous Language.
1. We call for language programs to be made available to all Indigenous peoples whether they live off or on territories.
4. Treaties
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island call for that each and every one of our treaties be honoured.
1. We call for all negotiations and discussions between governments and nations be fair and respectful.
1. We will assert jurisdiction over our lands and resources.
5. Discrimination
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island call for the discrimination against Indigenous Peoples to not be tolerated.
1. We call for all government policies, acts and laws which discriminate against Indigenous Peoples be abolished immediately.
1. We call for all internal discrimination against youth, elders and groups of people within our communities to stop immediately.
1. We call for all external discrimination against any other race, religion or culture to be stopped immediately.
6. Respect of Our Culture
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island call for unrestricted access to our traditional, historical artifacts whether they are in museums, private collections or any other possession.
1. Our traditional ceremonies must be recognized and respected by governments, school boards, business owners and the greater society as equal to other religious holidays and practices.
1. We will not allow our culture and tradition to be defined by outside or foreign influences.
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island call for media to highlight the positive aspects of Indigenous culture rather than perpetuate stereotypes.
1. We call for all news reports relating to Indigenous peoples to accurately represent our perspective.
1. Media black-outs cannot be tolerated.
1. We call for governments and international forums to support Indigenous created media bodies.
7. Colonization
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island refuse to be subject to any form of colonization.
1. We refuse to allow all previous effects of colonization to pass onto the next seven generations. All hate, resentment and anguish ends now.
1. We must reestablish the connection between the youth and the elders and work towards unity.
1. We forgive all peoples who have damaged our culture, lands and our people.
1. We ask that all peoples of Mother Earth join us in this healing.
8. Our Mother Earth
1. We as Indigenous Youth of Turtle Island call for that our Mother Earth be protected at all costs.
1. We call for unrestricted access to sacred sites. Sacred sties must be maintained in their natural, original state.
1. We call for all environmentally destructive behaviors to stop immediately. The health and well-being of our people and our ceremonies is dependent on the well-being of our Mother Earth.
1. We as Indigenous peoples need to re-establish our connection to the land.
1. We need states and multinational forums and organizations to assist and join us in reconnecting and healing all life.
1. As guardians we implore ourselves to take action to protect, preserve and restore Mother Earth and all creation.

We as Indigenous Youth are going to apply to these statements to our personal lives, communities, and world to the best of our ability and look for others to do the same.

spiritoftheyouth@hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/spiritoftheyouth
melissa_elliott04@hotmail.com

YOUTH RALLY?!?!?!

It is a widely known fact that more Youth need to be educated, included and empowered within Six Nations and all Indigenous communities. Especially with the many land claim issues, the negotiations, the lack of youth centre, the violence and drug related deaths and other issues within our community --the education, organization and empowerment of Six Nations Youth is all the more needed.

Therefore, the Delegation of Six Nations Youth ARE OFFICIALLY PLANNING FOR A SIX NATIONS YOUTH RALLY 2008!!!!!!

The Six Nations Youth Rally 2008 is a youth organized and run event that will occur between July 11-13, 2008 at Chiefswood Park.

It has a couple of purposes:

1. To start the process of building a Youth Centre on Six Nations with the support and vision of ALL the Six Nations Youth.

2. To involve, inspire, and empower all the youth up to start making positive change and getting involved w/the stuff happening on Six Nations.

3. To get the youth together, have fun, cause some havoc and call for Unity and the inclusion of the Youth voice on Six Nations!


WHAT ARE WE DOING?
A Hip-Hop/Rock Concert

Elder vs. Youth Lacrosse Game

Traditional Teachings

March for a Youth Centre

Creation of a Spray-Paint Mural

Surprise Guests

Free Food (like always)

& MORE!!!

Haudenosaunee Youth Prophecy

Jake Swamps gave this message at the United Nations Cry of the Earth Conference, November 22, 1993:

"I am going to talk about the symbol of the Tree of Peace as it relates to what it was prophesied in the time when our Peoples in those times were destroying one another through the use of weapons and warfare. When the Peacemaker completed and he saw the leaders, he asked them to stand in a circle with joined hands, and with the Tree in the center.



He told them that one day, this would happen: somewhere, from some direction, a people will come. And they will bring with them sharp objects, and then they will start to chop at the roots of Peace. The Tree will weaken for a time. And then the Tree will start to fall.

It will fall on the joined hands of the leaders. And he instructed them to be strong when that time arrives. ‘Do not lose your grip’ he told them, ‘For if you do, the Peace will never return.

For in those times when you are burdened by its heaviness and its weight, there will be a great many children born. And when they observe you in pain, of the burden that you have carried, they will move forward and they will help you to raise the Tree of Peace again.’"

http://oneprayer.org/leon_shenandoah_cry_of_the_earth.html

- This is a prophecy about the Haudenosaunee Youth helping our leaders to stand the Tree of Peace upright again.

Though this Rally isn't going to solve everything, it is one large step towards upraising the Tree of Peace. Let us bring unity once more!