Decolonize To Liberate/Upcoming Events

go back to the Working Group page Special Presentation on "Indigenous Justice: The Navajo Nation Situation"  With Featured Guest: Dr. James W. Zion      Monday, June 18th, 6p   Community Church of Boston, 565 Boylston St, Boston (across from Copley)     http://whywalkabout.blogspot.com/2012/06/indigenous-justice.htmlEvent Details Here One of the positive hallmarks of the Occupy movement is recognition of the reality of indigenous peoples and indigenous rights. This talk will highlight the importance of indigenous rights in the United States, using the example of the Dine', the Navajo People of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, in terms of both Dine' rights and the rights of all the 99%.

The United Nations Indigenous Forum recently concluded discussions of the falsity of the "Discovery Doctrine," and discussions of the pretexts of Europe in the theft of lands and liberties in the Americas are relevant to the Occupy movement: How is it that the same discourses of conquest that were, and are, sued to dominate indigenous peoples are also being used to dominate and exclude the 99% from effective power?

The situation of Navajos, who have treaties with Spain, Mexico and the United States but who have a dependent international state, is relevant to us all. We need to discuss their situation to better understand our own.

About Dr. James W. Zion

James W. Zion is a public interest lawyer who lives in Albuquerque and practices law in the Navajo Nation and international fora- UN Indigenous Forum, UN Commission on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Geneva, etc. . His client base is primarily individual Navajos, Navajo nonprofit corporations and Navajo community organizations. He is the international counsel for the National Indian Youth Council. Zion has been in practice 43 years. His focus is public interest law in Indian Country.

He is licensed to practice in the Navajo Nation, Connecticut and the United States Supreme Court. He has published in the fields of customary Indian law and international indigenous human rights, and his latest book is Marianne 0. Nielsen & James W. Zion, eds., Navajo Nation Peacemaking: Living Traditional Justice (U. of Arizona Press, 2005). He is a 2012 Givelber Distinguished Lecturer at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, on the topic Ma 'ii Adil 'inigii? Indian Law for Coyotes.

Zion's particular interests are traditional American Indian justice and customary law, international human rights law, poverty law and advocacy of the rights of the new poor, the 99%. He is a member of the board of directors of the National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals, and advocacy group for the rights of the victims of injustice and counsel to various Navajo public interest organizations, including the Shiprock Home for Women and Children, the Shiprock Community Development Corporation, The Forgotten People and Dine' bi Siihasin.

Friday, June 29th, the Faith and Spirituality Working Group will partner  with the Decolonize to Liberate Working Group in showing and discussing the   film "I AM." We will examine the film specifically through a decolonization  lens and the spiritual implications of such a lens as illustrated through   the documentary. http://www.iamthedoc.com/    Meetings of the Decolonize to Liberate Working Group are held at the First   Parish in Cambridge, 6-8PM, easily accessible from the Harvard Square   T-stop, on the corner of Mass Ave and Church St., enter through the far door   on Church Street and ring the bell at the inner door for entrance.

Previous Events        Friday, May 18th, 6p   Special Film Screening and Discussion: 2012 La Palabra Maya (The Mayan Word)    '''En español, abajo. '''    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czs7ifu3ImQ/TnEtlquqC-I/AAAAAAAAAAk/yK7gAwa34Tk/s1600/web%2Bbanner%2Bsept.%2Bflattened.jpg      Everyone is talking about the Mayan Prophecies of 2012.   But who is listening to the Maya? Please join the “Decolonize to Liberate” Working Group of Occupy Boston for a special screening and discussion of a newly-released groundbreaking film, “2012: La Palabra Maya (the Mayan Word).” Hear the voices of the Mayan people as they share their perspectives on the prophecies of their ancestors and their fight to defend Mother Earth and their culture from destruction.

Friday, May 18th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm   First Parish (UU) Church in Harvard Sq.    3 Church Street, Cambridge, MA 02138    As with all Decolonize/Occupy events, this is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!   Please RSVP and share the facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/347798498617160/ “2012: The Mayan Word” is both a message of hope and a call to action. Featuring testimonies from contemporary Mayans throughout Mesoamerica, from spiritual guides to activists, community leaders, farmers, artists, teachers, and children, this film is an extraordinary journey into the heart of Mayan struggle and spirituality. Watch the Trailer, here http://youtu.be/11KdG4z5FuY  You can also watch the entire film for free, here http://youtu.be/UwvpsVsawMg     The film (64 Minutes) will be followed by discussion with special guests, including Carlos Aceves (via Skype), author of “Nine Seasons: Beyond 2012” and other in-person guests To Be Announced. Attendees will also learn how they can join with Cambridge-based non-profit Cultural Survival (cs.org) to help legalize community radio in Guatemala. Organizers are performing outreach to invite members from local Mayan and Mexican/Guatemalan communities, and are planning to arrange for adequate translation. If you can help with either of these efforts, please contact decolonizeboston[at]gmail.com. Presentación de la película especial y Discusión: 2012 La Palabra Maya Todo el mundo habla de las Profecías Mayas sobre el 2012  ¿Pero quién está escuchando a los mayas? Por favor únase a la "Decolonizar para Liberar" a un grupo de “Occupy Boston” para una presentación y discusión especial de un innovador documental, “2012: La Palabra Maya (the Mayan Word).” Escucharemos las voces de la comunidad Maya que nos ofreceran Su cosmovision, la sabiduria de sus ancestr@s y Su Lucha por defender a la Madre Tierra y a Su cultura. Viernes, 18 de Mayo, 6:00 p - 8:00 p  First Parish Church in Harvard Sq.   3 Church Street, Cambridge, MA 02138   LIBRE Y ABIERTO AL PÚBLICO!   Habrá un traductor. Por favor, RSVP y compartir Facebook evento https://www.facebook.com/events/347798498617160/

2012 La Palabra Maya es un mensaje de esperanza y una llamada a la acción. A través de los testimonios de mayas contemporáneos de todo Mesoamérica, desde guías espirituales a activistas, líder@s comunitarios, campesin@s, artistas, maestr@s, niñas y niños, este documental nos lleva a un extraordinario viaje al corazón de la lucha y la espiritualidad Maya. Usted puede ver una versión corta de la película, aquí http://youtu.be/11KdG4z5FuY  Toda la película está aquí http://youtu.be/UwvpsVsawMg Después de la película vamos a tener una discusión. L@s organizador@s están planeando proporcionar servicios de traducción. Si usted puede ayudar con esto, por favor póngase en contacto con decolonizeboston@gmail.com

Friday, June 8th: Decolonize Film Screening; "Two Spirits" Friday, June 8th we will be showing the film "Two Spirits" with Maria Cristina facilitating. Our showing this film on the night before the annual Gay Pride march allows us to honor a young transgender American Indian whose  life was tragically lost and also to discuss the intersection of oppressions  in the context of colonialism. http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/two-spirits/film.html. Meetings of the Decolonize to Liberate Working Group are held at the First Parish in  Cambridge, 6-8PM, easily accessible from the Harvard Square T-stop, on the  corner of Mass Ave and Church St., enter through the far door on Church  Street and ring the bell at the inner door for entrance.