We are happy to share the Call for Proposals for this exciting conference.
Two Presentation Grant Winners: Beverly Little Thunder and Lushanya Echeverria
This powerful mother-daughter team presents on human rights and social justice. Listening to her own ancestors and following her visions in spite of opposition, Beverly Little Thunder holds ceremonial space in Vermont. She teaches and counsels those who hold their own visions and is especially active in supporting the next generations while they move into their places of leadership. Presenting with her daughter Lushanya she aims to inspire hope, courage, and confidence in those who will one day be our leadership. Her recent memoir, One Bead at a Time, will be available for sale at the conference.
Beverly Little Thunder & Lushanya Echeverria, “Womyn’s Sundance: Two Spirit Indigenous Ceremonial Community”
‘We are all related’ is the belief that Lakota people live by. Womyn are the bearers of that life. Before documented history the Wimmin were the ones to decide how the tribe functioned. Today it is still the role Wimmin are playing, but now patriarchal social systems create opposition to those roles by not only men but by many females also. Our best shot at stopping that mindset is through teaching our daughters that we are not the weaker of the species. This presentation emphasizes the strengths of wimmen in fighting for social justice for all.
Lushanya Echeverria, “Recognizing Intergenerational Trauma from American Indian Boarding Schools”
The trauma from emotional and physical abuse inflicted on Baby Boomers, attending American Indian Boarding Schools, has a huge impact on Millennials as their parents process trust issues and negative perceptions of educational institutions passed down from relatives.
Beverly Little Thunder is a Two-Spirit mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and lifelong activist. She was involved in the American Indian Movement at its inception, is a founding member of the Two-Spirit Gathering movement, and continues to fight for human rights and racial and social justice. As an enrolled tribal member, Beverly was on the front lines Standing Rock’s “Mni Wiconi” Water Protector Movement, and Kunsi Keya became the fiscal sponsor of Two Spirit Nation during that time. Beverly is also a published author of the memoir, One Bead at a Time and a chapter in Two Spirit People (1995). Beverly has also shared her wisdom in presentations at Modern Matriarchal Studies Day (2016) and at women’s gatherings across the country.
Lushanya Echeverria, Master of Art in Education, is a professional educator specializing in Emotional Wellness and Behavior Modification in inner-city Phoenix. Drawing from her upbringing within her Lakota Sioux heritage, Lushanya works with Native American students and families to build connections between traditional home practices and public education through community circles, parenting classes, curriculum, truancy intervention and Conflict Mediation. Spiritual Leader of the Lakota Women’s Sundance (as trained and guided by her mother), Lushanya shares traditional teachings of her people to help women, men, and children have a sense of connection between themselves and Mother Earth. Lushanya is a trained ShadowWork facilitator, Conflict Mediation trainer, and enjoys spending her free time singing with her local Women’s Choir and time with her 18 nieces and nephews.
“Under the Husk”: Special Film at ASWM Conference
“Ohero:kon – Under the Husk,” by Katsitsionne Fox
“Ohero:kon – Under the Husk” is a 26-min documentary following the journey of two Mohawk girls as they take part in their traditional passage rites to becoming Mohawk Women. Kaienkwinehtha and Kasennakohe are childhood friends from traditional families living in the Mohawk Community of Akwesasne that straddles the U.S. / Canada border. They both take part in a four-year adolescent passage rites ceremony that we were able to revive for our youth even though it had not been practiced for generations. This ceremony challenges them spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. It shapes the women they become.
The ceremony is called Ohero:kon because the corn is a metaphor for the youth that are meant to be protected by the husk until they are grown. We started with seven youth, and in just ten years there were more than 80 youth with Ohero:kon branching out to sister communities as well. The women and men in our community were called upon to be aunties and uncles to these young people and guide them through a transition we had never experienced ourselves. We learned with them and were amazed by how this ceremony awakened their gifts and strengthened their spirits.
“There are so few films that reflect the true strength and beauty of our young people, especially our young women. It is important for us to be in the driver seat of these stories of hope and empowerment that are unfolding in Native communities across Turtle Island.
The Film “Ohero:kon – Under the Husk” has screened across the country at a variety of film festivals. The film engages the audience to reflect on the importance of recognizing Rites of Passage in their own culture. I enjoy the dialogue that is sparked by the film.”
—Melissa Katsitsionne Fox
“ Ohero:kon: Under the Husk” has won the imagineNATIVE Jane Glassco Award for an Emerging Filmmaker (2016) and the LA Skins Fest – Achievement in Documentary Filmmaking Award for 2016. It is available for purchase through Women Make Movies.
Goddess Banquet: Optional Activity at ASWM Conference
ASWM is thrilled to announce an exciting new addition to its 2018 conference program.
Friday March 16, 5:30-7pm – Goddess Banquet: Priestess Prayers to Shechinah
Join two Hebrew Priestesses – Judith Maeryam Wouk and Sarah Chandler– for a vegetarian dinner to celebrate the opening of the Jewish sabbath with poetry, prayer, and song. The language plays with gender of God/Goddess both in Hebrew and English. It also includes some earth-based imagery. Participants will have the option to interact with natural objects on a small altar at the center of our table/altar, as well as the option for contemplative time.
All are welcome. We are requesting that you RSVP and pay in advance, as the meal will be catered and we need a head count by March 9th. This is an OPTIONAL event, and not included in your conference registration fee. The cost will be $45 and include a vegetarian meal with wine or grape juice along with ritual supplies.
RSVP by March 9th to Judith (see below)and please pay in advance on ASWM’s donation page. Select donation type “other” and write shabbat in the “other”field so we can code properly.
For more information and to RSVP, contact Judith Maeryam at aswm.ft9z@ncf.ca.
The ASWM Events Team
Presentation Grant Winner: Celia Xavier Brings Toypurina Film
Toypurina: Woman Warrior (film in progress)
Native American Toypurina, from the Kizh Tribe is the first and only Native woman to lead a revolt in the history of California and America. The Kizh are the original, peaceful people of the Los Angeles basin plus the Sacred Sea of Kizh (including Catalina, San Nicholas Island, etc). The tribe is also known as the Gabrielenos. They were living in a Golden Age until the Spanish arrived to force their agrarian system and religion on the people, devastating the environment and the culture. This film aims to tell the story of Toypurina and the rich ecological heritage of the Kizh, now largely forgotten.
In telling the story of one particular Warrior Woman, we discuss the way women lived in harmony with the earth, and the fearlessness and injustices of indigenous women. This little-known story must be told, so women will be emboldened by this young, Native American named Toypurina: To know that a woman fought back for the injustices done to her people and land. To know that the Indigenous people lived in Los Angeles with harmony and great respect for the land, sea, and mountains. To know that our indigenous people’s lives were not in vain.
Celia Xavier (Salish, Athabaskan and Mayan ) is the CEO and Head of Original Programming at Tribal TV, a dedicated channel on Amazon Prime and Roku, and Founder and Executive Director of Tribal Film Festival in Tulsa, OKLA, whose mission is advocating a broader audience for Indigenous films. She is also the owner of IndieIN films (Filmmaking with Intention) and a co-founder with Mary Aboud of a filmmaking bootcamp that “empowers, inspires, and sustains students to tell their digital stories.” Celia comes from the Big Island of Hawaii and resides in Los Angeles.
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