Welcome to the annual AIM-WEST Coast Conference! This year’s conference held in San Francisco November 21-22, 2015 is dedicated to the I Will Clemency Campaign for Leonard Peltier!
The Conference Agenda provides a guide to topics that will be discussed. There are many issues to be covered so please be thoughtful and respectful of others in your presentations and remarks. Your cooperation is appreciated. The public is invited.
AIM-WEST will be live webcast streaming the conference to afford others an opportunity to be part of the discussions and listen to the speakers. When you speak be sure introduce yourself and enjoy the camaraderie as we build alliances across Indian Land in the promotion of Indigenous peoples right to self-determination.
AGENDA
Saturday, November 21: (Answer Coalition at 2969 Mission Street)
8 am A special ceremony will be held to honor and celebrate the life of Darrell Standing Elk who passed to spirit world, September 19, 2015. AIM Elder and spiritual advisor Lee Polanco*tbc will lead the solemn occasion. We encourage friends and relations to share their experiences and moments they had with Ta Kola Ota. Drum, Sage, Mejica Traditional dancers Teo Kalli;
9 am Welcoming words and introduction to the conference by Antonio Gonzales, Director AIM-WEST
9:30 Solidarity statements from supporters and allies.
Panel Discussions
10:00 Human Rights Defenders: Leonard Peltier and “I Will” Executive Clemency campaign, art censorship and 1st Amendment by National Lawyers Guild, Sampson Wolfe Bay Area Support Group, and with Rigo 23 with art project proposal to build statue of Leonard Peltier;
10:45 Youth, Restorative Justice: Juvenile Hall, services, job placement, and native lives matter, police misconduct. Presenters: Robert Castro, Felipe Hernandez, Ms. Destiny Villa, Adam Anda;
11:30 Sacred Sites and Sacred Runs: Grave Lives matter, Peace and Dignity Run, and role of State Office of Historic Preservation. Jose Malvido, Doug Duncan* tbc, Morning Star, Tribal Preservation Officer*tbc, Jim Brown*tbc and Bloody Island;
12:15 Lunch (Film screening to be announced)
1:30 Border Relations: Military Operations and Reservation life, sovereignty and water as humanitarian aid. Presenters Michael Flores, and an Apache video introduction.
2:15 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA): *Lalo Franco and Cristina Gonzales* tbc;
3:00 Re-writing our history: Organizing for “Indigenous Peoples Day” declared in states, cities, schools, jr. colleges and universities. Presenters Erika Hernandez Ramirez, Hernan Rai Zaragoza Lemus, look at Santa Rosa Jr. College and Albuquerque, New Mexico;