Sunday, October 14, 2012

Why support "The Digital Message Stick" ?

Why is the "The Digital Message Stick" important?


When I think about Robert Chavez of H.O.P.E.'s message to 
educate our families and our communities about the reality of LANL
and our Traditional and Indigenous Wisdom that teaches us 
All Life is Sacred...

When I think about Thomas Banyacya who spoke out publicly
for decades giving permission for both video and audio recordings...
about the mis-use of uranium and it's effects on Traditional Life Ways
and the devastation that it has and continues to have 
on All Life and the One Humanity...and still so many have not heard his
guidance....

When I think about WHY so many people still know nothing about our history, 
about how precious our water, air, land, Life Ways are, for the health and well-being NOW and for the future generations....

When I think about how decades of censorship of our voices in mainstream media, school textbooks, and intentional lack of funding resources to educate people has hindered our region from being heard....

When I think about the loss of language which is the foundation of every culture
and the need to preserve our Traditional and Indigenous Cultural Life Ways
which embody the teachings to guide the One Humanity at this time....

When I think about these things, I am delighted by
the opportunity that has come from an official invitation from the Rare Earth Foundation and the Yabarrah Elders to begin with this first documentary, plus build a global social network, plus guide our Youth with the wisdom from Traditional and Indigenous Elders to be the future Leaders, for a more harmonious Life Way with Mother Earth, through
a global youth media network with a focus on preservation of language and culture...this is truly a big Vision, that Taos and our region
is invited to participate in...all because they invited two "regular" people 
(Eric and I) who love and care for our community, our Life Ways, and our families, who are all inner-and inter-related and connected.

Please Join us for Music from Ruben and Friends, Refreshments, a presentation about the film and 
connected programs, Skype with Melueka from Rare Earth Foundation and Poet Lyla June Johnston, 
Raffle for Art, Door Prizes, and more!
Saturday October 20th 4-9PM BAREISS GALLERY

If you can't make it please go to our fundraiser site : http://www.wisdomkeeperslive.com/
And Please share with others! We have almost reached our goal!!!!
We are grateful and thank all of you for your support of us and this collective vision.
Much Love and Peace, 
April


Monday, October 1, 2012

Support Elder and Youth Collaborative Initiatives: The Digital Message Stick, the Re-generation Festival and H.O.P.E


This summer my son and I attended  a few regional conferences that included inter-generational dialogues about Elders guiding and supporting
our Youth Leader's who are stepping up in answer to the call for active solutions to the many crises caused by generations of abuse to our People's and Mother Earth.
In these two videos Robert Chavez and Marian Naranjo of H.O.P.E : Honoring our Pueblo Existence, speak about the need for more education regarding the ongoing effects toxic uranium dumping from Los Alamos National Lab has on our communities.
Youth Leader Robert Chavez: http://youtu.be/z3rHQLigPRQ
Elder Marian Naranjo: http://youtu.be/FokNYSAqHdI

At the SEED Institute conference in Albuquerque, both Elders and Youth agreed that now is the time to raise awareness, educate, and fund Youth Leader's initiatives for a more harmonious Life Way, through responsible use of media technology as a "tool". This said, we all know that to raise our voices above the din of well funded corporate media, will mean that we need to support each other.
Lyla June Johnston, a Youth Leader from Taos New Mexico, shared "Hozho", one of her spoken word pieces at the fundraising dinner for youth initiatives. http://youtu.be/4tAo9puhnNs . Lyla is the founder of the Re-generation Festival, and asks for world wide participation as a means to help end suicide, drug addiction overdose, and death by the effects of generational trauma from the the colonized world.   
For more information about the Re-Generation Festival: http://regenerationfestival.us/

Now my son and I have been officially invited to attend the Rare Earth and Yabarrah Elders Gathering in November to kickstart the "Digital Message Stick" documentary. 

The Gathering is to ceremonially share in the Yabarrah Elders teachings about the Solar Eclipse and to bring Elders, Youth Leaders and NGO's together to dialogue about the need to bring Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom to the forefront in guiding humanity toward a more harmonious relationship with our Mother Earth. The film will begin in Australia and gather messages from Indigenous and Tribal Peoples around the world by different producers. The documentary will be shared with the world, to give a unified resounding voice for the solutions we all want - to put the up-side down colonized culture, right side up. Elders, Youth Leaders, Tribal Nations and NGO's may contact us to include their messages. Yet this is only the start. Rare Earth wants to be able to continue this dialogue with additional episodes and a social media platform to strengthen our collective voices and calls to action. 

My son Eric, graduated Taos High, New Mexico, and received a scholarship to attend the Santa Fe University of Art and Design. He graduated in 2011 with a degree in Film Production. His Tsalagi name is Edoda Dideyo husgi, and his media name is Earthouse Productions: "Mother Earth is my Studio".
Elder's have placed in my care, their messages via audio or video, that they would like to be shared with the Yabarrah Elders and the world. My son and I ask for your support in helping create the Digital Message Stick documentary with the Yabarrah Elders and the Rare Earth Foundation. http://www.indiegogo.com/globaleldersgatheringAprilEric

If you are inspired and would like to support any or all of these Youth Leaders, please follow the links provided. Please contact me for more information about any of these initiatives or sponsoring benefits. Email: liveolakhota@gmail.com or call 575-751-1962 , Thank you ~ April Mondragon