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The American Indian Movement of Florida (AIM Florida) is pleased to announce the conclusion of its historic 16th State Conference in Lake Worth, FL.

The conference built upon the efforts of last years conference in Melbourne, FL. An estimated 123 people attended the three days of conferences and Twenty-one workships-with attendance at workshops running as high as 75. The conferences helped develop and build AIM Florida's priorities and focus for the next year including Maya issues, burial desecration issues, stereotyping, Chasco Fiesta and more. The Conference recieved far more media coverage than last years with the Palm Beach Post, Ft Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, Miami Herald, Ch 5 and Ch. 12 covering the whole conference. They choose to focus on the mascot issue out of the 22 topics and workshops being discussed.

The conference continued to build important links of solidarity between the American Indian Movement of Florida and the Maya community-represented by the Organization of Maya People in Exile and the Guatemala Mayan Center of Lake Worth-as well as continuing solidarity between AIM Florida and the Independent Traditional Seminole Nation represented at the conference by Bobby C. Billie.

The conference was graciously welcomed and greeted with a supportive welcoming letter from Congressman Alcee Hastings, whose staff assistant Dan Liftman attended and participated in the entire conference offering support and solidarity.

The conference heard of the continuing oppression of Maya peoples in Guatemala and their struggle for sovereignty and self-determination in Guatemala. Additionally the Maya representatives Miguel Angel, and Rigoberto Perez of the OMPIE, and Lucio Perez Reynozo of the Guatemala Mayan Center spoke of the struggles of the Maya people in Florida working to be recognized as Maya people, instead of Guatemalan, and their struggle for proper immigration status. AIM Florida vowed to assist them. Bobby C. Billie of the Independent Traditional Seminole Nation spoke of the desecration of sacred and spiritual items including, but not limited to Indigenous cemeteries and sacred sites throughout Florida. Ron and Rowena Alex of the Choctaw Warrior Society spoke regarding the struggle of the Choctaw people in Mississippi against corruption in their tribal government and the oppression of Choctaw people in Mississippi.

AIM Florida is also grateful to the Bartel family coming all the way across the state from Fort Myers to tell us of their ordeal of discrimination against them by Cape Coral Hosital. And we pledge that Hospital will apologize and correct their hideaous behavior towards them.

In addition to having AIM and SG members from throughout Florida in attendance, this years state conference was graced by the attendance of AIM members from Mississippi, and Indiana. Organizations including the Guatemalan-Maya Center, Organization of Maya People in Exile, Lake Worth Friends Meeting House, National Organization for Women, Refuse & Resist, All-African Peoples Revolutionary Party, American Indian Cultural Support, International Peoples Democratic Uhuru Movement and others sent representatives to participate in the conference.

AIM Florida was proud to award the 4th Annual David Goyette Memorial Human Rights Award to South AIM Florida Support Group Coordinator Tom Scott. The 3rd Annual David Goyette Memorial Special Human Rights Awards were awarded to Lucio Perez-Reynozo of the Guatemalan-Mayan Center and Miguel Angel of the Organization of Maya People in Exile. The 2cnd Annual Nunpa Heyaka Indian Rights Award has been awarded to Wayne Crue for his strength of spirit in continuing to stand up for Indigenous rights under such intense hostility towards himself and his parents that he had to move from his parents in Illinois and stay in Minnesota. That kind of courage and commitment the board of AIM Florida decided must be recognized and respected and while we normally confine our awards to Florida decided this exception must be made.

AIM Florida would like to thank all of its friends, members, persons in solidarity and organizations who made the trek to Lake Worth and helped make this conference a success.

We wish to acknowledge Albert and Fran Running Wolf who treked all the way from Indiana to come to the conference. Ron and Rowena Alex along with the representatives of the Choctaw Nation who came to participate and make our conference greater than it would have been without them.

AIM Florida extends deep gratitude towards Jeanne Shumak (sp) of the Choctaw Nation who opened Saturday afternoon and Sunday's proceedings with prayer. As well as Ron Alex and Miguel Angel who opened the proccedings with prayers. Albert Running Wolf and Kashka Larue who offered lunch prayers as well.

AIM Florida deeply appreciates the participation of Bobby C. Billie a spiritual man within the Traditional Seminole Nation who came and spoke not only on the burial desecration issue but the greater issue of the desecration of creation.

The involvement of the Organization of Maya People in Exile, who helped fund the conference and the Guatemalan Maya Center was a large part of the success of this conference.

I will humbly try to acknowledge the people who helped make this conference a success. I apologize if I miss anyone, because there were SO many people who made SO many contributions.

But here are some of the major contributors...

CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS
Marie Zwicker, who couldn't even make the conference but worked diligently to make it a success.
Javier Del Sol-He got the space, the park, he cooked, he talked, he did just about everything.
Tom Scott, Dee Scott, Jana Stacy, Audrey Dowling and the rest of the South Florida SG Crew put in a heck of an effort to make this thing work.

AIM FOR FREEDOM CONCERT
George Garcia of American Horse and
Albert Running Wolf and his flute

SECURITY
George Garcia, Tom Scott, Dee Scott, Sam Smith, Javier Del Sol, Mike Wicks, Albert Running Wolf, Ron Alex

2001 "Roadkill Cafe", Javier Del Sol, Lake Worth Friends Meeting House, Organization of Maya People in Exile, they all kept us fed with pasta, tortilla's, bologna sandwiches (AIM Steaks)

REGISTRATION & Sign Up
Elizabeth Dulac, Sally Kordis, Kristina Kordis, Jillian Kordis, Ozelle Johnson

VENDING
Sally Kordis, David Narcomey, Kristina Kordis, Sam Smith, Jillian Kordis, Ozelle Johnson, Gloria Cox, Rowena Alex

WORKSHOP SPEAKERS AND PARTICIPANTS
George Garcia, Ron Alex, Albert Running Wolf, Miguel Angel Chinquin-Yat, Lucio Perez-Reynozo, Rigoberto Perez, Gloria Cox, Tom Scott, Barry Silver, esq. Former State Representative, Mike Urban, Bobby C. Billie, Sheridan Murphy, Javier Del Sol, David Narcomey, Priscilla Bartells, Ruby Beaulieu, Susan Anderson, Ron Alex, Rowena Alex

"FAT BOY SINGERS"
Albert Running Wolf, Sheridan Murphy, George Garcia, Anthony Bonomo, David Narcomey, Ron Alex

BUTTON MAKERS
Sam Smith, Kristina Kordis, Ozelle Johnson, Jillian Kordis

RAFFLE TICKET CREW
Sam Smith, Jillian Kordis, Kristina Kordis

SPECIAL THANKS to THOSE WHO DONATED ITEMS for RAFFLE
Sky Davis (belts), Kashka Larue, Ms. Ware, June Perry and crew, Nora Mahoney (Really cool earrings), Elizabeth Dulac (She got us the lovely Oil of Olay), Kathy Schulz (cool Cd's), and to all those who bought tickets, time and time again, thanks.

AIM Florida hopes the incredible energy and solidarity expressed and shown at the 16th State Conference translates into a incredibly productive and progressive year for the organization. And we look forward to seeing all the participants at events throughout the year and towards the 17th State Conference, whose site will be determined at the November AIM Florida State Board of Directors meeting.

Thank You

Sheridan Murphy