Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' REALITIES - The Indigenous community of Cleveland, OH, and our supporters, urge your participation in our 4th Annual Conference on Racist Imagery In The Popular Culture to be held at the Marriott Inn, 4277 W. 150th Street, Cleveland,OH. This hotel is only about two miles from the airport on Highway 71. The Conference is co-sponsored by the Committee of 500 Years of Dignity and Resistance and the United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries'Racial Justice Team. This year's conference focus will be "Indigenous Peoples' Realities".

Our keynoter is Billy Mills with a speech entitled "Unity Through Global Diversity" and he will be lifting issues of the Indigenous. Billy is from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and is best known for his 10,000 meter "GOLD MEDAL" run in Tokyo, Japan in 1964, and for the movie about his life called "Running Brave". Visit Billy Mills.org for more information. Also present will be Charlene Teters, a devoted activistand excellent artist, scholar, teacher who was featured in the documentary 'In Whose Honor'. Visit Ms. Tetters web site.

The conference is scheduled for Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7, culminating in a march and protest at the ball park on the morning of April 8, until ball game time. This is the opening game of the new season andthis march and protest is our 10th one since we started in April, 1992. This year’s march will include a huge puppet that we will build ourselves, with the help of an expert! Panels will lead us in three areas: Elementary and High School's use of Names and Logos; Colleges and Universities continuing Resistance; and, Racism is Blatant Still in Professional Baseball and Football arenas.

Aside from focusing on the specific campus and ballpark terror zones, we will organizing around the issue of Negative Stereotyping in the Corporate World, with Gary Brouse as our organizer. This is an area that is in dire need of national organizing and support networking, just as we've done with the sport's industry.

The National Coalition on Racism is always here to help us organize. They will be represented once again by Vernon Bellecourt, Clyde Bellecourt, TimGiago, Charlene Teters, Don Messic, Juanita Helphrey, Cyd Crue and others.In Fact, Clyde will be our Spiritual Leader this year. The community of Indigenous in Cleveland always treat our guests with high regard.

During this conference we will provide two major "feast meals" on Saturday evening and on Sunday evening. We will also have an honoring timeand a giveaway.Saturday evening we will feature two entertainment groups for yourpleasure. A Native American Rap Artist called Julian B and the DanceAfrika Dance group that we know you will appreciate (great drumming andgreat dancing and you can dance too!).

As we've done in all previous conferences, we have a housing list for conference participants who would rather stay in a home than a motel. This is a first come, first served basis. We also have reserved a small block of rooms at the Marriott - at $75.00 daily for a double. Call 216-736-3725 or e-mail clementf@ucc.org for more information. Please note the registration form below and change of address for the Committee of 500 Years. A Brochure currently at print and will be available upon request.