2015 Events
Every year SAY Magazine has a presence at a variety of events across North America. In 2015 some of these events included:
Aboriginal Land Resource Management Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia;
Indian Festival in Phoenix, Arizona as part of the Super Bowl activities;
Rossburn, Manitoba high school Native Awareness Day;
Vision Quest Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
Native American Economic Summit in Albuquerque, New Mexico;
ASETS Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia;
Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce Youth Day in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
Warming of the North Conference in Ottawa, Canada;
I DO BUSINESS event in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona Luncheon in Phoenix, Arizona;
CAUCE National Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
Hopi Katsina Doll Carvers event at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona;
Colleges and Institutions Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
Manito Ahbee Festival and International Powwow in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
Manitoba Metis Federation AGA in Winnipeg, Manitoba;
World Indigenous Business Forum in Honolulu, Hawaii;
AISES National Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
ARIZONA AMERICAN INDIAN TOURISM ASSOCIATION
Coordinated the Indian Festival during the Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix, Arizona, January 2015.
All Indian Tribes of Arizona showcased their traditional dwellings, arts & crafts and entertainment.
SAY Magazine was one of the partners in this event.
ASETS CONFERENCE
Held in Vancouver, British Columbia May 2015, focused on discussions on ASETS renewal.
One of the highlights was a presentation by Dr. Donna E. Wood, Adjunct Assistant Professor Department of Political Science University of Victoria, on THE STATE OF ABORIGINAL LABOUR MARKET PROGRAMMING IN CANADA.
KATSINA DOLL MARKETPLACE: A GATHERING OF CARVERS
The nation’s largest gathering of Hopi Katsina Doll Carvers showed their unique creations at this event held at the Heard Museum April 9, 2015.
YOUTH EVENT ROSSBURN
One of many local community events for our Native Youth, Leslie Lounsbury, Publisher of SAY was invited to speak at the high school in Rossburn, Manitoba. These events are designed to include our youth, increase their knowledge of careers and business, as well as provide experience in public speaking et cetera.
YOUTH ‘IMPACT’ SUMMIT
Recognizing the importance of developing and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico hosted its Youth ‘Impact’ Summit, which was held in collaboration with the Annual Native American Economic Summit which took place in Albuquerque from May 11-13, 2015.
I DO BUSINESS
The I DO BUSINESS. National Summit & Tradeshow 2015 was held in conjunction with the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce in Winnipeg on March 29-30-31, 2015.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) provided funding.
CAUCE – CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR UNIVERSITY CONTINUING EDUCATION
The first joint conference with two national organizations: Canadian Association of University Continuing Education and the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education worked together to bring a unique experience in Winnipeg, May of 2015.
The theme of the conference was: Beyond Diversity: Learning and Working in an Inclusive World
VISION QUEST CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW
he 19th Annual Conference and Trade Show was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba May 12- 14, 2015. This event is Canada’s longest running Aboriginal Business, Community and Economic Development Conference. Dr. Martin Brokenleg, who is co-founder of the Circle of Courage and consultant for Reclaiming Youth International, was one of the keynote presenters.
THE CANADIAN NATIVE FASTBALL ASSOCIATION
is a non-profit volunteer organization that was developed over 30 years ago in the spirit of native fastball. Over 70 teams participated in the 2015 Championships held in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
AMERICAN INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF ARIZONA
The AICCAZ was founded in 1995 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1996. The focus of the Chamber is to provide a format for American Indian entrepreneurs to promote their business, for corporations to connect with American Indian businesses, to act as a liaison on tribal economic development issues and to offer the best in resources, training and networking for the American Indian business. AICCAZ offers our members the opportunity to exchange ideas and information with business owners throughout the state. They host monthly lunch meetings and SAY has joined the organization and has attended some of the lunch meetings.
CICAN – COLLEGES AND INSTITUTE CANADA
Colleges and Institutes Canada promotes the excellence of members as the prime providers of advanced skills and applied research for social and economic development. Some of their initiatives include: private partners and federal government departments; celebrating and promoting extraordinary contributions of individuals to their colleges and the Canadian communities they serve; Leadership Development Programs; and International Partnerships.
MANITO AHBEE
Manito Ahbee is one of the most important and significant traditional Aboriginal gathering sites in all of Turtle Island (North America).
Held in September in Winnipeg, Manitoba the Indigenous Music Awards and International Powwow attract participants from across North America.
MANITOBA METIS FEDERATION INC. AGA
Held in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2015, members from across the province meet to discuss business, but also to renew old and new acquaintances.
Leslie Lounsbury, Publisher of SAY, is a member of MMF.
WORLD INDIGENOUS BUSINESS FORUM
This Forum is a platform that engages Indigenous people in global economic discussions. There are four main sectors that focus on Globe Indigenous Issues: Community, Industry, Academic and Government.
The 2015 Forum was held in Honolulu, Hawaii in October. One of the many highlights was the participation of a number of youth.
Healing Gathering for the Land and Water
In 2015, the first ever Healing Gathering for the Land and Water was hosted on the Fort McMurray First Nation by Keepers of the Athabasca Director and local member Cleo Reece.
This superb event grew from the Healing Walk, which ran for five years (2010— 2014). An annual 14 kilometre walk through Alberta’s oil/tar sands, featured tailings ponds, industrial facilities spouting smoke, workers lined up to watch us, and crosses at sites where workers had lost their lives. The last Healing Walk in 2014 drew over 500 people from around the world. They came, they camped, attended workshops, recycled, and prayed together. Thousands of people have walked around the tailings ponds praying for healing, some multiple times.
Many First Nation communities are surrounded by or are near the oil/tar sands and depend on government regulations for the protection of their health and human rights. When government regulations are not effective, human rights to clean air and water are degraded. Treaty rights violations are associated with pollution, loss of Traditional ways of life, and health.
THE HEALING WALK, AND NOW THE HEALING GATHERING FOR THE LAND AND WATER, IS NOT A PROTEST ABOUT THIS DEVASTATION, BUT IS HELD TO BRING AWARENESS AND A SENSE OF GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
Traditional prayers and ceremony strengthen the voices of the First Nations. These events are the only grassroots tour giving people the chance to walk through the oil/ tar sands and experience the impacts.
The July 2015 Nexen spill (of over 5,000 cubic metres of bitumen, sand, and water from a one-year old pipe) onto Fort McMurray First Nation territory, is less than 10 minutes travel from the first Healing Gathering for the Land and Water.
The Healing Gathering will continue in its second year from July 28 – 31, 2016. We encourage anyone who has not yet experienced the oil/tar sands to benefit by attending this Gathering, which not only provides tours of contaminated sites, but also healing ceremony, and traditional knowledge seminars.
