To: Political Confederacy
Dt: April 1, 2008
Fr: Sue Chiblow, Environment Coordinator
Re: Convening of Indigenous Peoples for the Healing of Mother Earth

I attended the Convening of Indigenous Peoples for the Healing of Mother Earth in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico on March 10 – 13, 2008 with a delegation from Ontario as per the motion passed at the Political Confederacy meeting on January 23, 2008. The delegation included Arnold Yellowmen, Ontario Young Peoples’ Council, Clynt King, Independent First Nations representative and Laura Calmwind, KI representative.

The central theme of the convening was environmental health and the Healing of Mother Earth. It intended to bring forward the Original Teachings as kept by our Wisdom Keepers and Culture Bearers. The gathering facilitated discussions among Indigenous Peoples of North America on environmental health issues facing their communities. The discussions were focused around four sacred elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and long-term survival, wellness and security of Indigenous Peoples in their traditional territories.¹

On the first day of the convening, a welcoming ceremony, led by Mayan and other spiritual leaders took place at the historic Mayan city ruins and the sacred temples outside of Palenque, Mexico. The following days consisted of discussions from Indigenous Peoples of North America on the four sacred elements. Many participants expressed the urgent need to bring environmental issues to the forefront of the political arena. They also shared stories of many environmental issues in their respective communities along with the urgent need to ensure our original knowledge is respected and used to assist in dealing with the numerous environmental issues we, as Indigenous peoples, face on a daily basis. A message was compiled from the discussions and presented to the forum for further feedback. The “Message of the Living Spirit of the Convening of Indigenous Peoples for the Healing of Mother Earth at the Cultural Territory of the May” contains messages on water, air, earth and fire. It has a “Call to Action” to Indigenous Peoples, and to the Global Community.²

A booklet was distributed at the convening which contained information on the following:³

The Water Element – Water Fact Sheet
- contained information all water from a indigenous viewpoint; water systems and water quality; water pollution; the effects of pollutants on traditional hunting and fishing activities; pollution and plant life; water and wastewater systems.

The Earth Element – Earth Fact Sheet
- contained information on the earth from a indigenous viewpoint; solid waste management/garbage; animal waste; contamination; mining; women’s health; children’s health; food/nutrition; biodiversity/traditional knowledge; rubber tapping; forestry; large scale agriculture; mono cropping; climate change impacts; and land use and rights.

The Element of Air – Air Fact Sheet
- contained an introduction on the earth’s atmosphere; air pollution; climate change; traditional knowledge; and housing and air quality.

Fire Element – Fire Fact Sheet
- contained information from Canada on social, cultural and health issues; natural resource development; nuclear waste/uranium mining; and alternative energy. Information from the United States and Mexico was listed regarding mining; alternative power; fire as fuel; and traditional knowledge.

Many pictures were taken at the conference and one of the delegates posted them to the following website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/powless/sets/72157604155992132/.

¹ All information received at the conference can be viewed at http://www.indigenousconvening.com/English/ndex.htm This also includes the booklet material on the Water Fact Sheet, the Air Fact Sheet, the Earth Fact Sheet and the Fire Fact Sheet.
² See Attachment A for the full message compiled at the conference.
³ These documents in their entirety can be viewed at: http://www.indigenousconvening.com/English/ndex.htm