Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Proposal summary:

The December 3-9, 2009 Parliament in Melbourne, Australia, will be the major site of the Congress for the Parliament of the World’s Religions. The once in every five years Parliament event in 2009 will incorporate a major emphasis on the local and global struggles of indigenous peoples in the Parliament and pre-Parliament gathering. This will be the largest assembly of spiritual leaders/teachers/students in the history of the world. A special pre-conference gathering of Native peoples/ to be hosted by the indigenous nations of Australia, will be held prior to the Parliament.

The Parliament theme is:

Making a World of Difference: Hearing Each Other, Healing the Earth

This theme reflects the urgent need for religious and spiritual communities and all people of goodwill to act on their concerns for the environment, peace and overcoming poverty.

During the Parliament, thousands of people worldwide will renew their work for the future of the planet. Attendance is estimated, very conservatively, at 12,000 people including Moslems, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and representatives from many other traditions with a special emphasis on Native peoples of the Americas, Australia and the Pacific region.

To date, His Holiness the Dalai Lama (Tibetan Buddhist Leader, India), Oren Lyons (Native American Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation, Haudenosaunee Confederacy), Rabbi David Rosen (Chairman of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, Israel) and His Holiness Sri Ravi Shankar (Spiritual Leader of the Art of Living Foundation, India) are confirmed speakers.

Australian sponsors have pledged to support 80 Australian and aboriginal people who will be participating in the event. The Council is also seeking to raise funds to sponsor additional 100 indigenous persons from around the world. Scholarship priority is being given for indigenous persons from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Russia. At least 60 of the specific workshops during the Parliament will be led by these Indigenous persons and their presentations will focus on environment, rights and leader. Each delegate will be expected to discuss the culture/ history, current concerns and world view of the Mohawk Nation.

YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED:

This call for assistance is to help raise scholarship funds to support the participation of 100 indigenous peoples from various countries or communities that have little or no financial resources to support their travel to attend the Parliament. It will cost $4,2.50.00 US per person including travel and stay. The Council is seeking your assistance so that these attendees can not only enrich the knowledge of other participants but who are working diligently to protect their religious freedom and improve their communities. A total of $400,000 is being sought for the scholarships. $125,000 has been committed to date (12/08) specifically for scholarships.

For more information, contact: http://www.parliamentofreligions.org

Mailing address: Congress for the World Parliament of Religions, 70 E. Lake Street, Suite 205, Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 624-2990. Dirk Ficca, Executive Director.

For a more detailed proposal on the Indigenous Peoples Inclusion, contact Mary Nelson at mnelson367@aol.com (773) 551-3135 or Doug George-Kanentiio at Kanentiio@aol.com (315) 363-1655.

Mohawk Nation Budget:

The Native organizing/planning committee will coordinate all travel, accommodations, meals and events. Each Mohawk delegate will assume responsibility for their respective medical needs, clothing and traditional dress. Purchasing of international health insurance by the delegates is strongly urged. All efforts will be made to insure travel on Haudenosaunee documentation is available but this cannot be guaranteed.

Budget

12 delegates from Akwesasne @ $4,250.00: $51,000.

4 delegates from Kahnawake @ $4,250.00: $17,000.

Total request: $68,000.