The Totah Festival is a Native American fine arts and crafts show and marketplace with an authentic Indian rug auction, and displays of the best work of more than 100 artisans from the Four Corners. A contest pow-wow is held on the front lawn of the Farmington Civic Center. Many of the artisans demonstrate their skills for the crowd which numbers 10,000 over the two days. The September festival has drawn native weavers, sculptors, jewelers, potters and carvers to Farmington for over two decades.

Farmington has long been a focal point for trading Southwestern Indian wares. It’s a place where collectors and admirers of authentic Indian crafts go to find fine goods at affordable prices from emerging artists.

“Because we want to get the word out to buyers from around the country about Totah, this year we have produced a film that catches the flavor of this colorful festival,” explains Debbie Dusenbery, Executive Director of the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau. See it here http://totahfestival.farmingtonnm.org . Dusenbery also sits the board Totah Festival Foundation.

The Totah Festival this year opens on Saturday, September 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center, 200 W. Arrington in Farmington’s historic downtown. It continues on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The picturesque Pow Wow on the Civic Center lawn continues until 6 p.m. on Sunday.

More information about this region’s native craftsman, trading posts, galleries and special events can be found through the Farmington Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.farmingtonnm.org or call 800-448-1240, for questions about accommodations and the many things to see and do in the Four Corners area.

- Photo Caption: Native American artisans and dancers gather for annual Totah Festival on Labor Day Weekend in Farmington, N.M. Credit: Farmington Parks and Recreation.

News Source: Totah Festival Foundation :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

NAOTF has aligned with the U.N., Bolivian Mission, and Tribal Elders to use this “most powerful sacred day and time, to augment prayers to set intentions to lovingly heal our Mother Earth, especially Her oceans that give us joy, revitalization and food,” said Mazatl, the Azteca Elder host. The ’70 Something’ Elder who danced for Pope John-Paul II, and performs fire ceremonies on PV’s Pirate Ship, warmly invites everyone to come reconnect with Mother Earth’s heart, or celebrate Her with us wherever you are.

This officially launches the worldwide Elders-led ocean healing ceremonies leading up to U.N.’s International Mother Earth Day on April 22, 2011, initiated by the Bolivians. World tribes regularly perform ceremonies where the drums call in ancestral and Nature spirits to powerfully send love and appreciation to Mother Earth’s oceans, but given our world eco crisis, the Bolivians saw we need to work cross-culturally.

“We hope our whole Earth Family participates in these ceremonies that reconnect us with our ancient earth-honoring roots, to inspire communities to remember to give thanks to our Mother Earth and take green steps to live in more harmony with Nature daily,” said Bolivia’s Ambassador Loayza.

“Time to listen to the voices of Indigenous people,” said U.N. Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, supported by four Nobel Prize winners, Eric Chivian, Muhammad Yunus, Joseph Stiglitz, and partner of our Elders, the late Dr. Steven Schneider.

The Aztecs chose Bandaras Bay’s pier near where the whales perform their amazing mating dances, since these ceremonies raise the vibration of the water, to help purify, heal and restore our dying oceans, and its nutrients we have foolishly trashed with more plastic than plankton from the West Coast of the Americas, to Asia. Fish are eating microscopic carcinogenic plastic that snow down on them looking like plankton. That means whales and humans are eating plastic fish. An island of trash the size of Texas where no fish live, just invaded an Hawaiian Island.

Another grave concern, “The gray whales have developed the ‘skinny syndrome,’ and in November, instead of giving birth to 200 babies in Baja California’s Magdelena Bay, there were only 10, shared Ann Wycott, Snow Magazine writer, who had hoped to show her son the birthings.

“Our foundation quickly organized a Baby Whale Emergency Ceremony in the bay near Santa Barbara City College where the whales migrate between the Arctic Circle and Baja. While it was led by gifted Maori Whalerider Elder Grandmother Pauline and Apache Earth healer Valerie Nunez with Ingrid Schmidt’s college students, healing our oceans takes a Village,” said Chaffee.

Since “toxic household products, especially detergents with synthetic fragrances, harm the immune systems of marine life,” revealed a Stanford study, the Elders and Nobel Prize winners also agree that to keep whales visiting our ports, switch ASAP to all natural baking soda, 7th Generation, Dr.Bronners, Ecover.

Lynn Wedekind of Seattle, an Acutonics(.com) instructor, is bringing her ceremonial Ohm Earth Gong. Elder, Dr. Olivia Ellis, says, “It sounds like a chorus of angels, and gives oceans and participants extra powerful healing.”

Malenankayotl, Mazatl’s son-in-law, said, “Please ideally wear white and bring a white flower and candle.” He runs their Tamaskal/sweat lodge in Ixtapa, where Chaffee and English Shamen Gail Weatherly, prayed and asked for Mazatl’s guidance in creating this unifying event.

The magnificence of the Azteca, Mayan and Huichol cultures, is only surpassed by the attention that humanity is finally giving these wisdomkeepers, especially Mayan prophesies.

Participating in these unity ceremonies and purifying Mother Earth are critical to creating a smoother 2012, said Don Alejandra, Guatemala’s National Mayan Council of Elders leader. At the urging of the Bolivians and U.N.’s Sustainability officer, Maria Mercedes Sanchez, NAOTF helped launch Elders-led mountain ceremonies at Vail Colorado’s World Ski Cup in December. See Ute-Navajo miracles: http://send2pressnewswire.com/2010/12/14/s2p4006_195116.php .

The delighted Sanchez, a Nicaraguan, then asked Chaffee to “please help inspire communities to also invite Elders to lead ocean ceremonies.”

“Puerto Vallarta is a befitting locale to also honor the Aztecs for helping seed all this after teaching Rollingbears, a Lakota-Azteca, in Telluride Colorado, to ski with TelSki’s complimentary ticket, which inspired him to save their 1995 snowless Christmas. Witnessing three more emergency weather miracles made me realize Mother Earth really listens,” said Chaffee.

- Photo 72dpi: http://Send2PressNewswire.com/image/10-1231-aztecun_72dpi.jpg .

- Photo Caption: Mexico’s magnificent Aztecas, Mayans. dancing humanity back to an Earth-loving mindset in 2011, in Puerto Vallarta’s Paradisial Bandaras Bay. Photo courtesy: NAOTF.org .

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http://send2pressnewswire.com/author/native-american-olympic-team-foundation/feed .

News Source: Native American Olympic Team Foundation :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

» Plain text copy of press release (and media contact)
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After high winds postponed Friday’s downhill, Eddy and Betty led a “Blessing Ceremony for the Joy and Safety of the Athletes,” early Saturday, which worked. That afternoon the Boxes led a sacred “Gratitude Snowdance” in Minturn near Meloit Park, attracting over 100 regional students, sages.

“Vail then enjoyed 28 inches of powder with more on the way, so everyone is happy,” said Bindu Pomeroy, Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy’s teacher who orchestrated the ceremonies with our Native American Olympic Team Foundation (NAOTF).

“Vail’s snow was in appreciation to Grandfather (Creator) for the community making Mother Earth smile,” said Eddie.

More dreams came true when these world racing heroes and media witnessed, along with a rescued eagle, the winds transform into gentle breezes, plus snowblessings, to bring back to their communities. By suggesting leaders invite nearby Indigenous Elders (or our Native American Elders) to lead Earth-healing ceremonies, phenomenal things could happen.

A related miracle happened near Washington DC. “Following UN’s Maria Mercedes Sanchez also sending blessings in solidarity, on Saturday morning, skier Olivia Ellis, a gifted Elder guiding our Bolivian UN Ceremonial Initiative, joined me by phone in a blissful prayer ‘for the greater good of all at Vail,’ That afternoon, Virginia’s Wintergreen ski area next door to Olivia, was blanketed with rare early snow, showing Nature spirits are sensitive to those with gratitude for Mother Earth, wherever they are,” said Olympic skier, Suzy “Chapstick” Chaffee, NAOTF’s co-chair.

“A nice way to thank the Champions of Nature in Washington who get revitalized and inspired skiing here, which strengthens their environmental efforts,” said Dr. Ellis.

All this is from aligning with the UN goal of healing Mother Earth through our Elders’ solution, backed by their partner, the late 2007 Shared Nobel Peace Prizewinner, Dr. Stephen Schneider, plus three Nobel Laureates, Eric Chivian, Muhammad Yunus, and Joseph Stiglitz: “Rebalancing Nature’s cycles in practical and spiritual ways through these cross-cultural ceremonies, is key to reconnecting with Mother Earth’s heart and restoring Eden.”

“Mother Earth – our only home – is under pressure,” says United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

“It is time to listen to the voices of Indigenous people,” said UN General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann.

Hail to the Bolivian Mission, their co-sponsors, and General Assembly, for brilliantly designating April 22 as U.N.’s International Mother Earth Day.

“Vail’s snowdances have spread across North America thanks to visionary ski areas sharing joyful uplifting snow sports with nearby tribal youth,” said Sanchez. “Global communities inviting their Elders to lead mountain blessings and snowdances, as well as ocean ceremonies, can inspire everyone to live in more harmony with Nature, as we are interrelated and therefore so is our health. We must and can help restore our suffering Mother Earth leading up to Her Day,” said UN Bolivian Ambassador Loayza.

Elders say these ceremonies “purify the mountains from toxic cloud residues, temporarily rebalancing Nature’s snow and rain cycles, but must shift to clean renewable energy and all-natural products NOW, to also restore our dying oceans.”

Eddie Jr’s father, “Red Ute,” of Southern Ute’s Tribal Council, is beloved for leading the first snowdance, which saved Vail’s opening in 1963 (CBS Huntley-Brinkley Report and http://snow-riders.org/mir.html).

“‘Blessing the Athletes’ started at Telluride’s 1999 World Snowboard Championships, where participants chanted Ute Mtn. Ute Tony Tallbird’s name. Following the Georgian luger’s death at Vancouver, Lil’wat and Squamish Elders led a ceremony for the safety and joy of Olympians on their ancestral Whistler, which transformed foggy rain into ‘bluebird days!’” said Chaffee.

Europe and Japan wisely banned 35 and 49 toxins, respectively, to protect their bodies, water, air and glaciers. America only five, so insist your representatives support “2010′s SAFE CHEMICALS ACT (S 3209),” by 86-year-old skier/cancer-survivor, Senator Frank Lautenberg, to protect American children, including son Josh, Vail Powder Figure 8 Champ.

Eddie praises Vail’s bike program and “Ever Green” development incorporating geothermal walkways, green roofs, and micro-turbines in Gore Creek for lighting.

“The Boxes inaugurated a curriculum at Vail Academy on Friday,” said headmaster Geoff Grimmer proudly. “Betty urged them to ‘Talk to and hug trees, express anger, cry and listen, to let hurts go so we don’t pass them on.’”

That’s what can happen giving love and respect to Mother Earth. More info on http://snow-riders.org and http://naotf.org .

- Image 72dpi: http://send2pressnewswire.com/image/10-1214-utevail_72dpi.jpg .
- Image Caption: S. Ute/Navajo Elders, Eddie and Betty Box Jr. (center) with dancers blessing the “Joy and Safety of Earth’s Greatest Ski Racers” to open Vail’s World Cup at Beaver Creek.

News Source: Native American Olympic Team Foundation :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

» Plain text copy of press release (and media contact)
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“Because large scale systems affect our complex weather, it is difficult to say which elements affect the precipitation outcome most, so one needs to work with all sides of the street. It would be foolish to dismiss anything that helps in this environmental crisis, especially if it costs almost nothing,” said the former skier.

Professor Schneider has been chief writer on IPCC’s Team for 20 years, Aspen SkiCo’s consultant, Squaw Valley’s climate conference speaker, and Tom Brokaw’s expert on his HBO Global Warming Special. The Nobel Laureate bikes to work and uses natural household products as cancer and pollution prevention, given its link to glacier melting (ref: mindfully.org/Air/2003/Home-Chemicals-Smog9mar03.htm).

“What combination of practical and spiritual solutions might have contributed to ‘America’s record snow season,’ is not a matter of measurable science, but a matter of belief. Communities like Aspen Valley and this year, Arizona’s Snow Bowl, uniting to give good stewardship, along with group prayer, psychologically serves as a support system that gives the feeling of belonging and hope. So whatever you believe works, go for it,” he advises.

“Last year Stanford’s Woods Institute on the Environment, of which I am a Senior Fellow, launched an environmental exchange starting with the (NZ) Maori and Hawaiian tribes, which has expanded our understanding and way of working in more harmony with Nature,” said the professor. “That is why we are following the National Ski Areas Association’s lead in partnering with American Indian Elders to help ‘Keep Winters Cool,’ thanks to a meeting with a team from Native Voices Foundation (NVF),” he said.

It included America’s Cup Winner Dick Enersen, Kirk Casselman, working on putting an Elder on Yale’s Forestry faculty, and Olympic skier and NVF co-founder Suzy “Chapstick” Chaffee, along with Winona Simms, Stanford’s Native Studies director.

This snow bridge was made possible by the Faraway, Enersen, and Calvert K.Collins Foundations; Tex Hall (ND’s Mandan-Arikara-Hidatsu), former President of the National Congress of American Indians; Ambassador Gilbert Robinson (Ret.); Moose and Ann Taylor; and Send2Press(R) Newswire (www.Send2Press.com), a unit of Neotrope(R).

Native Voices Foundation (NVF) is a non profit 501(c)3 Colorado partnership of U.S. Tribal leaders, Elders and Olympians, “To create joyful unity through sports and education to help heal Mother Earth.”

More information: www.snow-riders.org.

All trademarks acknowledged.

*(PHOTO Link 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/08-0620-NVFgroup_72dpi.jpg)

*(Photo Caption: Graduating Hawaiian and Maori Stanford Fellows and Native Voices Foundation’s (2nd from left) Dick Enersen and Olympic skier Suzy Chaffee, who have been exploring tribal solutions to “Keep Winters Cool” with Nobel Laureate Dr. Stephen Schneider.)

*(PHOTO Link 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/08-0620-NVFschndr_72dpi.jpg)

*(Photo Caption: 2007 Nobel Laureate, Dr. Stephen Schneider, Stanford Climatologist, whose institute has been exploring solutions to “Keeping Winters Cool” with American Indian, Hawaiian and Maori Tribes.)

News Source: Native American Olympic Team Foundation :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2008 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

“Just like people, Mother Earth and Creator, respond favorably to appreciation,” say Tribal Elders.

The phenomena followed an international prayer on December 10, orchestrated by NVF, in partnership with the 13 tribes of Arizona plus California and Colorado, to inspire natural snow at all U.S. Ski Areas to safeguard America’s water. Arizona SnowBowl was blessed with six feet, which protected its sacred San Francisco Peaks and other drought-challenged ski areas from needing to use wastewater in snowmaking, with unfilterable pharmaceuticals.

Nearby Flagstaff TV aired NVF’s Christmas Snow Gratitude Prayer, and the snowblessings continued. Sedona Environmental Scientist, Matthew Turner, praises Flagstaff’s biodiesel mass transit and NAU’s 22,000 students switching to Green Cleaning, for contributing to Snow Bowl’s comeback.

“This was our record snowfall,” said Steamboat’s Olympian Billy Kidd at their first Gratitude Ceremony. “The dancers and Elders from our ‘Ute Future Olympians Ski Program,’ touched everyone.”

Chaffee hosted Telluride’s Ute Mountain Gratitude Ceremony, also honoring Kit and Calvert Collins, America’s Cup-winner Dick Enersen, and the late Loey Ringquist, a pioneering supporter. Eddie (and Betty) Box Jr, who joined December’s snow prayer, also participated, following the visionary pathway of his father, ‘Red Ute,’ former Southern Ute Tribal Council member.

“Tsunamis of Appreciation to Red Ute and the Cloud Clan for transforming their Rain-dance to the first Snow-dance. And to Vail’s Bob Parker and Dick Houseman for desperately asking them to help end their opening drought in 1963,” said Chaffee. (CBS’ Huntley-Brinkley Report – snow-riders.org/mir.html).

Aspen, the “Greenest Resort in North America,” just closed with their annual (N) Ute Gratitude Ceremony/ski program, the most splendid of all. Given Aspen’s now consistently abundant snowfall, the Snow Gods must love these practical-spiritual solutions.

NVF is a Colorado 501(c)3 partnership of U.S. Tribal leaders, Elders and Olympians, and sponsored by Send2Press.com (a unit of Neotrope(R)), “to create joyful unity thru sports/education to help heal Mother Earth for all our children.”

All trademarks acknowledged.

Send2Press(R) is the originating wire service for this story.

NEWS SOURCE: Native Voices Foundation

News Source: Native American Olympic Team Foundation :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2008 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Joe Hipp (Blackfeet), 2003 Native American Heavyweight Champion Harry Funmaker (“Ho-Chunk Hammer”), and South Dakota Golden Gloves director, Chissie Spencer (Seminole), wowed the region’s rising stars with priceless coaching, and fans with exciting sparring at the Northwest Sports Complex.

“I’m thrilled how the benefit united Indian Country’s leading casinos behind developing youth for Vancouver’s 2010 and London’s 2012 Olympics,” said Barry ZeVan, beloved Minneapolis weatherman and original PR Director for Grand Casino Mille Lacs. Chaffee honored ZeVan there for raising her tribal consciousness 15 years ago, and producing “American Indian Homelands,” an award-winning eye-opener.

gaiashkibos (Lac Courte Oreilles), National Congress of American Indians Secretary, joined Chaffee in welcoming and cheering on Future Olympians in boxing, skiing and archery… “I am committed to helping give Indian youth their Olympic Dreams,” he said.

“gaiashkibos could have been an Olympic basketball contender if his community could have afforded to give him a hand,” said Suzy. “Now together we can,” he said. For standing up for Indian youth, Nancy Cooper (Ojibwe), the coordinator, honored him with a buffalo robe.

“Whenever our people can get Olympic quality coaching and conditioning, they win championships,” said Stonehorse Goeman, Seneca Marshal Arts Champion and conditioning-coach for Indian Olympic Boxing talent at Foxwood’s Casino.

“America Indians invented the roots of 10 Olympic sports (http://nativevoices.org/articles/tribal_gifts.htm), and partnered with Ski Utah to end their pre-Olympic drought (snow-riders.org/mir.html). As MVP’s, it’s high time they’re included in humanity’s Greatest Celebration on Earth,” said Chaffee.

“Only one Native American woman, Naomi Lange (Karuk ice-dancer), has competed in the Modern Olympics,” said Cooper, whom Suzy called a “Heavyweight Champion for youth.”

Sponsors included: The Landing, St Croix Trails Dancers & Travel, White Birch Printing, NuStevia-sweetener, Send2Press.com, and Northwest Indian NewsTV. Joined with Native Report (PBS), youth in 15 states plus Canada can get Spooner’s skiing and boxing coaching and stay “clean and lean.”

NVF is a Colorado 501(c)3 non-profit, cross-cultural partnership developing Native American talent for Olympic Teams.

IMAGE 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/08-0421-Spooner_72dpi.jpg

*(Photo Caption: (L-R) Olympic Archery Hopeful Nachole Soulier (St Croix) with Heavyweight Boxing Champions, Joe Hipp and Harry Funmaker, Ski Hopeful Mariah Cooper (Ojibwe-Oneida), and Olympic skier Suzy Chaffee, coaching youth at Spooner’s “Future Olympians Benefit.” Photo: Terrell Boetcher.)

News Source: Native American Olympic Team Foundation :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2008 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

“While our benefit suffered a setback when Evander Holyfield had to bow out, it is uniting Indian Country’s heavyweights behind helping their youth grab their Olympic dreams,” said Chaffee.

“We’re impressed with the Olympic Hopefuls that NVF helped develop (www.snow-riders.org) and together we’ll be meeting with other like-minded Casinos, like the Mohegan Sun and Senecas, to formulate a 4 year plan for pro teams and Olympians to assist in training youth for the London Olympics,” said Stonehorse Goeman. The Seneca Marshal Arts Champion, mentored by Tom Coulter, Olympic coaching legend, is conditioning coach for Native American Olympic Boxing talent at Foxwood’s Casino.

From 1-4 p.m., the Native American Boxing Superstars will clinic top regional boxers from Team Amos, Red Lake, Mo Lake, plus Lakotas. The public is welcome to observe, or attend a talk by Chissie Spencer, top boxing promoter, who’ll share how to steer clear of pitfalls to being a champion of sports and life. Chaffee will also be planting more Olympic ski dreams at her clinic.

At 7 p.m., Native American Olympic Ski Hopeful, Mariah Cooper (Lac Courte-Oreille-Oneida) will open the event with a prayer-signing. Gosh Kibos, Secretary of the National Congress of American Indians, and Suzy will then welcome everyone.

Hip and Funmaker will perform exciting sparring and share how they overcame obstacles. But the stars of the evening are the youth demonstrating their sparring and technique to reveal Olympic Boxing potential. Talent going to the North American Indigenous Games in Vancouver in August will be honored, including by Mark Soulier’s St. Croix Trails Dancers. $10 tickets can be purchased at the door.

Sponsors include: The Landing, St Croix Travel, White Birch Printing, Northwest Indian NewsTV, NuStevia.

NVF is a Colorado 501(c)3 non profit partnership developing Native American talent for Olympic Teams.

News Source: Native Voices Foundation :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2008 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

“Bless the hearts of VP Gore, Avaaz, SOS, and Shaman for inspiring two billion Earth Citizens to do right for Mother Earth and her children. Added to NVF’s billion participating in our Elders-led World Prayers and Ceremonies (See www.snow-riders.org), this is an opportunity to create a synchronized opening of hearts by simply focusing on love for each other and Earth,” said scientist Sperry Andrews. Founder of the Human Connection Institute, Andrews connects the 100 million Oneness Network of quantum physicists, Indian avatars, Oneness University.

“777 is a monumental opportunity for our Earth Family to come together, thanks to round the clock TV coverage that exceeds any War coverage. Something to celebrate,” said Jan Roberts, U.N. Sustainability Education Committee and President of Earth Charter U.S., whose 2,500 organizations support the Elders-led Prayers.

“More are seeking guidance during these uncertain times from the Spirit World, like our Indigenous ancestors. Half of humanity was Indigenous in 1850, before the oil boom reduced them to 5%. Half of humanity is again honoring Earth on 777, a good sign,” said Bob Gough, Secretary of Native Wind/Intertribal Coup, a Native American Olympic Sponsor. Winner of a World Clean Energy Oscar(R) last week, their Carbon Offsets program is supported by VP Gore, more good signs.

ST FRANCIS’ MESSAGE
The Patron Saint of Animals and Ecology who lived in harmony with Nature like an Indigenous Elder, and joyfully sang everywhere he went, is perhaps the most revered Saint/Ascended Master by mainstream and Native cultures.

“Starting on 777, visualize Mother Earth is the heartbeat of the universe, as your planet is the melting pot of the stars. First align your body, mind and spirit to come into Oneness with self and your true power. If your intent is to spread love, peace and joy, (like Shaman), you may feel a part of an ecstatic heart-opening of humanity and Oneness (like a Rock Concert from heaven!), which creates a healing love ripple permeating Earth and then the Cosmos.

Take advantage of that opportunity on 777. Direct energy where it is environmentally needed. Humanity has been quite careless, has overpopulated, and is in need of alternative energies. Those who have been squelching technology invented to help humanity are going to see the Light.”

Other messages suggest we purify our drinking water and oceans for whales and dolphins (and food supply), who are exhausted lifting the planet to a healthy vibration by simply switching to natural cleaners. It also cuts cancer and global warming almost in half. (www.mindfully.org/Air/2003/Home-Chemicals-Smog9mar03.htm).

“Since they say our every thought affects Earth’s vibe, we should kick start our ‘Mission Ignition’ and join a Live Earth Party and Prayer group (ideally led by a Shaman…) at a high vibrational place in Nature (water, mountains…). Together on 777, we can transform any fear into unconditional love of self and each other, turning our LIVE Earth into a flowering Mecca,” said Chaffee.

Native Voices Foundation (www.nativevoices.org) is a Colorado 502(c)3 non-profit partnership of U.S. Tribal leaders, Elders and Olympians, to “create joyful unity through sports to help heal Earth for all our children.”

News Source: Native Voices Foundation :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2007 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

BASIL, Switzerland – July 2 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — “At the first World Clean Energy Awards in Basel’s Congress Center, Intertribal COUP’s NativeEnergy, a partnership of 12 Great Plains Tribes, was honored as ‘one of the world’s premier projects promoting large-scale use of renewable energies,’” according to Native Voices Foundation’s Tex Hall, former President of the National Congress of American Indians.

“As a proud sponsor of the Native American Olympic Teams, Intertribal COUP/Native Wind(.org) is happy to help lower America’s giant carbon footprint to also help strengthen the future of snow sports and Winter Olympics,” said Secretary Robert Gough, on returning from accepting the award with President Patrick Spears.

*(Photo Caption: L-R – Intertribal COUP’s Patrick Spears and Bob Gough receive “World Clean Energy Courage Award” in Basel.)

A high-profile jury of experts picked nine winners from Abu Dhabi, China, India, Kenya, Sweden; and American Indians won the “Special Award for Courage” for their innovative Demonstration Environmental Justice Revitalization Project Plan, initiated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe to build utility scale wind projects on Great Plains reservations.

Andre Schneider, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the World Economic Forum said, “Jurors were struck with the innovations involved with mainstreaming utility scale wind power onto America’s western transmission grid and the collective work of American Indian Tribes whose cultural and spiritual values underscore respect for, and the protection of Earth and her resources.”

Intertribal COUP includes: Cheyenne River; Flandreau Santee; Lower Brule; Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara; Omaha; Rosebud; Sisseton; Spirit Lake; Pine Ridge and Standing Rock Sioux Tribes. Home to America’s richest wind resources and poorest communities, led to COUP acquiring NativeEnergy.

“We are deeply honored and humbled by the world’s recognition coming from Tribes seeking to build sustainable economies with good paying jobs for healthy futures for our children,” said Spears.

“While making America more energy and weather secure, tribes can help meet Kyoto’s renewable energy goals of ICLEI and U.S. Conference of Mayors’ cities,” said Gough.

Last winter NativeEnergy(.com) partnered with students at Vermont’s Middlebury College to create the world’s first Zero Carbon Ski Area, Middlebury Snow Bowl. Vice President Gore even supports NE’s Carbon Offsets model.

Native Voices Foundation is a Colorado 501(c)3 non-profit partnership of U.S. Tribal leaders and Olympians to “create joyful unity through sports to heal Earth for all our children.”

More information about NVF: www.nativevoices.org/

All trademarks acknowledged.

The cost of this news announcement was donated to the NVF by the staff of Neotrope® and Send2Press®.

News Source: Native Voices Foundation :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2007 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

ARCTIC VILLAGE, Alaska – May 29 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — On May 31, 2007, the Arctic Elders invite you, as a member of our Earth Family, to join them, in the following Prayer of love and appreciation to Mother Earth. On that day also, Indigenous Elders will lead ceremonies at Northern Mexico’s mystical Mt. Kushumaa during Earthdance8(.org). “Our intent is to further rebalance Mother Earth and Her weather for our children, including helping keep the polar ice caps cool,” said Olympian Suzy “Chapstick” Chaffee, co-founder of Native Voices Foundation, the orchestrator.

*(Photo Caption: Ravendancer Gene Tagaban (Tlingit-Cherokee-Filipino), Native American Olympic Snowboard Hopeful, dances for global transformation and honor.)

Matthew Gilbert, a Gwichin Athabascan climatologist, said “We appreciate all the help we can get up here. It is awesome how the temperatures dropped in Europe and the snow returned this winter after the Elders led the billion person prayer. What gave it extra power was 55 Elders of the Americas simultaneously leading ceremonies at high vibrational sacred sites throughout the Peruvian Andes, which moved my grandfather, Elder Reverend Trimble Gilbert.”

ARCTIC-LED PRAYER
Creator (of all names) we give you thanks for your wonderful creation. You are related to everything you made. We are asking you with one voice to help us renew Mother Earth. Give us strength to respect one-another, like brothers and sisters, to help your creation. The Power of Your voice is like lightening waking us up to be true Earth Guardians.

O men and women of the earth. Please humbly pray with the holy ones for all our wildlife: including our polar bears, fish, birds, the return of the bees, and for all our air, water, soil, rain, snow, ice and food supply that all People need to be healthy and happy. Send your good spirit upon every country, Creator.

And have mercy and guide each of us so our children may continue to survive and thrive here in harmony. When the hearts of our Earth Family melt together through this purification, the contaminants of Mother Earth will transform into a flowering Mecca. Our hearts are full of thanks for your love, as well as blessings for our Earth Mother. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
- Rev Trimble Gilbert

The Arctic Prayer was a result of the positive response from Mother Earth in Europe, which inspired many to want to continue this monthly, led by Elders in the most challenged regions.

“Scientists say if humanity converted to clean fuels today, it would still take a decade to slow down global warming,” said Flores Kestner (Cortina Tribe), associate member of the National Tribal Environmental Council.

“NASA Satellites revealed that ‘vast regions of Antarctica have also melted.’ Together we can help keep the polar ice caps cool to protect our way of life and that of all coastal people,” said Matthew, who is organizing a Global Warming Gathering with 30 Elders in Alaska’s Arctic Village August 22-28.

“We are grateful that the NRDC, with Bobby Kennedy Jr. as Sr. attorney, is one of the sponsors, though we need more help, and that Prince Albert (Lakota adoptee) led a North Pole Expedition last spring that raised global awareness,” said Matthew.

“Science has not served us as I once thought, so I’m turning to spiritual solutions. The Elders have made a believer of me,” said Texan-Tellurider Kit Collins, a supporter.

Another supporter, Ambassador Gilbert A. Robinson, former chairman of the National Bible Association, said: “Whatever problems we have on earth, prayer can be an effective healer.”

“We bless every Elder, network leader, supporter and participant (see http://www.snow-riders.org/network.html), as each plays an irreplaceable role in healing and rebalancing Mother Earth,” said Woody Vaspra, (Hawaiian-Chinese), World Council of Elders President, who wrote the first World Prayer. “Go to a place sacred to you to amplifier your loving prayers.”

Native Voices Foundation is a Colorado non-profit 501c3 partnership of US Tribal leaders, Elders and Olympians, whose mission is “to create joyful unity through sports and education to help heal Mother Earth for all our children.”

Contact: Native Voices Foundation, 110 Sugarloaf Drive, Sedona, Arizona, 86336, USA. Tel: 323-493-3877.

Online: www.SNOW-RIDERS.ORG and www.nativevoices.org.

News Source: Native Voices Foundation :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2007 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.