The Global Women’s Gathering
will take place from October 14-17 2004 and is being held
at the Menla
Mountain Retreat and Conference Center in Phoenicia,
New York. Menla is 2 1/2 hours north of New York City.
In these times of unprecedented change and challenge, when the Earth
herself is endangered, who can we turn to for guidance and healing?
It is our women elders who keep the wisdom that can heal us, our
communities and our planet. Our indigenous women elders hold the
wisdom born of their own lives lived close to the Earth and the
wisdom that has been passed down through generations by the women
who came before them. They know about such times as these, times
of dramatic Earth changes and governmental upheavals, and they know
the Earth-based ways that can sustain us through them. Through their
lives they show us how to face chaos with faith. Through their ways
they teach us how to stay in balance while the whole world is shaking.
The Global Women’s Gathering will bring indigenous women elders
from around the world together with western women elders who have
challenged the limitations of our social system and helped to deepen
our relationship with the feminine. These rich and varied sources
of wisdom will join together for three days of conversation and
sharing about healing, sustainability, and sovereignty for all people.
They will address the critical question of how to forge a unified
alliance between all the Earth's peoples in the interests of life
and peace.
Our Bwiti elder, Bernadette Rebienot, has said that the women in
Gabon regularly gather together in the forest to share their visions
and to pray for world peace and the well being of their people.
In Gabon, "When the grandmothers speak, the President listens."
It is our intention that through this Gathering we can gather all
the individual expressions of all these women into one voice, and
begin to raise this voice, a voice that is both grounded in the
wisdom of our original people and fueled by the inspiration and
action of our western women leaders. Surely such a voice must be
heard.
The gathering will begin on Thursday evening with
an opening talk from Wilma Mankiller. At that time we will meet
the indigenous women from around the world who will be participating
in our program during the next three days. Friday our indigenous
Grandmothers will share more about their roles in their communities
which will include a discussion of traditional ways and their importance
in our culture. Saturday’s morning program will be modeled
on a traditional town hall meeting. The event will highlight the
indigenous women as well as noted women from Western culture including;
Carol Mosley Braun,Teresa Hale, Tenzin Palmo, Gloria Steinem, Louisah
Teish and Alice Walker. This session will focus on women’s
roles and responsibilities in helping sustain the planet, and how
we can best make our voices heard. The session also will invite
questions and comments from the audience.
The program Saturday afternoon will include seven
breakout sessions on:
Each session will be facilitated by a collaboration of the indigenous
grandmothers and western women elders.
1.) Oppression: The Damage and the Healing
2.) Sacred Relations: Maintaining the Earth’s Balance
3.) Women’s Wisdom
4.) Traditional Health Systems and Knowledge
5.) Creating the Bridge between Traditional and Modern Medicine
6.) Aging: Honoring Our Elders
7.) Preserving and Regenerating Original Culture: The Return to
Sustainable Community
Sunday each group will present a summary of the
discussions from the breakout sessions and a proclamation for action,
which will be discussed with the entire audience. Sunday afternoon
the Global Women’s Gathering will close.
*This gathering is open to men as well as women.
Schedule
| Thursday |
1:00-5:00
PM
5:30-6:30 PM
6:45-8:30 PM
9:00 PM
|
Registration
Sunset Prayer
Dinner
Welcoming Ceremony by the First Nations of
the Region: Women’s Moon Council of the Mid- Hudson
Valley Association of Native Americans
Opening: Wilma Mankiller
Closing Prayer (song): Kristine Robin |
Friday
Where are we now? |
7:00 AM-8:00
AM
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
8:15AM -9:45AM
10:00 AM
12:30PM-1:30PM
1:45PM-2:45PM
3:00 PM
5:30-6:00PM
6:15PM-8:00 PM
8:30PM |
Sunrise Prayer
Yoga with Eddie Modestini and Nicki Doane
Breakfast
Gathering:
Where have we come from and where are we now?
Prophesies and Teachings of the Original People.
Midday Prayer
Lunch
Gathering:
A Forum: For the Next Seven Generations
Our grandchildren ask questions of our Grandmothers.
Sunset Prayer
Dinner
Storytelling by the Elders
Closing Prayer |
Saturday
Heeding the Prophesies |
7:00-7:30
AM
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
8:15-9:45 AM
10:00 AM
12:30-1:00PM
1:30-2:30PM
3:00-5:30 PM
6:00-6:30PM
6:45-8:45 PM
9:00 PM |
Sunrise Prayer
Yoga with Eddie Modestini and Nicki Doane
Breakfast
Town Hall Meeting:
(Grandmother’s & Western Women Elders)
What do our relations and our medicines teach us about facing
the challenges of our turbulent times?
A conversation with our elders on priorities for a healthy
future.
Midday Prayer
Lunch
Breakout Sessions
Sunset Prayer
Dinner
A Gathering Through Song: Lead by Jennifer
Berezan
Closing Prayer |
Sunday
Where Do We Go From Here? |
7:00-7:30
AM
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
8:15-2:30 AM
8:15-9:45 AM
10:00 AM
1:00 PM
2:30 PM-3:30PM |
Sunrise Prayer
Yoga with Eddie Modestini and Nicki Doane
Check out
Breakfast
Gathering:
Presentation of the Results of the Breakout Sessions:
Proclamation of action to achieve peace and unity.
Lunch
Dedication and Blessing of our Actions:
Chalandra Sai Ma
Closing Prayer |
