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


Organizations & Sponsors

The conference will be hosted by the Center for Sacred Studies which is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to sustaining indigenous ways of life through cross-cultural spiritual practices, ministry, education and commitment to peace and unity for all peoples.
Co-sponsors include

The Aurora Foundation

Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation

Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation

Foundation for Abundance

Global Fund for Women

Tibet House US

The Sister Fund



For more information on the Global Women's Gathering please call:
518-828-5379

Center for Sacred Studies is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to sustaining an indigenous ways of life through cross-cultural spiritual practices, ministry and education, and committed to peace and unity for all peoples.