Mato Paha Spiritual Forum:
Religious Freedom and Human Rights
August 5, 2007
1:00 pm Mother Butler Center
Rapid City, SD
Mato Paha Spiritual Forum:
Religious Freedom and Human Rights will be held on Sunday, August 5, 2007
beginning at 1:00pm in the afternoon at the Mother
Butler Center
in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The Forum will gather Traditional
Healers (Medicine Men) and Spiritual Leaders from the Oglala Band, Sicanju
Band, Hohwoju Band of the Lakota Nation, and the Mdewakantonwan Band, and
Sissetonwan Band of the Dakota Nation, and Arapahoe and Cheyenne Nations. The
Healers and Leaders will come together to provide ancestral teachings regarding
the spiritual significance of Bear Butte (Mato Paha) to the Oceti Sakowin
(Great Sioux Nation) in the spiritual and cultural life-way of the people.
Guest speakers also include Chief
Oliver Red Cloud of the Lakota Nation, Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the
Onondaga Nation, noted scholar Henrietta Mann, Cheyenne; and stateswoman Rosalie Little
Thunder of the Seventh Generation Fund and South Dakota Peace and Justice. Reverend Gail Arnold of the SD Association of
Christian Churches and John Sprague of the Christian Peacemaker Team will speak
as well regarding Human Rights and Religious Freedom.
The Mato Paha Forum is the first
time in decades that Traditional Healers (Medicine Men) from across many Tribal
Nations have come together in one forum to speak to the people regarding sacred
places and the traditional Lakota way of life, as well as sharing the Forum
with the Christian Churches from the region, and from a global organization
such as the Christian Peacemaker Team.
Organizers of the Forum have scheduled this event to provide awareness
to the general public in light of the increasing controversy over development
related to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that is occurring near Bear Butte.
The Guest Speakers are each
well-known in the Human Rights and Freedom of Religion arena, from their work
in their own Tribal Nation communities to organizations with a global view and
impact.
The Mato Paha Forum is open to
all, and all people from all walks of life are welcome to attend. There will be
Lakota Drum Groups and Singers present and an evening meal is offered to all
participants.
The Mato Paha Forum is sponsored
by Bring Back the Way, the Black Hills Sioux Nation Treaty Council, Horse
Owner’s Society, and the Seventh Generation Fund.
Mato Paha as
Mother Earth is Sacred,
Ancient,
Healing,
Strong, &
Wise
.
MATO PAHA
SPIRITUAL FORUM:
Religious Freedom
& Human Rights
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