Arawak Design Blog and Pow Wow Schedule

UCTP Taino News - Claudia Fox Tree (Arawak) has set up a blog entitled “Arawak Design” at http://arawak-design.blogspot.com/ . At the site you can review her Pow Wow schedule where she will be attending and participating with her Arawak Crafts booth “Arawak Design”, which specializes in jewelry and hair accessories since 1994. At the same site you can also review her dynamic lecture presentations. Claudia currently serves on the board for the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA) and as the Massachusetts Liaison for the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP).

You can visit Claudia at the Oct. 28* MCNAA Annual Gathering and Benefit Auction - Randolph, MA and on Nov. 17 at MCNAA National NA Heritage Day Pow Wow - Medford, MA (location TBA).

UNPFII Prep-Meeting: UCTP Reps. meet with North American Indigenous Leaders

Minneapolis, MN (UCTP Taino News) – The North America Region Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 6th session took place at the University of Minnesota Law School Human Rights Center from April 21-22, 2007.

Indigenous leaders from throughout the region met to discuss the Permanent Forum’s theme 2007 theme - Land, Territories and Natural Resources. The meeting highlighted many critical issues, struggles and perspectives on the theme of Land and Natural Resources from the region and the preparatory meeting provided the opportunity for leaders to share important information as well as regional positions and recommendations on key issues. A strong focus on Treaties was put forth and there was a consensus on including the recommendations from the UN Seminar on Treaties and Agreements that was held in Samson Cree Nation in November 2006 in joint statements.

Among the participants attending this important gathering, representatives of the United Confederation of Taino People had the honor to attend and provide input to the discussions.

“This was an important opportunity to strengthen our networks of solidarity and to help raise awareness of Caribbean indigenous issues among our North American relatives” started UCTP representative Roberto Mucaro Borrero. The Taino delegation also included Liza O’Reilly and Cheyenne Velazquez who are both UCTP Liaison Officers in the State of Minnesota.

As the meeting was held in the Minneapolis area, the Minneapolis Indian Community organized a special reception/pow wow at the Minneapolis Indian Center in honor of the delegates and their work at the international level for Indigenous Peoples. At the reception/pow wow, the delegates of the preparatory meeting were introduced to the local community and were invited to address those gathered.

The 6th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum takes place from May 14-25 2007 at UN Headquarters in New York.

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UCTP Taino News Online Editor's Note: To review the final report of the North American Preparatory Meeting, a pdf file is located at North American Region Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations or you can View as HTML . Courtesy of www.hrusa.org/workshops/prepsession2007/resources/Final%20Report.pdf