Tribal Link activities, 1993-2005

Tribal Link activities, 2002-2006

Project Access Global Capacity Building

United Nations

Project Access, a cooperative effort of Tribal Link Foundation and Land is Life, supports indigenous participation in international meetings and conferences where decisions are being made that affect their rights, cultures, and livelihoods. Initially, the project is placing a special emphasis on funding indigenous peoples to attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which has held a two-week session annually since May 2002. See Reports section.

Community Commons

Fordham University, New York, June 2005

In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme's Equator Initiative, Tribal Link sponsored the Community Commons dialogue space at Fordham University in New York. The Community Commons was a gathering of grassroots leaders who have pioneered innovative livelihood, natural resource management, and other community development strategies and approaches. Participants had the opportunity to share and debate locally effective strategies, lessons learned', and to propose actions and commitments that are needed for communities to move forward, both locally and globally. The Community Commons provided an opportunity for community voices to impact decisions taken by world leaders by collectively creating a report and set of recommendations to be presented at the Civil Society Organization Hearings June consultation to inform government deliberations at the UN Millennium Review Summit in September in New York. During the Summit, Heads of State from worldwide will commit to a global development agenda for the next ten years, particularly on achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Dialogue for the Future: Indigenous Peoples and the Wharton Business School

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, United Nations, May 2005

This meeting, organized with Aveda Inc., endeavored to start a dialogue between the larger business community and indigenous peoples, who are in the daily business of living in balance with and protecting the last undisturbed areas of the planet. Frequent dire reports about the state of our environment have been written in the last year, including Worldwatch's State of the World 2005, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment'human civilization as we know it; it is now clear that all sectors need to help heal our planet, and with all their resources, businesses should provide leadership in this regard. This long-overdue meeting was highly successful with representatives of Wharton, Aveda and indigenous peoples pledging to do all they can to heal our planet.

In Celebration of Indigenous Peoples

Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, United Nations, May 2002-2006

An annual welcoming gathering and cultural event during the Permanent Forum which includes presentations by the Chair of the Permanent Forum and other UN representatives, with cultural performances by indigenous peoples from many regions of the world.

In 2006, hundreds of indigenous delegates, UN agency representatives and members of the NGO community were present for this event, which opened with a song and dance presentation by Descendance Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander Dance Theater from Australia. Ms. Rachel Mayanja, Assistant Secretary-General, Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women and Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Chairperson of the Permanent Forum gave welcoming remarks. Ms. Corpuz, from the Philippines, also shared a song from her own indigenous Igarot tradition. There were also presentations by the P. Town Boyz from Red Lake Nation (USA), Sami musicians from Norway, Rasmeay Sareaypheap Khmer Dance Troupe (Vietnam), Elvel Band from Kamchatka, Siberia (Russian Federation), and Robby Romero, Native rock musician (USA). The evening concluded with Indigenous Andean Music performed by Mashikunas (South America).

This event was sponsored by Tribal Link, the NGO Committee on the UN International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, and the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum.

Celebration of the UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

United Nations, 1995-2006

Tribal Link, as a member of the NGO Committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, has been one of the coordinators of the programme of activities for this event since its inception in 1995. In 2006, the Indigenous Day was celebrated with the screening of a film, a spiritual ceremony, statements by UN officials and members of the Permanent Forum, a panel discussion on Indigenous Peoples: human rights, dignity and development with identity, and concluded with cultural performances.

A Sacred Circle - A Call to Unity and Reverence for Each Other and the Earth

Parliament of the World's Religions, Barcelona, Spain, July 12, 2004

Tribal Link has found that the concept of gathering to honor the sacred has touched the hearts of people in very profound and meaningful ways. This was the latest in a series of Healing Circles we have organized in the past several years and took place at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona, Spain. Alejandro Cirilo Perez Oxlaj of the Maya National Council of Elders and Spiritual Guides of Guatemala opened the circle with a traditional Mayan blessing and a statement of his desire for peace and understanding among all peoples of the world. His offering was followed by prayers, rituals, songs and dance from various faith traditions including Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Pagan, Native American and others. The theme of the fourth Parliament of the World's Religions was Pathways to Peace: the Wisdom of Listening, the Power of Commitment.

The Sacred Place, Ubuntu Village

The World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, August 26 - September 4, 2002

The Sacred Place was created by Tribal Link in collaboration with the Johannesburg World Summit Company (JOWSCO). This sacred site was provided to enable groups to manifest the vital contribution of the spiritual dimension to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Surrounded by a large open area for sacred ceremonies and rituals, Tribal Link Foundation helped to create a tribal link of indigenous dwellings that was used for quiet reflection, meditation, prayer and other sacred activities. Many of the delegates of the conference as well as staff of Ubuntu Village found this area to be a quiet sanctuary to escape to during the hustle and bustle of the Summit. The Sacred Place also had a lovely stage area that was used for more formal gatherings.

Collaborations with the American Museum of Natural History

By collaborating with the American Museum of Natural History, Tribal Link has been able to reach out to an extremely broad audience with important information about two issues: genomic research and racial stereotypes. Each event has approximately 300 people in attendance.

On May 12, 2002, Tribal Link helped to organize the panel Indigenous Peoples Images in Sports and Media.
May 26, 2002, Tribal Link helped to coordinate a panel entitled Indigenous Peoples in Our Image. Media exploitation, religious intolerance, degrading mascos and corporate logos and their impact were examined.
June 2002, With the Museum's Education Department, Tribal Link co-sponsored a workshop on Genomic Research and its Impact on Indigenous Peoples. This workshop explored the concerns and perspectives of indigenous peoples regarding human genome research. Using examples from their own communities, panelists addressed the historic, legal and ethical implications of gene research on indigenous peoples.

Traditional Knowledge, Intellectual Property and Indigenous Culture

Cardozo School of Law-Yeshiva University, February 21-22, 2002

Tribal Link co-sponsored this event on February 21-22, 2002 in collaboration with the Cardozo School of Law-Yeshiva University. Executive Director Pamela Kraft spoke on the role of NGOs in supporting indigenous peoples' preservation of indigenous knowledge. This event was attended by approximately 350 people.

Healing Circles for the Earth

United Nations, February 2002

In an effort to share our experience of the earth as sacred, Tribal Link coordinated with United Nation's Environmental Programme's Interfaith Partnership for the Environment, the Wittenberg Center, Chief Arvol Looking Horse and others, a series of Healing Circles for the Earth, the first circle took place in New York in February 2002 during the Second Session of the Prepcom for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. There were over 100 people in attendance. Tribal Link also organized A Healing Circle for the Earth at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2002.