My neck and back were stiff after dancing the night away to the blues/jazz rhythms of Freightrain & Friends, Table Top Three, and the Dosyo:we;h Singers last Thursday at the Full Moon Rising concert in Buffalo NY. The event’s line up was jam packed with various styles of culture, music and artists. The hall was filled with love, laughter, great food, vendors & community. The gathering was held in celebration of Indigenous Human Rights Day and the 400th year of the Two Row Wampum Agreement between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch.
Juno Award winning singer-songwriter, poet, musician and social activist Pura Fe was just one of many artists featured that night who donated their time and talents on this snowy and stormy night. Pura Fe, the founding member of “Ulali” an acapella trio comprised of Native American women, flew all the way from North Carolina to support the Indigenous Women’s Initiative. She delivered a breath taking performance which she is world renowned and respected for.
According to concert goer Lela George from Fort Erie, “it was such a good feeling seeing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people come together to raise awareness for such a good cause. Pura Fe was my favourite performance. I just got lost in the sound of her voice it was truly an amazing experience. All the performers were great and brought something different to the stage. Especially a young performer named Daygot Leeyos. I was excited to see a fellow Oneida from across the border share her talent and message with us.”
The Indigenous Women’s Initiative (IWI) focuses on the empowerment of Indigenous women, their families and nations. The group builds leadership capacities and supports projects that encourage sustainable life ways. The IWI gave tribute and recognition to the two row paddlers, gifting those volunteers in attendance a canoe shaped medallion.
Water was also at the forefront of awareness as Maria Maybee and Agnes Williams shared their stories about the West Valley Action Network and the Water Walk for Nuclear Free Cattaraugus Creek that will be held April 26, 2014. The West Valley Waste Watch is the result of astonishing neglect of nuclear waste management that calls for real time water monitoring. “Growing up we played in the “creek” as we called it, not knowing that the waste we would see came from a poorly established nuclear waste site” said Marie Maybee. This issue is one of many that IWI plays a role in creating awareness and support.
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