The 1990 Canadian Native
Youth Delegation
Top Row (l to r): Kelly Terbasket, Shelley Moses, Carol Thevarge,
James Williams
Bottom Row (l to r): Robert Andrews, Barney Stirling, Lorne
Strikes with a Gun, Carla Jacobs, Lily Rivers, Phillip Manuel
Introduction
Between July and December of 1990, CoDevelopment
Canada and numerous other aboriginal organizations coordinated a
unique cross-cultural exchange for native youths from Canada and
Chile.
The South American Native Youth Exchange program
brought together twenty native youths from B.C., Alberta and the
Mapuche people of southern Chile. What transpired from this
exchange program was that these twenty youth generated enough
interest from each their respective communities, that for the
ensuing 4 years - CoDevelopment Canada had subsequent Exchanges
between the two countries and the indigenous peoples.
Between today, 17-Feb-2003, and October 2,
2000, our group will be trying to raise the support and approval
to host a 10 Year Reunion.
First Peoples' in the
New Millennium
This is truly a continuation of the unique program
first introduced in 1990! Imagine
- 10 Years Later, we the original delegates of over 40
Canadian Native Youths who've participated in the
Chile-Canada Exchange, re-establishing a connection with
the Mapuche People of Chile, South America. Families
and Communities who've shared 3 months of their lives
with us, who provided intimate experiences of culture,
religion and lifestyles. All this will once more be a
re-awakening of human interaction. Over 15 Chilean
communities have hosted gatherings and visits, some just
1 or 2 day visits while others were as long as 2-3 weeks
in length. Over 50 organizations such as schools,
churchs, political offices, co-op stores, radio &
television and conferences have had our involvement in
Chile. More than 50 percent of the Chilean land has had
our Canadian feet walk on it. We want to return to all
this and say to them - thank you for enriching our lives
in such a way that we are better people because of it.
|
|
|
|
The Reunion
October 2, 2000 Marks the 10th Year Anniversary of the first
Canadian Native Youth stepping on the soil of the Mapuche
People's land. We wish to honor our Mapuche brothers and sisters
by inviting the original 10 Mapuche Youth to return to Canada and
on October 2, 2000 - step once more on our soil.
We hope to have the founding organization who created and
coordinated this extraordinary program - CoDevelopment Canada -
to once more take on the task of coordinating a program to
compliment the 1990 Exchange. Alongside CoDevelopment Canada -
several of our Canadian and Mapuche delegates will assist in
planning a Reunion that will highlight the 1990 Program and as
well, focus on the new Millennium - where do the First People's
of the World fit in?
Communities and Organizations who were involved in 1990 will
be contacted and where possible - visits will take place.
A Conference on Indigenous People's in the New Millennium will
be held in a central location - leaders, youth, elders, and other
keynote speakers will present innovative ideas and concepts. A
paper will be drafted outlining Recommendations to both Countries
- as expressed through this Conference..
An Official Alliance will be drafted to symbolize the unity
and determination of Indigenous Peoples of our two great
countries.
This Reunion Program will take place in both Countries - to
honor all the people of both countries who've helped so much in
making the 1990 Exchange such a success! Your support by signing
our guestbook will help us in realizing this dream.
More Information
|
|
|
Check out our Photo
Gallery |
|
Click here to visit our page
which contains links to information resources on:
- the Mapuche People: Their Culture and their
Country
- the Canadian Aboriginal Links
- Other links of common interest
|
|
|
Your Support
Please show us your support by signing
our guestbook and/or sending us an email.
Special Note:
Our email is shared by all the delegates so if
you want to drop a message to someone in particular from our
group and may not have they're personal email address, this is a
good way to get in touch with any one of us.
From our small group, we
thank you and hope that you come back soon~!
Other sites created
by Phillip Manuel:
http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/liberty/
http://www.uppernicolaband.com/
fin