Sunray activities at the United Nations

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

August 10, 2009

At UN Headquarters in New York the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated with traditional indigenous ceremonies and performances by indigenous musicians and panels and workshops on various topics. This year the event was held Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 on the theme of HIV/AIDS. There was a cultural performance by the Crimean Tatar Dance Ensemble and a panel discussion with Tonya Gonella Frichner, (Onondaga) Member of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Bertil Lindblad, Director, UNAIDS New York Office, Kent Lebsock, Owe Aku - Bring Back the Way - a Traditional Lakota (Sioux) Cultural Preservation Organization and others.

WHITE HOUSE FIRST EVER TRIBAL NATIONS SUMMIT

November 5, 2009

The White House held the first ever Tribal Nations Summit on November 5, 2009. Invitations were sent to all 564 federally recognized tribes and each tribe could send one representative. Approximately 400 people attended the event held at the Department of Interior. President Obama vowed that there would be no more “going through the motions” and that his administration would face the severe economic and social problems that are the result of centuries of federal abuse and neglect. He has appointed Kimberly Teehee of the Cherokee Nation as his Native American policy advisor and Jodi Gillette of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. He and Secretary Salazar selected Larry Echo Hawk of the Pawnee Nation to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Interior Department.

WEEK OF SPIRITUALITY, VALUES AND GLOBAL CONCERNS

“The Spirit of the UN” Global Peace through Reconciliation

October 26 – 30, 2009

The Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns was created to bring about a culture of peace in which we can address together our common challenges in holistic, positive and transformative ways. The Week’s activities recognizes that spirituality and adherence to universal values (such as those expressed in the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) are key to providing solutions to global concerns. Events included a Silent Meditation in the UN Meditation Room; panel discussions and programs on, Reconciliation: A Manifestation of the Science of Consciousness in Everyday Life and Peaceful Action Through Reconciliation.

Sandy Sheridan, Sunray NGO/UN Representative