Russell Means to Participate in Indigenous Peoples Days in Grass Valley

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

Sunday, October 9

GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - Russell Means and John Trudell will join Tsi Akim Maidu tribal members and American Indian leaders at the 12th Annual Indigenous Peoples Days.

The four-day event will take place Friday, October 7 - October 10 at a various venues in the Grass Valley - Nevada City area.

Means, Oglala/Lakota, who was diagnosed with terminally cancer in July, will journey to Grass Valley to the Indigenous Peoples Day to meet with healers who will be at the event. He has elected to seek alternative healing, instead of conventional treatment. He will meet with the public on Sunday, October 9. The time of his meeting with the public was not available at press time.

Q'ero healers from Peru, Maori of New Zealand, and Hopi of Arizona will gather with Native and non-Native people to focus on 'healing soul wounds', learn about local native history, and honor native language and culture through ceremony, discussion circles, traditional music and dance.

October 7 - 10

Twelve years ago on Columbus Day, volunteer broadcasters at KVMR Community Radio in Nevada City dedicated a day of programming to honor the native people that Columbus 'discovered.' Two blocks away, members of the Tsi Akim tribe held a candlelight vigil. The next year the two groups joined forces in what has grown to a four day celebration.

On Friday, October 7 at 7:30 pm pdt, John Trudell will be in concert. Trudell is a Santee Sioux poet, recording artist, and activist will speak on "Intelligence as Alternative Energy." John Trudell is internationally known for his part in the 1960's occupation of Alcatraz, his leadership in the American Indian Movement and his transformation from tragedy to stature as a poet and recording artist. Tickets are available at $15.

All public events Saturday through Monday will be at Sycamore Ranch Park, midway between Grass Valley and Marysville. All events except the John Trudell concert are free and open to the public.

posted September 27, 2011 8:20 pm edt