CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

                                    ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION

The International Indian Treaty Council will hold its 29^th Anniversary Treaty Conference October 3rd – 6th at the Sac and Fox Powwow grounds near Stroud, Oklahoma.  The host community is the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma.

This year’s theme will be “Defending our Land and Sovereignty”.  Oklahoma is home to 39 federally recognized Indian Nations.  We look forward to sharing the diversity of our rich cultures and histories with the participants from many Nations and countries.

The IITC was founded in Lakota Nation territory (South Dakota, USA) in 1974 to be an international voice and representation for traditional Indigenous Peoples.  The IITC received Non-Governmental Organization Consultative Status from the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1977.  Since that time it has worked to build Indigenous unity around the world, address human rights violations threatening Indigenous Peoples’ survival and achieve recognition for Indigenous rights internationally.

The Sac and Fox powwow grounds has campsites with restrooms and shower facilities. The powwow grounds are located 5 ½ miles south of Stroud, Oklahoma. Conference participants will need to arrange for their own air transportation, flying in to either Oklahoma City or Tulsa (these airports are both about the same distance from the site).  The conference committee will arrange transportation to and from the airports, so please send us your fight information.  A driving map will be provided upon request.   Meals and campsites will be provided at no charge, but please bring your own bedding, and tents or tee pees if possible.   There are nearby hotels that can be arranged at participants’ own expense.  A listing of local hotels will be provided upon request. 

We look forward to this years’ conference as a chance to build unity and solidarity, and share information about our struggles with Indigenous brothers and sisters from many Nations.  The conference will address issues of treaty and land rights; sustainable development; protection of sacred sites and cultural rights; impacts of oil and mining; children’s rights; youth organizing; food sovereignty and right to food; health; well-being of women; and work for international recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ rights.  Skills and capacity-building workshops will be scheduled throughout the conference.

During the conference there will be a powwow, so feel free to bring your dance regalia.  Leaders from the Oklahoma Indian Nations who have gone on the journey to their spirit home will also be honored during the gathering.

For more information contact Jackie Warledo and the conference organizing committee at (405) 303-2330, fax (405)303-2599.  For information in Spanish call IITC at (415) 641-4482.   Information will be posted on IITC’s web page www.treatycouncil.org,  or  you can e mail to iitcak@ak.net.  We hope to see you there!   Very cordially,  IITC.