bcholmes | Jul. 30th, 2009

Signal boosting:

Who is Oyate?

Oyate is a Native organization working to see that our lives and histories are portrayed honestly, and so that all people will know our stories belong to us. For Indian children, it is as important as it has ever been for them to know who they are and what they come from. For all children, it is time to know and acknowledge the truths of history. Only then will they come to have the understanding and respect for each other that now, more than ever, will be necessary for life to continue.
[...]
Our work includes critical evaluation of books and curricula with Indian themes, conducting of “Teaching Respect for Native Peoples” workshops and institutes; administration of a small resource center and reference library; and distribution of children’s, young adult, and teacher books and materials, with an emphasis on writing and illustration by Native people.
Our hope is that by making many excellent books available to encourage many more, especially from Native writers and artists. Oyate, our organiztion’s name, is the Dakota word for people. It was given to us by a Dakota friend.

Why am I bringing this up now? Per this link, Oyate has until Saturday to match a grant that will help them revamp their website which will help them improve their services.

Can you spare $5 or $10 or more? Links to donation page as well as more information about the group.

Thanks to sparkymonster for the initial heads-up

I'd meant to get around to this a few weeks ago. It's part of a letter-writing campaign that various Haiti groups are organizing. Some early reports suggest that the campaign is having some effect.

And Canadians on my reading list: wanna write Minister Kent?

B.C. Holmes
Queen St. W.
Toronto, ON

July 30th, 2009
The Hon. Peter Kent
Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
110 Justice Building
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
cc: Bob Rae, Olivia Chow, Paul Dewar
Dear Minister Kent,
I am writing regarding the case of the Haitian prisoner Ronald Dauphin. Ronald Dauphin was a grassroots activist for the Lavalas party in Haiti, and he has spent the last five years in prison, without a trial.
The difficult conditions of Haiti's prisons are taking their toll on Mr. Dauphin's health. A recent US-based human rights delegation from the state of California saw Mr. Dauphin during a visit to the National Penitentiary on April 16. The delegation included a nurse and an emergency medical technician, who examined Mr. Dauphin and concluded that he suffered from multiple serious and perhaps life-threatening health problems. This is consistent with reports from Mr. Dauphin's family.
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