Standing Rock Movement

Standing Rock indigenous movement (Photo by United Church of Christ)

Date: December 17

Time: 1:45 PM to 5 PM (preceded by a training in non-violent communication)

Location: Boulder Creek Meeting Room (1st Floor), Main Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO (Please RSVP by emailing us)

Panelists: Dianne Greenwald, Salvatore Caruso, Joseph Lam, Elizabeth Rabia Roberts and Elias Amidon

At our last meeting after elections, our 5-point plan on “where do we go from here” included working on deepening our relationships and solidarity with Black, Native, LGBTQ, common-space activists. Indigenous and other grass-root level activists have long understood and experienced what many of us have just begun to feel: sense of dis-empowerment in our own country, fear that our values, needs or even lives will not be respected. We need to stand in greater solidarity with existing movements, offer them our physical, financial and psycho-spiritual support and learn from their experience. At this gathering,  panelists (all of whom have been to Standing Rock) will share

—- Their understanding of the evolution and the spiritual dimension of the Standing rock indigenous movement
—- How spiritual practices support this movement and how supporting the movement is a spiritual practice?
—- The story of indigenous people beyond this current movement – in the past and into the future.
—- How to support this movement given the ongoing legitimized violent repression?
—- Information on the evolving eco-village near CannonBall on the reservation.

Dianne Greenwald and Salvatore Caruso: Dianne and Salvatore were ordained as members of the Order of Interbeing of the Zen teacher Thich Naht Hanh in 2007. They practice with the Mountain Stream Sangha in Boulder and assist in organizing & facilitating Mindfulness retreats in the USA and Mexico. Dianne spent 25 years in Asia teaching in international schools and supporting Asian village development projects. Salvatore spent 30 years in global marketing and public image development for major advertising & marketing agencies; and had a strategic consulting business for many years in the non-profit and public sectors facilitating strategic and consensus-based workshops for community and civil society based organizations. In recent years, both of them have restyled themselves with two growing food-forest and agro-forestry projects in Mexico and Nebraska. They have both made several long trips to participate in the Standing Rock indigenous water protector movement in North Dakota at the reservation. They both have been part of an 11 year history of healing with the Little Thunder family who represent the clan massacred in 1855 along Blue Creek where Dianne Grew up.

Joseph Lam (Chan Tue Nang): Joseph has been a student of Thay Thich Nhat Hanh since 1994 and has led retreats in various European countries, integrating Lakota Native spiritual teachings with Buddhist teachings. Over the past 35 years, he has done extensive volunteer work, assisting Medicine Men throughout Turtle Island (North America), elders and at-risk-youth on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, street children in Nepal, and peace and social justice work. He feels deep gratitude and joy to be able to offer some spiritual teachings with sisters and brothers on the path of compassion, peace, and awakening.