PROGRAM* TRUTH COMMISSION ON U.S. INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS October 22 11:00 a.m. - Prayer & Honor Song 11:30 a.m. - Welcome 11:15 a.m. Addressing Current Issues - Bill Means & Dennis Banks 12:00 - Lunch (On Your Own) 1:45 p.m. - Tour of Oneida Reservation 4:30 p.m. - Dinner (On Your Own) 6:00 p.m. - AIM Gathering October 23 October 24 9:00 a.m. - Opening Prayer 9:00 a.m. - Prayer 9:15 a.m. 9:15 a.m. - Oneida Historian Dave Tucker Witness Testimony Reiki (Complimentary; Schedule with Sue Reiter at Registration) Showing of "Boarding Schools: The White Man's Last Burden & Unseen Tears" ( Room TBA) 12:00 p.m. - Lunch (On Your Own) 1:30 p.m. - Witness Stories (Read by Students from Turtle School) 3:00 p.m. - Witness Circle 5:50 p.m. 10:15 a.m. - Retrieving the Language - Jessica Powless & Tracy Williams 11:15 a.m. Sterilization of Native Women without Knowledge or Consent Jean White Horse Boarding School Issues 12:00 p.m. - Lunch (On Your Own) 1:30 p.m. - Roxanna Feast by Blue Skies Staff @ Parish Hall (Meet Shuttle in Front of Radisson) 2:30 p.m. - Open Discussion Performance by Keith Secola & Buggin Malone 6:00 p.m. - Banquet @ Radisson 7:00 p.m. - AIM Gathering 7:00 p.m. - Performance by Bill Miller & Buggin Malone *Subject to Change. October 25th is reserved for Blue Skies Foundation strategy/planning meetings that are not open to the public. COMMISSION MEMBERS Anneta Aahooja (Pakistan)—International Humphrey Fellow, University of Minnesota Law School. Ms. Aahooja is currently a Child Protection Officer at the Child Protection and Gender Unit of UNICEF-Balochistan in Pakistan. She is responsible for the implementation of children’s and women’s protection initiatives in the province through advocacy, monitoring, and advising on legislation and policy. Ms. Aahooja received a double Master’s Degree in International Relations and Business Administration from the University of Balochistan. Previously, she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Government Girl’s Degree College. Her interests include Human Rights Law and principles of gender equity. Lhouceine Aamar (Morocco)—International Humphrey Fellow, University of Minnesota Law School. Mr. Aamar is a Principal Inspector in the General Police Forces Administration of Rabat, Morocco. His responsibilities include providing security for dignitaries and celebrities, as well as at major events held in Morocco. Mr. Aamar is a member of the police Media and Communication Team and the majority of his work is dedicated to building and maintaining contact with the media, police investigations based on accusations in the media, and internal documentation of police appearances in the media. Mr. Aamar received a Degree in English Literature and a Diploma in English Studies from the Caddy Ayyad University. His interests include migration and human trafficking patterns, as well as their effects on economic development in Morocco. Abalo Assih (Togo)—International Humphrey Fellow, University of Minnesota Law School. Mr. Assih is Superintendent of Police with the National Police in Togo. He is responsible for creating training programs for all National Police Forces in order to establish strong criminal justice administration in the country. He is also in charge of educating other trainers in professional police instruction. Previously, he led and conducted criminal investigations and police officers’ training on criminal justice procedures. He has served as representative of his country at the International Criminal Police Organization’s (ICPOINTERPOL) meetings and conferences and had a short United Nations mission experience as a member of the investigation section in Rwanda (UNAMIR) in 1994. Mr. Assih completed criminal justice programs in Roswell (New Mexico, USA), Stockholm (Sweden), and Lyon (France) after receiving his LL.B in Law from the Université du Benin in Lomé in 1989. His interests include Human Rights Law and international standards of criminal justice management. Aishath Fasoha (Maldives)—International Humphrey Fellow, University of Minnesota Law School. Ms. Fasoha is the Director of Advocacy of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. She is in charge of organizing awareness and advocacy programs that pertain to various vulnerable groups, such as women and children. Her main focus is on promoting a culture of human rights. Ms. Fasoha earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Information Technology from Help University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and her Master’s Degree in Communication Management from the University of Technology-Sydney in Australia. Her interests include women’s rights, children’s rights, and victims of human trafficking. COMMISSION MEMBERS Shiran Gooneratne (Sri Lanka)—International Humphrey Fellow, University of Minnesota Law School. Mr. Gooneratne is a judge of the High Court of Colombo in the Republic of Sri Lanka. He has experience with court cases related to trafficking offenses and is dedicated to creating a court system focused on the well-being of victims and witness protection, in line with international and domestic standards. Mr. Gooneratne is an attorney at law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and has a Master’s degree in Commercial and Corporate Law from King’s College, London, as well as a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. His interests include international cooperation to combat human trafficking, victim and witness protection efforts, and efforts to decriminalize trafficking victims. Jack Healey (United States)—Executive Director, Human Rights Action Center. An effective and innovative leader in the human rights movement for 50 years, Jack helped move the topic of human rights from closed-door diplomatic negotiations to widespread awareness, public debate, and direct citizen action. Colleagues credit him with making human rights a major focus of governments, advocacy organization, and individuals around the world. Called ‘Mr. Human Rights‘ by U.S. News and World Report, Jack brought human rights to the global stage by his creative use of media and enlistment of world-class musical talent as advocates and spokespersons as Executive Director of Amnesty International-USA for 12 years. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer (United States)—Co-Director, Human Rights Center, University of Minnesota Law School. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer is Co-Director of the University of Minnesota’s Human Rights Center and Director of the Law School's Humphrey Fellowship Program. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and serves as the professional and academic advisor for the Fulbright Humphrey Law & Human Rights Fellows cohort each year. She also teaches courses on human rights education and the integration of human rights into organizational leadership through the College of Education and Human Development. She obtained her B.A. from Lawrence University and her M.A. in comparative international development education from the University of Minnesota. Athar Waheed (Pakistan)—International Humphrey Fellow, University of Minnesota Law School. Mr. Waheed is the Superintendent of the Police in the Police Service of Pakistan in Islamabad. He has experience in working with victims of crime and terrorism, as well as in police administration and accountability. Mr. Waheed’s extensive police work has shaped his interest in victimology, especially in the context of the aftermath of crime and terrorism. He has also established the Pakistan Society of Victimology as the first national victim services organization that aims to work for victims of crime and terrorism in Pakistan. He is dedicated to making services available to victims who have experienced violent crime and acts of terrorism. Jasper Young Bear (Indian Country)—Three-Affiliated Tribes of Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation. Mr. Young Bear is currently the executive director of Medicine Lodge Confederacy in North Dakota, concentrating on health and wellness services. He is the originator of several Arikara ceremonial practices and songs, active in language revitalization, and has worked as a social worker and alcohol and drug counselor, as well as a social sciences instructor at Ft. Berthold Community College. UNKNOWN I had a dream. In my dream, I was walking to the west, toward the sunset. The horizon had scattered clouds, strikingly pale pink and brilliant peach in color. From behind me in the East, the sky was shades of blue and gray. I followed a path through this grove of trees, some maple, some oak and some pine. I saw a little river with the clear water, so clear you could see to the bottom The sound of the water rushing over the rocks was cool and calming. Swimming around on the bottom were little sun turtles, small pan fish and crabs. Nothing looked familiar and yet, I didn’t feel lost. I crossed over the river on rocks someone before me had put in place. I walked on and on, with only the plant life and animal life for company. In the distance, I could hear the sound of a drum And voices singing, all in harmony with each other. Finally, a teepee came into view, then another and another. I could smell the smoke from the fire before I saw it. Then I saw a huge circle of little children. I looked into their faces and saw the tear stained cheeks. Their sad eyes will haunt me forever. Fear and distrust was evident in their body language. I introduced myself and asked permission to sit with them. A small child, about 9 years old, stood to welcome me. He was dressed in a little brown uniform. I noticed they were all dressed alike, same brown uniform, same short hair. He told me they knew I was coming and they were waiting. He said they had been waiting for years and years and years. One by one, they each told their story. All in their language, but each a different Nation. They were the victims of the Indian boarding schools. Some were tortured, some sexually assaulted, but all abused. They were thrown in shallow graves, their markers said UNKNOWN. They wondered if they were ever thought of, or just a forgotten number. From where they were waiting, they could feel something was happening. Someone was coming to acknowledge that they were once here. They were excited and told me they would help me. Their Spirits would gather and make their presence known. They said to give their thanks to all of the Nations who made this possible. They said we would know them by the smoke from the sage and cedar And that their voices will join us when we sing an honor song for them. And when we finish our boarding school journey, And have acknowledged their Spirits among us. They will finally rest in peace. © Dorothy M. Ninham
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