One Earth, One People, Peace Vision, a non-profit organization
based in San Juan Bautista, is hoping to bring more than 1,000
people to San Juan Community Center this weekend in order raise
money for and awareness about three South Dakota Indian
reservations: Oglala Pine Ridge, Brule Rosebud and Hunkpapa
Standing Rock.
Hollister – One Earth, One People, Peace Vision, a non-profit organization based in San Juan Bautista, is hoping to bring more than 1,000 people to San Juan Community Center this weekend in order raise money for and awareness about three South Dakota Indian reservations: Oglala Pine Ridge, Brule Rosebud and Hunkpapa Standing Rock.
The 18th annual American Indian Holiday Gift Festival will feature hand-crafted Native American jewelry, statues, carvings and clothing as well as several keynote speakers, event organizer Leynee Reyna said.
One highlight this year will be traditional porcupine quill-worked medicine bags made by award-winning quill weaver Dorothy Brave Mountain of the Pine Ridge Reservation.
“No one else does this kind of work,” Reyna said. “It’s a lost art.”
The purpose of the two-day event is to collect toys and money for the children and families of six reservation tribes: the Oglala, Lakota, Sicangu Oyate, Upper Brule Sioux Nation, Rosebud Sioux and Standing Rock Sioux. Toys and food are in short supply on the reservations because of high poverty and unemployment rates, Reyna said.
“It brightens a few days in their year,” she said. “It’s hard living on the reservations – the conditions are deplorable after years of oppression and decimation.”
The organization’s staff are all volunteers, and all donations will go directly to the six tribes, Reyna said.
“It’s very rewarding,” Reyna said. “What the whole world needs is love and we need to take care of our human family.”
Keynote speaker Robert White Mountain will be addressing the conditions of the reservations and talking about some of the challenges Native Americans face. White Mountain will also be focusing on Standing Rock’s suicide rate, Reyna said.
The event will also be a good chance for people to learn about the history and traditions of Native Americans.
“They have a beautiful culture and spirituality that we can learn from,” Reyna said.
The Festival is free and will be held at the San Juan Community Center from 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected]
