Just found this invitation in my mailbox. Morgaine, have you heard of this group before? Sounds very, very interesting. I can't believe they found this many speakers who feel their indigenous societies are (or were) woman-centered!
Of course there's that old theory that goes like this: since 99.99% of anthropologists were male (up until recently), they "found" what they were looking for, i.e., male domination. Early missionaries and explorers, too, were male, and would refuse to speak to a leader if she was a she (so the theory goes), demanding instead to speak to a man. In some groups, this would have elevated the status of men (to be considered superior by these "superior" people with all the technological goodies.... My, my!).
----- Original Message -----
From: Vicki Noble
To: vicki@motherpeace.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 3:42 PM
Dear Motherpeace Friend:
Please don't miss this opportunity to participate in an historic discussion and sharing about ancient and contemporary societies that function from a woman-centered, egalitarian point of view--providing a peaceful and harmonious vision of what is possible. Hear indigenous voices explaining in their own words what it is like to live in a bonafide matriarchal world.
The conference (thanks to its generous donor and co-sponsor, Gen Vaughan) is free to participants who register to attend.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Blessings, Vicki Noble
The Second World Congress on Matriarchal Studies
SOCIETIES OF PEACE
Matriarchal societies past and present.
Matriarchal spirituality. Matriarchal policy.
Sept. 29 - Oct. 2, 2005
Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
Presented by the Center for the Study of the Gift Economy, USA and
the International Academie HAGIA, Germany.
Contrary to the common prejudice which sees matriarchies as “women's rule”
these societies have real gender-egalitarian, consensus-based and peaceful
traditions. Their cultural genius can give the guidelines for a better future.
Please come to this groundbreaking congress which will bring together
speakers from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America with a special
invitation to indigenous women and men from matriarchal societies worldwide.
Speakers:Yvette Abrahams, Khoekhoe, Khoisan Zaire, South Africa
Jeanette Armstrong, Syilx,Okanagan, Canada
Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen, Germany
Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum, Italy/USA
Hélène Claudot-Hawad, France
Doña Enriqueta Contreras, Oaxaca, Mexico
Susan Gail Carter, USA
Wilhelmina J. Donkoh, Akan, Ghana, West Africa
Max Dashu, USA
Kurt Derungs, Switzerland
Malika Grasshoff, Kabyle, Berber, North Africa/France/Germany
Heide Göttner-Abendroth, Germany
Lamu Gatusa (Shi Gaofeng), Mosuo, China
Fatimata welet Halatine, Imajaghen (Tuareg), Sahara, N. Africa
Kaarina Kailo, Finland
Cécile Keller, Switzerland
Annette Kuhn, Germany
Uschi Madeisky, Germany
Barbara Mann, Bear Clan of the Ohio Seneca, Iroquois, USA
Ibu Ita Malik, Minangkabau, Sumatra, Indonesia
Joan Marler, USA
Bernadette Muthien, Khoekhoe, Khoisan, Zaire, South Africa
Patricia Mukhim, Khasi, Northwest India
Christa Mulack, Germany
Vicki Noble, USA
Antje Olowaili, Germany
Gad A. Osafo, Akan, Ghana, West Africa
Peggy Reeves Sanday, USA
Marguerite Rigolioso, USA
Lydia Ruyle, USA
Rosa Martha Toledo, Juchiteca, Mexico
Mililani Trask, Hawaii
Tamanese, Maori, Samoa
Genevieve Vaughan, USA
Claudia von Werlhof, Austria
Please register now at
www.second-congress-matriarchal-studies.comor
(512) 444-1672
Co sponsored by California Institute for Integral Studies Women's Spirituality Program, Indigenous Women's Network, Institute for Archaeomythology, Reformed Church of the Goddess International, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
_____
Thnx to ncrotty for the foto
I remember hearing about the first one, I'm glad they're doing this again!
ReplyDeleteThis past April was the Rutgers University 3rd annual "Tent State" protest against cutting the education budget while inflating the "defense" budget, like Books Not Bombs. We had a bunch of groups that supported our cause come down and camp out with us and raise awareness for their causes.
One of the groups, I forget the exact name, was a group concerned with South/Central American indigenous rights and I remember this issue was a large concern of theirs. I have to go track down the name of this group and the representatives I spoke with, they were awesome.
I wish the media would give some coverage to group protests like yours! I'd much rather hear about a "Books not Bomgs" protest than I would about runaway brides, etc. Or whatever they have on TV news these days (I don't watch it much anymore).
ReplyDeleteWhen you say "this issue was a large concern of theirs," do you mean matriarchy? Gender equality?
As I remember, this group was concerned with the loss of their indigenous culture, which included their matristic society, native languages, art forms, basically all the things that contribute to a culture.
ReplyDeleteI actually helped organize and run the first Tent State, I'm so proud! We actually had a lot of administrative support, the President of Rutgers visited the site, we gave him a T shirt, and it was at his suggestion that we turned a 1 or 2 night camp out into a week long event ("Weather should be nice all week, have fun!") That first year, the plans were to cut $21million, and they ended up cutting $10million, so we were pretty pleased with our first effort.
This year, Tent State went nationwide!
http://www.tentstate.com/index2.php
Ohio State, UC Santa Cruz, U of Texas-Austin, and U of Missouri-Kansas City had official Tent State events, and a bunch of other schools held similar events. On the Rutgers website, I think they still have downloadable files of all the media coverage... The local media did mention it, more than I expected, but of course not as much as we'd have liked.
UC-Santa Cruz organizers had lots of drama with their administration, and we would get hourly updates of police brutality and arrests. It was my brilliant idea to ask our President to make some statement of chagrin in response!
All in all, I was completely inspired, and I can't wait for this years!
You *should* be proud! Sounds like you have a number of talents. Was your Tent State the first in the nation/world? I can't help thinking of "Kent State" whenever I read "Tent State." Any connection implied?
ReplyDelete::big grin:: Our Tent State was the first in the nation/world, as far as we know. The idea started out as just commandering one of the main lawns in a very busy section of campus. The tent community thing then evolved into this melodramatic idea that if RU's tuition keeps rising at this exponential rate, no one will be able to afford to live in the dorms, and thousands of students will be homeless.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, when we chose the name Tent State, I know that we did have Kent State and all that in the back of our minds, and we picked it figuring that other people would *wonder* about that also... Lol, passive-aggressive maybe, but it gets people thinking!
Wow, that's BRILLIANT! I'll have to find out more about it. I'd love to go to something like that.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great idea! Too bad I graduated and can't start one at my alma mater, cause we need one. I'm happy to hear UMKC held one; I know our state legislature had a nasty bill pending that would cut off funding to universities whose discrimination policies exceeded the state laws, i.e., protecting queer folk. I'm not sure if it passed, but this being Missouri, I wouldn't be at all surprised...We need more events like Tent State (great name!)
ReplyDeleteYea, comparatively, Rutgers is pretty great...
ReplyDeleteThey're really getting with the program with domestic partner/same sex couples receiving benefits. I'm not up to date on this, but the LGBT are making solid and strong progress, and really are a major fixture of the University.
After the March for Women's Lives in April of 2004, Rutgers-New Brunswick was catapulted into the top 5 most politically active college campuses in America. We had the largest group from a single location-- ELEVEN BUSES and more than 600 altogether!
We have lots of women's programs and a 24 hour women's center for crisis and education right in the Student Center. We also have a dorm for single mothers, and another for non-traditional aged women coming back to school.
I'm really proud to be a Douglass College student and Rutgers University... and the alumni outcry over the proposed disolution of Douglass College won't let anything happen! Don't mess with a Douglass gal!
Wow. That sounds like a fantastic school. So, were you at the March? I was there too! We managed to pull together a bus of about 40 people.
ReplyDeleteYup, I was there! We left here at like 5am, Senator Corzine sent us bagels for breakfast, the "name" of my bus was "Unstoppable Nudity." Lol, a good time was had by all!
ReplyDeleteIt was incredible... I mean, that was 1,200,000+ people there! That's the most people I've seen in one place for a "cause" in my life! That was my Woodstock...