In my humble opinion, there are no coincidences…a Greater Power is at work-and this was manifested on the morning of our tour presentation in the small western Nebraska town of Chadron (which was, incidentally, 1 of the most well-attended and well-received in the entire Rocky Mtn. leg of the roadshow-thanks, Bruce!). We had been in town for a couple days-and were thankful for a break in the brutal heat of the previous days, as well as in our schedule. Quite fatigued, we were debating whether or not to stop in the Daily Grind coffee house before-or after-starting our errands for that day & preparing to head east to Lincoln. We opted, rather whimsically, to go for fair-trade, shade-grown caffeine 1st-& happened to encounter 3 Native wimmin there who were headed to the Pine Ridge Rez just to our north for an annual ceremony given the next day by Leonard Peltier’s family in his honour-to take place on the Jumping Bull property outside of the poverty-stricken community of Oglala, where the tragic shootout occurred 27 years ago on that date (June 26). Conversation between us all just seemed to spring up instantaneously, and 1 of these wimmin recognized 1 of us from repeated mutual attendances at the Indigenous Environmental Network’s Protecting Mother Earth Conferences between 1997 and 2004. They invited us up to the Rez to participate in the ceremony-and we postponed our trek to Lincoln in order to do so. We made the right decision-and this fact is further borne out by the recognition that-had we postponed our daily visit to the Daily Grind by just a few minutes-we would have missed completely this interaction and the invitation that arose from it, leaving Chadron without ever knowing this event was taking place.
The next morning we packed up and drove north from Chadron to Oglala, where we met w/ other participants (many of them locals from the Rez, others from many other places-including as far away as Australia) at the “Our Lady of the Sioux” Catholic Church (anybody else get the twisted irony in that?) outside of Oglala. We then drove to the cemetery where many Native victims of the infamous BIA/FBI/GOON “Reign of Terror” of the mid-1970s are buried, and-after a prayer/ceremony in their honour-we all walked prayerfully to the Jumping Bull property about a mile away, where an incredibly powerful and poignant ceremony transpired that which included a recorded statement from Peltier from inside the Ft. Leavenworth concentration camp in Kansas. It was a beautiful day, and-thank God especially for the children, Elders, and pregnant wimmin-we were spared the ruthless heat of the previous week.

After the ceremony we drove back to the church compound outside of Oglala for an evening of food, music (Traditional, folk, blues/rock, & hip-hop), & spoken-word statements. Much to our pleasant surprise, RTNA was invited to speak on stage between bands-and 1 of us gave a 5-minute talk about RTNA’s efforts and aspirations (particularly along the lines of environmental justice/anti-racism, Indigenous solidarity, and cross-cultural alliance-building). After this, we were responded to what was almost a standing ovation-with hand-shakes, hugs, and tears-and invited back for next year’s ceremony. We gave away much literature and traded contact information, and were sent away with food, clothing, and many, many prayers and blessings. As we left, we were told: “Come back next year! The People will remember you!” We were also told by Leonard Peltier’s family that they would tell him about us. When we left that night to log some miles toward Lincoln before sleeping on the side of the road along with half the mosquitoes in the Great Plains-we were changed people….
There is hope.

The Rocky Mtn leg of the RTNA Climate Action Tour is on the road!. Is all very appealing because it seems the overall character & foci of each stop already appear very unique & innovative-w/ a growing # of good people getting/being involved. All the details are still unfolding & coming together-& we now have a vehicle. We are encouraging folx to connect w/ & perhaps join the tour-activists, musicians, performers, writers, media…. This leg of the tour is focusing on ecosystem defense & preservation, eco-restoration/permaculture, Indigenous solidarity/land rights/cultural preservation, sustainable community-building, & mining/drilling/water issues. The gigs in Taos, Alamosa, San Luis, Crestone, Crested Butte, Boulder, the Tetons, Missoula, & Chadron went quite well; thanks to all the great hosts thus far: Keith, Allison, Aaron, Winter, Orion, Caitlin, Kirsten, Ben, Heath, Joe, Libby, Nicole, Loren, Kelly, Heather, Kristin, Al, Mark, Steph, Poky Free Bikes, Holly & Jane, Steve & Missoula Free Cycles, Taco del Sol, Buffalo Bruce & Friends, Angela’s Eatery, the Daily Grind, Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso, Holly, Angel, Nathan, Roadblock EF! & the Indiana Round River Rendezvous Organizing Committee-& very special thanks to the Lakota People of the Pine Ridge Rez in South Dakota, We have now successfully completed the entire Spring 2007 Climate Action Tour-& eagerly look forward to the August Climate Convergences in Astoria, OR; Asheville, NC; & Boston, MA in August. Watch the blog, & this webpage for further updates!

On Wednesday, May 23-RTNA organizer Storm Waters granted a broadcast radio interview to KRZA Radio in Taos, NM/Alamosa, CO. This discussion focused on RTNA and our efforts at building solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. RTNA works to support Native Peoples in their struggles against corporate colonization, destructive industrial “developments” on their ancestral lands, climate injustice, and the associated violations of their cultures and sovereignty. Others who are hosting tour stops around New Mexico and Colorado also gave interviews-and these have been compiled into a news program leading up to the tour. This news show is available online at www.krzanews.org. People can stream that anytime, or download shows from that site. The interview is on the “Noticias del Dia” page. A link to the show is on this site since it was aired… KRZA tunes in at the following frequencies: 88.7 FM Alamosa, CO & Taos, New Mexico (reaching north-central New Mexico & beyond!); 100.9 FM South Fork/Del Norte, CO; 105.9 FM Creede, CO. Since then, Kate Byrd-a truly awesome deejay, musician, and activist working w/ KRZA-has performed at & recorded 3 of our tour stops (Taos, San Luis, & Crestone) & has compiled the recordings into a broadcast that can also be linked to on the KRZA website:

http://www.krzanews.org/radio/June1907.mp3

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Roadshow blog

The Rising Tide Climate Action Tour is Coming to Your Region
Host Us in Your Town!

This spring, Rising Tide will bring the global struggle for climate justice to the belly of the beast, connecting the dots between the overarching crisis of climate change and the grassroots struggles of communities resisting the fossil fuel industry’s assault on their land and culture. Through partnering with local environmental and climate justice organizations in each region, we seek to amplify the voices of those most affected by climate change and the fossil fuel industry, boosting support for these revolutions on the local level and creating a culture of solidarity across lines of race, class and gender.

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Here’s our tentative schedule for the Climate Action Tour.

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The Rising Tide Spring Roadshow is coming together-and we need your help!

United continental action is urgently needed to stop the global climate catastrophe that is already underway. As you read this, a team of international climate activists is organizing a cutting-edge traveling multi-media tour to network communities across the continent and the planet in defense of the Earth’s climate-and we urgently need your help!

This Spring, Rising Tide North America (RTNA) will carry the global struggle for climate justice to the belly of the beast, connecting the nodes between the overarching crisis of climate change, ecosystem destruction, and the grassroots struggles of communities resisting the fossil fuel industry’s assault on their land, lives, and culture.

Your generous support can help us mobilize a mass movement that will challenge to its very foundation the current domination of this fossil-fuel-based, Earth-destroying, corporate capitalism that is the driving force behind human-caused climate change. Every donation helps!!

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