Dear Relatives,

Cante Waste ya Nape Ciyu zape ye (I greet you from my heart). This month in our newsletter we are sharing different advocacy perspectives from indigenous women who have attended the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in the Office of Indigenous Ministries Advocacy Mentoring Program. Each year since 2011, a small delegation of four to six indigenous women who have been a part of the global network of Anglican Council on Indigenous Women have attended this amazing training opportunity.

The idea behind this project has been to raise indigenous women leaders to give voice to indigenous issues at this global platform and to share their grassroots experience for education and empowerment. They help to bring Indigenous Ministry into a world view (reservation, urban, and international). They focus not only solutions, but also on causes of historical trauma and racism.

Their grassroots perspective is important as the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) begins to fully utilize the new Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) status.  ECOSOC is the United Nations’ central platform for reflection, debate, and innovative thinking on sustainable development. All official U.N. delegates and women attending the 59th session will review progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 20 years after its adoption at the fourth World Conference on Women (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/united-nations-commission-status-women-59th-session-questionnaire).

The education and orientation has been in partnership with DFMS of the Episcopal Church, Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations Anglican Women’s Empowerment, Ecumenical Women at the United Nations, and The Episcopal Church.

This April, the Anglican Indigenous Network will bring a delegation to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, April 19-24, 2015. The Anglican Indigenous Network will also hold a parallel event on April 19, 2015, at Trinity Wall Street.

It has been a joy to facilitate this work in response to Mission Mark 1 – To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom: New Church Development – and Mission Mark 4 – To Transform Unjust Structures of Society: Poverty in the United States. Please enjoy the articles and videos from this very energetic and committed group of women dedicated to advocacy.

Pilamayaye,
Sarah