Grandmothers' Projects

On the Amazon

The International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers has group projects that represent the whole Council, and they also have projects as individuals. As women of tremendous energy and resources, the Grandmothers generate a great deal of energy and enthusiasm around projects that they sponsor themselves, as well as outside projects that they endorse.

Group Projects

Here are some of the projects that the entire Council has officially approved:

(1) Feature-Length Film — "For the Next 7 Generations: the Grandmothers Speak"
Dharamsalawelcomeaama

A full length feature film on the Grandmothers Council, to be released in 2008.
For more information see www.forthenext7generations.com


(2) Letter to the Vatican Requesting Revocation of Papal Edicts Regarding Indigenous Peoples

On October 22, 2005, the Grandmothers approved a letter to the Vatican asking for revocation of certain 15th century Papal bulls and related edicts that set the stage for the "doctrine of conquest" that has had such far-reaching effects on the treatment of indigenous peoples. Click here to download the full text of the letter.

In related developments:

  • The National Organization for Women (NOW) issued a resolution in July, 2007 ("Restore Peace and Dignity to Indigenous Women") in support of the Grandmothers' project to get the Vatican to rescind the 15th century Papal edicts against the rights of indigenous peoples.
  • On September 13, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the "Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples". Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States voted against the resolution that formally recognizes the individual, collective, and cultural sovereignty of the world's indigenous peoples.

(3) Council Gatherings — Public Forum, Education, and Outreach

The Grandmothers often hold a public meeting in conjunction with one of their Gatherings. The public part of the program is a time of education and outreach, since the Grandmothers teach their ways of prayer at prayer sessions held three or four times each day of the public program. There are also special presentations by local groups and organizations that are aligned with the Grandmothers' mission. As of the end of 2007, more than 1000 people have attended the Grandmothers' public gatherings.

1st -October 2004- Global Women’s Gathering, Menla Tibet House, New York
2nd -May 2005- Pojoaque Pueblo- Home of Grandmother Flordemayo
3rd -May 2006- Huautla de Jimenez, Mexico, Home of Grandmother Julieta Casimiro
4th -Oct 2006- Dharamsala, India, Exiled home of Grandmother Tsering Dolma Gyaltong
5th- June 2007- Black Hills, South Dakota, Home of Beatrice and Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance

 

Projects Funded by the Flow Fund Circle

Flowing WaterThe International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers has been empowered to make grants to projects in their homelands, thanks to an innovative philanthropic model called the Flow Fund Circle. Initiated by Marion Weber, Flow Funding is a way to increase the number of philanthropists in the world by empowering social innovators, healers and visionaries to give away money.

As the Flow Fund Circle website says (www.flowfunding.org), “The mission of The Flow Fund Circle is to increase trust, generosity of spirit, empowerment, and compassion in the world by increasing the flow of money through the hands of new philanthropists who freely carry resources to places where their hearts move them to go.

The core values of Flow Funding are: Generosity, Trust, Discernment, and Community. We seek to develop a form of philanthropy that is Proactive (not passive), Intuitive, Effective, Open to Surprise, and Healing for Funders and Recipients.”

$150,000 of funds from the Flow Fund Circle has been given to the Grandmothers Council to start the Grandmothers Flow Fund. In the next two years, $150,000 more will flow as the Spirit of Giving directs the Grandmothers and the Great Mystery reveals more of what is needed. Funding has flowed to the following organizations assisting First Nations peoples with their work in the world:

    Projects Selected by the Grandmothers Council to Receive Flow Fund Circle Donations

    Tibetan Peoples, Dharamsala:

    • Tibetan Children’s Village: Grandmothers sponsored five children for ten years
    • Tibetan Nuns Project
    • Ex- Political Prisoners Project of Tibet (The Gu Chu Sum Organization )  
    • Tibetan Elders Project


      Lakota Peoples, South Dakota:

    • Brave Heart Society      Regeneration of initiations for Lakota youth.
    • Slim Buttes Agricultural Development  300 Organic Gardens on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
    • Owe Aku             Research health effects of uranium mining on the Pine Ridge reservation. Restore old ways.
    • Tantanka Oyate                Saving buffalo, preserving creation stories for the youth
    • Death to Meth                  Drug abuse prevention for youth
    • Micinsski-Micunski        Intervention and prevention for troubled youth

      Tamang Peoples, Nepal:

    • Shree Urgyerguri Chyoling Monastery Construction in Nepal

    Brazilian Rainforest :

    • Santa Casa de Saude , Healing Center in Mapia, Brazil  

    New Mexico :                

    • Institute of Natural and Traditional Medicine Seed Bank in Pojoaque Pueblo, New Mexico

    Oaxaca, Mexico :

    • Mazatec Women’s Weaving Cooperative in Oaxaca, Mexico