Snow speaks- Vine Deloria Symposium
Donation protected
Aba waøtéč. Îyâhe Nakoda émãyéč. Mîni Thnî emâdâč. Mu Wîyâ emâgyâbič.
Good Day. I am Eyahey Nakoda. I live at Cold Water or Morley, Alberta, Canada. My name is Thunder Woman (Rachel Ann Snow).
I am the daughter of the late Reverend Doctor Chief John Snow Sr. (Intebeja Mani) and Alva Snow (Quechan from Yuma, Arizona). My late mom's people have historic roots to the Aztec or Meso American tribes of Mexico, California and Arizona therefore; I feel I am related to all of Turtle Island's (North America) original people. As the first law school graduate from my reserve, I have chosen to advocate or speak for the return to our original Indigenous laws or Creator's laws.
I submitted an abstract about application problems when using mainstream law over Indigenous peoples true spiritual laws. I was chosen to speak on this topic, at the Vine Deloria Symposium http://www.nwic.edu/faculty-staff/vine-deloria-jr-symposium/ on July 7-9, 2016. I have not received my speaking time, hence this late fundraising effort (Reason one).
Travel from Morley to Bellingham is 1600 Kilometres and I will be driving. My monthly income is based on what work I am able to obtain. My field of expertise does not have high demand as I am not a practising mainstream lawyer but a traditional person with Indigenous knowledge and mainstream law school training. Some months I do not work or receive welfare ($305 CDN).
I am planning to travel July 5, if I speak July 7(Later according to my designated speaking time). I had a ride that is now unavailable so I will now be driving with my sister. (Reason two for the late fundraising) It has already been challenging to get my birth certificate (Saskatchewan) and passport. (Status card is expired so I am currently an expired Indian hah).
I am fundraisng $2775 to travel for five days. Funds will be used for a car rental, gas, lodging and food. This site will be active until the conference begins.
My late dad, Chief John Snow travelled to Bellingham and sat with Vine Deloria in 2005. Vine Deloria Jr. read my late dad's revisions to These Mountains Are Our Sacred Places. (https://chiefjohnsnow.wordpress.com/about/), now an Alberta Classic Book. Therefore, I feel I am retracing the steps of my late dad prior to his 2006 passing. I continue to uphold his legacy.
I am thankful to the many people who remember my dad and mom with good words. I am proud that my dad read the Red Paper to the House of Commons countering the 1969 White Paper. I am proud that my dad and a contingent of Alberta Chiefs went to lobby the Queen to include Section 35 in the Constitution. I am proud that eight buffalo (Tatanka) honoured my late dad's passing by visiting his wake. This is our spiritual law in practice which is not subject to interpretation. Creator's laws blessed my father's passing.
This presentation is being made by an encousîn, éna, (a grandmother and a mother) who places the original laws of our ancestors in their rightful place. These spiritual laws have and will continue to ensure the survival of our people, Isn't it time we look at the original laws that come from this land to help all global people survive?
Isnéyes, Dohã pina maač. Thank you, thank you very much.
Rachel A. Snow
Good Day. I am Eyahey Nakoda. I live at Cold Water or Morley, Alberta, Canada. My name is Thunder Woman (Rachel Ann Snow).
I am the daughter of the late Reverend Doctor Chief John Snow Sr. (Intebeja Mani) and Alva Snow (Quechan from Yuma, Arizona). My late mom's people have historic roots to the Aztec or Meso American tribes of Mexico, California and Arizona therefore; I feel I am related to all of Turtle Island's (North America) original people. As the first law school graduate from my reserve, I have chosen to advocate or speak for the return to our original Indigenous laws or Creator's laws.
I submitted an abstract about application problems when using mainstream law over Indigenous peoples true spiritual laws. I was chosen to speak on this topic, at the Vine Deloria Symposium http://www.nwic.edu/faculty-staff/vine-deloria-jr-symposium/ on July 7-9, 2016. I have not received my speaking time, hence this late fundraising effort (Reason one).
Travel from Morley to Bellingham is 1600 Kilometres and I will be driving. My monthly income is based on what work I am able to obtain. My field of expertise does not have high demand as I am not a practising mainstream lawyer but a traditional person with Indigenous knowledge and mainstream law school training. Some months I do not work or receive welfare ($305 CDN).
I am planning to travel July 5, if I speak July 7(Later according to my designated speaking time). I had a ride that is now unavailable so I will now be driving with my sister. (Reason two for the late fundraising) It has already been challenging to get my birth certificate (Saskatchewan) and passport. (Status card is expired so I am currently an expired Indian hah).
I am fundraisng $2775 to travel for five days. Funds will be used for a car rental, gas, lodging and food. This site will be active until the conference begins.
My late dad, Chief John Snow travelled to Bellingham and sat with Vine Deloria in 2005. Vine Deloria Jr. read my late dad's revisions to These Mountains Are Our Sacred Places. (https://chiefjohnsnow.wordpress.com/about/), now an Alberta Classic Book. Therefore, I feel I am retracing the steps of my late dad prior to his 2006 passing. I continue to uphold his legacy.
I am thankful to the many people who remember my dad and mom with good words. I am proud that my dad read the Red Paper to the House of Commons countering the 1969 White Paper. I am proud that my dad and a contingent of Alberta Chiefs went to lobby the Queen to include Section 35 in the Constitution. I am proud that eight buffalo (Tatanka) honoured my late dad's passing by visiting his wake. This is our spiritual law in practice which is not subject to interpretation. Creator's laws blessed my father's passing.
This presentation is being made by an encousîn, éna, (a grandmother and a mother) who places the original laws of our ancestors in their rightful place. These spiritual laws have and will continue to ensure the survival of our people, Isn't it time we look at the original laws that come from this land to help all global people survive?
Isnéyes, Dohã pina maač. Thank you, thank you very much.
Rachel A. Snow
Organizer
Rachel A. Snow
Organizer
Morley, AB