Encounters between Indigenous Nations

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Dedicated to supporting exchanges between Indigenous Nations. We are promoting partnerships that contribute to the strengthening and restoration of their cultures.

Through these encounters and testimonials, we offer an invitation for others to connect more deeply with Indigenous people; learning, exchanging and witnessing their cultures, traditions and wisdom as a way to cultivate compassion and become ever more interconnected as humankind.

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After a successful first encounter in the Summer of 2022, in BC, Canada, Mapuche Machi Florencio and his wife Nancy were able to meet and share with many of their First Nation brothers and sisters. We were blessed to create wonderful partnerships (read and see photos from our first encounter further below on Part 1).

We are very excited to share that the Second Encounter is already in the works!

PART 2: October 2023 • Journey from Vernon, Canada to Villarica, Chile

Master carver, Frank Marchand will help revive the ancient canoe carving

tradition alongside the Mapuche Nation on his upcoming journey to Chile’s Araucanía Region.

photo credit: Athina Bonneau

The goal is to complete one canoe resembling the style used by the Mapuche tribes in ancient times and launch at the opening ceremonies of the Ibero-American Canoe championship taking place in the region at the time - This will present a rare opportunity for indigenous people to be honored and share this moment with the rest of the world.

Meet Master carver, Frank Marchand: watch this video:

The Funds we raise will be used for the following:

* Round trip airfare for the team to Temuco, Chile (3 people)

* Lodging for Month of October

* Food for all team for month

* Car Rental fee/gas

* Canoe carving fee for Frank (1 month)

* Local carving team fee

* Log transport

* Workspace Tent

* Tool shipping (for specific tools not available locally)

* Tool rental

* Production fees (2)

* Documentary Team and Equipment

* PR Fee (marketing to ensure we get coverage)

* Operational costs for Third Encounter in 2024 (gathering of Spiritual Indigenous Leaders)

HELP US MAKE THIS HAPPEN BY DONATING AND SHARING THIS CAMPAIGN WITH OTHERS.

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Read how it all got started here:

Part 1

AN INDIGENOUS PROPHECY & A CALL TO ACTION

This Project was envisioned by Machi Florencio, a tribal leader and medicine man of the Mapuche people of Chile, who, following a spiritual inner calling and deep connection to his ancestors, was guided to travel north to the Syilx territory (British Columbia, Canada) in search of knowledge, partnerships, and liaisons with his First Nation brothers and sisters.

Through this encounter, he seeks to strengthen the two communities’ relationship by honoring their cultures and traditions to pass this knowledge to younger generations and work united, north and south, to share their care for the planet with the rest of the world.

Mapuche Machi Florencio

He sees this as an opportunity to fulfill the prophecy — the Eagle and the Condor—which warns of humankind splitting into two people. The people of the Condor would live in harmony with the earth, their path guided by feeling and intuition. The people of the Eagle would-be conquerors. They would dominate the land and everything on it. They would be strong, powerful, and intelligent.

Then, after 500 years, humankind would find themselves at a crossroads — a time of potential transformation of the planet. If humankind learned to tie the strength and power of the Eagle to the peace and compassion of the Condor, humankind could live with intention, intelligence, and wisdom.

Some believe that we are currently at this crossroads, that now is the time to fulfill the prophecy, to awaken our consciousness — listening, learning, and working with the Earth to live. _ extract from [https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/news/23932/]

We are grateful to the Topa Institute for being our fiscal sponsor.

How it all started:

In 2017 Mimi Fuenzalida felt an instant and essential connection when she met Mapuche leader and Medicine man Machi Florencio at a gathering in Villarica, Chile. There was a deep sense of knowing that there was work she was meant to do with him and the Mapuche people. They stayed connected through the years, meeting in person and by phone. When Fuenzalida heard Florencio’s vision of forming a liaison with the First Nation People of Canada, she connected him to her dear friend Andre Christou, an artist who had been focused on learning about Native American and First Nations people and actively working with them.

Mimi and Machi Florencio in Villarica, Chile 2017

Andre with a local family in Pine Ridge reservation, SD., 2017

PART 1: July 2022 • Journey from Villarica to Kamloops BC, Canada

Machi Florencio and his wife Nancy meet with his First Nation Brothers and Sisters.

In May 2022, Machi Florencio became clear that the time to move forward with an encounter between the people of North America and South America had come — and a date was set for him and his wife Nancy to journey North in July of 2022.

Kamloops, BC Canada

Mimi and Andre, both bilingual, joined forces to facilitate the encounter and provide translation, coordinate activities and document what unfolds.

Notes and Postcards from Our First Encounter

Besides being the most magical ten days we've experienced, our last journey in the Summer of 2022 with Machi Florencio (Mapuche medicine man) and his wife Nancy to British Columbia, Canada - had many successful meetings that allowed us to create strong partnerships between these two Nations.

These included:

Mimi, Andre, Machi Florencio and his wife Nancy meet with the team at The Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops, BC

Upon our arrival at TRU, we were welcomed by a Chilean Flag hanging at the main entrance of the International Building

Rosanne Casimir, Kúkpi7 (Chief) of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, welcomes Machi Florencio and invites us all to dance at the Grand Entry of the 2022 Kamloopa

Powwow.

End of first encounter

We are profoundly grateful for this experience. We were gracefully guided to the right people, experiences, and encounters. Seeds have been planted.

Thank you for all your support!