Rotary District 6220 Cultural Appreciation Initiative
The Rotary District 6220 Cultural Appreciation Initiative is an effort to promote peace, resolve conflict, and build goodwill and better friendship with our American Indian neighbors.
Land Acknowledgement Statement
“Today we are meeting on lands formerly occupied by Indigenous peoples, many of whom were forced to leave generations ago.
Rotary International recognizes the historical and ongoing impact the colonization on Indigenous communities.
We pay respect for our First Nation elders, past, present and future.
We express our respect and gratitude to all First Nation people for preserving and protecting the lands on which Rotarians meet.”
NOTE: You may consider adding a specific acknowledgement of Native American communities who populated your specific geographic area with a final paragraph as follows:
The Rotary Club of (name) extends a special acknowledgement to members of (name tribe or tribes specific to your area here) who have called this area home.”
---
Dr. Patty Loew, a member of the WI Bad River tribe of Lake Superior Ojibwe provides a roadmap to accomplish that in this interview.
Click here to watch the full video.
Building Goodwill and Better Friendship with American Indian Neighbors
Rotary is building goodwill and better friendship with our American Indian neighbors. My thanks to Biskakone Greg Johnson, a member of the Lac du Flambeau tribe of Lake Superior Ojibwe, who joined us at Rotary’s Presidents Elect training in Chicago. He shared with more than 450 Rotary leaders from throughout the Midwest how we can resolve conflict, build peace, find common ground and embrace joint service projects.
Rotary is building goodwill and better friendship with our American Indian neighbors. My thanks to Biskakone Greg Johnson, a member of the Lac du Flambeau tribe of Lake Superior Ojibwe, who joined us at Rotary’s Presidents Elect training in Chicago. He shared with more than 450 Rotary leaders from throughout the Midwest how we can resolve conflict, build peace, find common ground and embrace joint service projects. Meeting people like Biskakone and hearing the deep affection, respect and honor displayed by Rotarians for his message makes me proud to be in Rotary. Every Rotary club in the US meets on land formerly occupied by Indigenous peoples. We now have opportunity to foster understanding and respect, thanks to kind people like Biskakone. We had a valuable, depth-plunging discussion I hope to share in its entirety soon.
Click here to view videos of the other impactful speakers we saw at PETS.
Rotary Tricon 2024 - A Cultural Appreciation Initiative Outreach to Our American Indian Neighbors
Every Rotary Club in the United States meets on land formerly owned by American Indians. Rotary Clubs throughout the country have missed opportunities to build goodwill and better friendships with our First Nation neighbors. This session will introduce you to two highly regarded leaders in the Oneida Nation and learn how we, in Rotary, can reach out fostering peace and resolving conflict with our neighbors.
Every Rotary Club in the United States meets on land formerly owned by American Indians. Rotary Clubs throughout the country have missed opportunities to build goodwill and better friendships with our First Nation neighbors. This session will introduce you to two highly regarded leaders in the Oneida Nation and learn how we, in Rotary, can reach out fostering peace and resolving conflict with our neighbors.
Workshop Presenters: Roger Utnehmer; Workshop Presenter: Norbert Hill Jr.; Workshop Presenter: Artley Skenandore
Click here to watch the full video.
A Cultural Appreciation Initiative: An Outreach to Our American Indian Neighbors
My thanks to Dr. Artley Skenandore and Norbert Hill, Jr. Both are members of the Oneida Nation.
Artley and Norbert joined us at Rotary TriCon 2024 for a conversation titled “A Cultural Appreciation Initiative: An Outreach to Our American Indian Neighbors.” Both shared valuable insights into how Rotarians throughout WI and MI can engage First Nation neighbors to build goodwill and better friendships. They are people from whom much has been taken; their land, language, culture, children, self-determination, images and more.
My thanks to Dr. Artley Skenandore and Norbert Hill, Jr. Both are members of the Oneida Nation.
Artley and Norbert joined us at Rotary TriCon 2024 for a conversation titled “A Cultural Appreciation Initiative: An Outreach to Our American Indian Neighbors.” Both shared valuable insights into how Rotarians throughout WI and MI can engage First Nation neighbors to build goodwill and better friendships. They are people from whom much has been taken; their land, language, culture, children, self-determination, images and more.
Building peace and resolving conflict start with civil conversations. Artley Skenandore and Norbert Hill modeled that yesterday.
Hopefully, Rotary Clubs will start meetings with an appropriate land acknowledgement statement, invite First Nation people to speak, explore service opportunities, youth exchanges and events at Native-owned facilities. We’ll also make a video of this conversation available soon and share on social media platforms.
Artley and Norbert shared how to restore civility to civic discourse and gave us an opportunity to have important discussions at Rotary.
I also thank Rotarians throughout District 6220 for the honor of leading you through 2024 and 2025.
May we keep the bright light of Rotary shining on the services we provide throughout the world;
…eradicating polio and disease
…supporting women and children
…advancing economic development
…protecting the environment
…providing clean water and sanitation
…fostering peace and resolving conflict
…and promoting education.
Our best days are ahead.
