Connecting Communities - Sharing Knowledge - Building a Common Future
October 2006



Se:kon/Greetings IFIP Friends,

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and strong spirit. It is my pleasure to write you once again and share exciting news on International Funders for Indigenous People's (IFIP) latest developments and upcoming events.

IFIP has secured the location for its “Linking Circles VI Annual Conference” on May 7th and 8th 2007. I am thrilled that the Levi Strauss Foundation has offered to host the event next year at its headquarters in San Francisco, California. A planning committee comprised of paid members is already being assembled for the event. If you are a member and would like to join, please send an email to IFIP.

IFIP’s next session will be at the Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS) Conference in Bangkok, Thailand in a couple of weeks. It’s the third global meeting for WINGS and will bring together 200 donor associations from around the world. IFIP’s session is titled, “Bridging and Building Indigenous-focused Philanthropy,” and will include speakers from The Christensen Fund, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal of Australia, and the European Foundation Center. It is the first session by WINGS focused on Indigenous Philanthropy, click here to view.

IFIP is also co-sponsoring an International Forum on Globalization (IFG) Teach-In Session on November 18th at Cooper Union in NYC. Thirty speakers will be on-hand to commemorate major milestones in the rising of resistance and political power of Indigenous Peoples, discuss the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and other international topics. More information, as well as a complete list of notable speakers, can be found at www.ifg.org. For the invitation, click here.

I look forward to receiving your membership renewal or having you become a new member and seeing you at any one of our upcoming events.

Ske:nen/Peace,
Evelyn Arce-White, M.A.T.
IFIP Executive Director





REPORTS & ARTICLES


US Foundations Gave a Record
$3.8 Billion, New Study Finds

International Grantmaking Update, just released by the Foundation Center, estimates that giving by US foundations for international purposes reached a record $3.8 billion in 2005, up from $3.5 billion in 2004. From 2002 to 2004, community and corporate foundations' international giving increased most rapidly. Read the report.


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Policy Research in the North

The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation has played an active role in the Canadian North for more than two decades. Our Northern grant making programme supports research and education projects that enhance Northern peoples’ ability to participate in and help shape public policy. The Foundation commissioned Dr. Francis Abele to prepare a background paper describing both the opportunities and challenges entailed in strengthening northern based and focused policy relevant research. View the background paper.

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Declaration of La Paz Continental Encounter of Indigenous Pueblos and Nations of Abya Yala La Paz, Bolivia Tawatinsuyo October 12, 2006

From the heart of what is known as South America, from the territory of Bartolina Sisa and Tupaj Kartari, on the 12th of October of 2006 the delegates of the original Pueblos and Nations of the Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala, upon gathering at the Continental Encounter of Indigenous Pueblos and Nations of Abya Yala, emit the following message. See PDF here.

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Mairin Iwanka Raya:
Indigenous Women Stand against Violence
at the United Nations

On October 17th, FIMI released Mairin Iwanka Raya: Indigenous Women Stand against Violence at the United Nations. This report focuses on the contexts that give rise to violence against Indigenous women and highlights promising practices in areas of research, political mobilization, and community-based organizations and outlines further challenges to securing Indigenous women’s right to a life free of violence. Speakers at the event included Elsa Stamatopoulou, Vicki Tauli-Corpuz, Charlotte Bunch, Christine Brautigam and Monica Aleman. The panelists shared insight on the challenges Indigenous women face as they work toward eradicating all forms of violence, and commended FIMI for their work. Mairin Iwanka Raya: Indigenous Women Stand against Violence is available for download here.





GRANTS and AWARDS

International Activist Award
Deadline November 3, 2006

The Gleitsman Foundation calls for nominations for the 2007 International Activist Award to honor individuals who have struggled to correct social injustice worldwide (excluding the United States , which is the focus of the Citizen Activist Award in alternate years). The honorees will share $100,000 and will receive a specially commissioned sculpture. The award is not presented posthumously, nor is it given to groups or organizations. Deadline for nominations is 3 November 2006; honorees will be announced in the spring. For more information and to nominate please go to www.gleitsman.org.

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Professional Development Fund
Deadline November 17, 2006

Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) is proud to share with you the 2006-2007 application for its Professional Development Fund. The goal of the program is to ensure the leadership, professional knowledge, network of support, and overall development and retention of diverse young professionals in the foundation field. Through a competitive application process, the Fund awards travel scholarships that enable emerging grantmakers of color to attend philanthropy conferences of their choice. Employers are asked to match scholarship amounts. The deadline for winter/spring 2007 conferences is November 17. See the application here.


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Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund
Deadline November 17, 2006

The Wildlife Conservation Society is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for grants under its newly created Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund. Made possible through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Wildlife Action Opportunities Fund will distribute $2 million over the next two years to support 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations working to implement State Wildlife Action Plans in any of the 50 states or six U.S. territories. Click here for the RFP. The deadline for pre-proposals is November 17, 2006 at 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time.


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Sabbaticals for Minority Activists
Deadline December 15, 2006

The Alston/Bannerman Fellowship Program is committed to advancing progressive social change by providing sabbaticals to sustain long-time activists of color. The program honors those who have devoted their lives to helping their communities organize for racial, social, economic, and environmental justice. Each year, ten fellows receive an award of $15,000 to take sabbaticals of three months or more. The sabbaticals may be used to explore new interests, travel, relax, visit with other activists, or do whatever the fellows think is necessary to prepare for their future work. Both paid staff and volunteer leaders who have more than ten years experience as community activists are eligible to apply for fellowships. The application deadline is December 15, annually. Visit the website for more information.


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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The Council on Foundations’ Governance Committee is seeking nominations for the Council's Board of Directors. For nominating materials, Council members may visit here. If you have any questions, contact Johanna Van Dyke, Legal Services and Standards, at 202/467-0466 or johanna.vandyke@cof.org.




UPCOMING CONFERENCES


FOR FUNDERS ONLY

Environmental Grantmakers Association Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders Health and Environment Funders Network

Two Midwest Funder Briefings

Green Chemistry and Sustainability Criteria for
the Bio-Based Economy

 November 14, 2006
9:00am - 3:00pm
Courtyard by Marriot at The Depot
Minneapolis, MN

To Register Today click here. Event will include dinner.

Co-sponsored by:
The Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA)
The Health and Environmental Funders Network (HEFN)
The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF)


Midwest Policy Briefing: The Opportunity and
Jeopardy of Biofuels

 November 14, 2006
9:00am - 3:00pm
Courtyard by Marriot at The Depot
Minneapolis, MN

To Register Today click here.

Co-sponsored by:
The Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA)
The Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF)

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Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support
(WINGS) c/o European Foundation Centre

November 16-18, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand

The WINGS network is getting ready for the landmark event that the network organizes every four years: the global WINGSForum. After IMAG in Mexico in 1998 and WINGSForum in Sydney in 2002, the third global meeting is scheduled for 16-18 November 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand. It will convene approximately 200 people from organizations in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and Africa. For details click here.

Barry Gaberman Lecture on Global Philanthropy Initiative, which will be inaugurated later this year at WINGSForum 2006 in Bangkok and then organized each time WINGSForum is held: each lecture will be by a world leader in the development of philanthropy, beginning with Barry himself. We believe this is a perfect way to honour Barry's role in founding WINGS, and to provide an occasion to reflect on his long and important career in the field. To contribute, please click here.

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The Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development

December 11-13
Salzburg, Austria

The Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development (BFSD) is an international network of grant-providing institutions striving to attain environmental balance, economic stability and social progress. The Forum brings together individuals from foundations and businesses to build trust, dialogue and effective partnerships.
The next meeting of the Bellagio Forum will take place December 11-13 in Salzburg, Austria. The meeting is by invitation only. Contact info@bfsd.org to learn if you are eligible to receive an invitation.

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Joint Affinity Groups (JAG) Unity Summit

February 5-7, 2007
California Endowment Center for Healthy Communities
Los Angeles, CA

Registration is available online at the JAG website jointaffinitygroups.org. Participation is limited to 300 and we expect to fill up quickly. Early-bird registration fee and discounted hotel rates available for early registrants!





OPEN TO ALL


Young Women's Institute on Money and Movements

November 5 - 7, 2006
Oaxaca, Mexico

Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is bringing together 35 young feminist activists, primarily from the Global South and Eastern Europe who have experience with either youth organizations or women's rights organizations.This meeting is a key follow-up to AWID's action-research initiative, "Where's the money for women's rights? has found that funding has shrunk in the past 10 years for women's rights. As such women's and feminists movements need to reenergize their collective strategies to increase the amount and quality of funding. At this meeting, AWID will engage young feminists around their strategies for movement-building, organizational strengthening and resource mobilization. A web-based application form is available here. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2006. For more info contact info email : Rushana Du Toit of Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) rdutoit@awid.org Website: www.awid.org


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The Pachamama Alliance's Annual Fundraising Luncheon

Wednesday, November 15th
12:00pm to 1:30 pm
Festival Pavilion
Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA

Come find out about the unique work of Pachamama both in the rainforest and here at home, and what you can do to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling,and socially just human presence on this planet. Space is limited; reserve your place early by calling 415-561-4522 or reply to this message - info@pachamama.org . If you would like information on how to become a Table Captain or volunteer, please contact Natalie Doel at 415-561-4522 x109 or natalie@pachamama.org


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International Forum on Globalization
Announces a Major Teach-in on
Indigenous Peoples' Resistance to Economic Globalization:
A Celebration of Victories, Rights and Cultures

November 18, 2006
1pm - 10pm
Cooper Union Great Hall
7 East 7th St. (at Third Avenue)
New York City, NY

The International Forum on Globalization (IFG) and the TEBTEBBA FOUNDATION are pleased to announce a public Teach-In celebrating major milestones in the rising resistance and political power of indigenous peoples against the invasions of corporate globalization. Click here for details.

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Indigenous World Uranium Summit and
Nuclear Free Future Award
November 30 - December 2, 2006
Navajo Nation Museum
Window Rock, Navajo Nation (Arizona)

Some of the Goals of the Summit:
  • Organize Resistance to Current and New Uranium Mining in Native Communities
  • Support Enforcement of the Dine Natural Resources Protection Act of 2005
  • Stop Nuclear Waste Dumping on Native Lands
  • Develop National and International Collaborations on the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
  • Promote Sustainable Development and Renewable Energy for Native Peoples
For More Information, Contact:
DBC: 928-773-4335 or 928-606-1891, dineh_bidziil@yahoo.com
SGF: 707-825-7640, www.7genfund.org
SRIC: 505-262-1862, www.sric.org, sric.chris@earthlink.net
http://www.sric.org/uraniumsummit


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13th Native American Film + Video Festival
November 30 - December 3, 2006
NMAI's Film + Video Center
New York City, New York

The NMAI's Film + Video Center announces the 13th Native American Film and Video Festival, to be held November 30 - December 3, 2006, in New York City. The 2006 Festival will feature outstanding Native independent and community productions in film, video, radio, and new media, produced after May 2003. The Festival also marks the celebration of the Film + Video Center's 25th Anniversary.

To see who attended opening night of the 2003 Native American Film + Video Festival, click here.



Become an IFIP Member or Renew Your Membership. Download our new membership form,
click here.
Looking for ways to help your grantees become successful grantseekers?
Order copies of the "Indigenous Peoples Funding and Resource Guide." IFIP Members receive a 30% discount.

click here

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GLOBAL PETITION

Global Petition on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
A strong and uplifting United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is urgently needed to establish minimum international standards to inspire and urge states and others to respect and uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples without discrimination. Click here for details.

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IN THE NEWS

The Christensen Fund Announces several New Hires
more (PDF)

The Condor Meets the Eagles
Recent contacts between Bolivian President Evo Morales and leaders of North American native groups have raised new hopes for the indigenous people of North and South America, whose 500-year-old struggle for self-determination has yet to be recognized by the world.
more

Achuar Nation Wins Landmark Agreement to
Stop Toxic Contamination of
Rainforest Homelands After 14-day Blockade
more

Tense and Only Relative Calm after Police Crackdown in Oaxaca, Mexico
The Mexican government justified on Monday the violent storming by federal police of social protests in the capital of the southern state of Oaxaca, saying it had restored peace and order. But the evidence tells a different story.
more
BURMA: Hints of a 'Velvet Revolution'
When a senior U.N. official returns to Burma in mid-November for a second visit this year, he will encounter a ruling junta feeling the heat from a sudden burst of non-violent activity that aims to register public discontent against decades of tyranny.
more
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EMPLOYMENT
Communications & Marketing Director at Bioneers
Bioneers is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that seeks to educate, inspire and connect people and networks around practical and visionary solutions for restoring the Earth and communities. For more info click here.



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