Dear Friends/Supporters
Have you heard about the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign? The Two Row was the first treaty between the Haudensaudnee and the early European settlers in what is now New York. This year is the 400th anniversary of that treaty and marks a state wide educational initiative to commemorate the early ideals of harmony between the peoples and with the land. July 27th to August 9th, the Two Row Wampum Campaign in approximately 260 canoes and kayaks, will be traveling down the Hudson river in two rows, with Haudenosaunee representatives on one side and allies on the other, from Albany to New York City, holding educational and cultural events along the way.
I am excited to tell you I will be joining the flotilla by kayak on August 2nd through the 9th culminating with a march to speak at the UN and on the 10th a Festival in NYC.
I am writing to both invite you to learn more, to come to the festivals along the route, and to make a request of you to please support me in helping out with the Two Row. I have great appreciation to all who help in any way. Some of you receiving this appeal have donated in past times in support of causes very close to my heart and you know I thank you. I’m hoping causes I care about are important to you as well.
There are many expenses involved for this undertaking from the daily food, supplies, safety boats and ground support to the safety equipment that I usually have via my kayak club. A priority is that I need to rent a car to transport myself and gear to the launch point. A friend will return the car. Nice! Update: a friend has loaned me her car and I have much of what I need but there are expenses still to be met towards the journey.
Friends and supporters are lending me some of the priciest things like a tent, a kayak and a marine radio but there is an expensive battery for the radio and some necessary equipment to get. Still hoping to borrow a waterproof camera and marine GPS but those are last on the list. It is mostly worked out but as a self employed executive assistant and sales person I realize I am putting activist ideals over needs and help is appreciated.
If you are willing, please consider donating to help me do this. Sending paypal to donna_nyusa@yahoo.com is the quickest way to donate but not everyone likes that. Contact me for other arrangements like mailing checks, I’ll pick up locally.
This is a bit ambitious for me on the camping end although as an avid kayaker I expect the paddling will be easy enough and gorgeous, and for a good cause. You know I am into social and environmental justice, add kayaking and there’s no better way to spend my time.
Personally I have always felt drawn to Native Americans culture and their strong cultural love of Mother Earth. I have studied a bit of Blackfoot healing traditions and would like to know these techniques will not be lost. Beadworking used to be my preferred craft and I learned some from native women in Buffalo from the five tribes/Iroquois nation and then Seminole in Florida and later a southwestern style.
Injustices to native peoples are not only in the past there are ongoing ramifications of broken promises and likened with broken treaties to nature. I’m awed by the culture and tribal wisdom and sensitive to the plight of indigenous peoples. It is special to learn more about how early settlers did look for a spirit of harmony between the peoples.
As an environmental activist I speak out for renewable energy and about stopping dangerous extreme energy practices like fracking. Organizations I am involved with work to fight fossil fuel infrastructure, retire the aging Indian Point nuclear power plant that is not worth the risk and stop pollution of our precious waterways, land and air. I’m President of NYC Friends of Clearwater, a sloop club affiliated with Hudson River Sloop Clearwater both founded by Pete Seeger. Also I work with OWS Environmental Solidarity, Occupy the Pipeline, Sane Energy Project and other fine environmental organizations. New York State and Native lands are under siege and there is much education that needs to happen.
In Gratitude,
Donna Stein
Itinerary
I join them here:
Thursday, August 1:
10:30-2:30 Lunch and Event at Hudson Maritime Museum, Kingston*, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston, NY (map) (paddlers arrive about 12:30 pm) Land @ Margret Norrie State Park, 9 Old Post Road, Staatsburg, NY 12580(map) (arrive 6:30 pm)
Friday, August 2: From Margret Norrie State Park (launch 11 am)
Land @ Poughkeepsie at Hudson River Rowing Association Dock, Poughkeepsie, NY and Waryas Park, 1 Main St., Poughkeepsie, (map) (arrive 3 pm)
Lacrosse: The Creator’s Game Presentation, 5:30 pm
Saturday, August 3: Launch from Poughkeepsie* (launch 10 am)
9:30 am: Welcome on the Walkway Gathering to Welcome Paddlers and Unity Riders to mid-Hudson Valley
Lunch at Marlboro Yacht Club, Dock Rd. and Old Dock Rd., Marlboro, NY 12542 (map), Land @ Beacon – Beacon Landing (arrive 5:30 pm)
Beacon Two Row Festival, noon-8 pm. Speakers, music and more.
Sunday, August 4: Launch from Beacon (launch 11 am)
Land @ Dockside Park, West St. and Fish St., Cold Springs, NY 10516 (map) (arrive 2 pm)
The Two Row Wampum: Past, Present and Future, 4 pm
Monday, August 5: Launch from Cold Springs (launch 10:30 am)
Lunch at Peekskill (with event 12:00 noon) Land @ Stony Point (arrive 5 pm)
Interfaith Peace and Friendship Event, 7:30 pm
Tuesday, August 6: Launch from Stony Point (launch 11 am)
Land @ Croton Point Park, 1A Croton Point Ave, Croton-on-Hudson, NY (map) (arrive 1 pm)
Elders Share Haudenosaunee History Event, 3 pm
Wednesday, August 7: Launch from Croton Point Park (launch 10:30 am)
Lunch at Nyack Beach State Park, 698 N Broadway, Upper Nyack, NY (map), Land @ Piermont Pier, Ferry Rd., Piermont, NY 10968 (map) (arrive 5 pm)
Sharing the River of Life, 7 pm
Thursday, August 8: Launch from Piermont Pier (launch 10:30 am)
Lunch at Beczak Environmental Center, 35 Alexander St, Yonkers, NY (map), Land @ Inwood Hill Park, Dyckman St., Manhattan, NY (map) (arrive 5 pm)
Travel to Beczak Environmental Center, Yonkers, for camping
Poetry/Spoken Word Event, 6:30 pm at Inwood Hill
Friday, August 9: Launch from Inwood Hill* (launch sunrise)
Land @ Pier 96 (57th St. on west side of Manhattan) at 10:00 am, Welcome by Dutch Consul General and Other Dignitaries, including display of the Original Two Row Belt
March to United Nations; 11:30 am, Welcome of Paddlers to the United Nations at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 833 1st Ave, New York, NY, (map) 1:30 pm, UN Event to commemorate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, 3 pm. Key contact: Aya Yamamoto
Saturday, August 10: New York City Two Row Festival
Saturday, August 10, 11 am – 5 pm
Brookfield Place/World Financial Center, 200 Vesey St. (west of World Trade Center) (map)
Haudenosaunee and other native speakers, drummers and dancers, music, social dancing, children’s activities, craftspeople and more. Key contact: Marissa Corwin
*Events in collaboration with the Dakota Unity Riders
Background
We will paddle between 9 and 15 miles each day and camp along the route. There will be educational and cultural events along the way, some large and others small. The gatherings will feature talks by Haudenosaunee leaders and allies and cultural sharing. The itinerary is still being finalized. The current version is on the attached application, updates will be available on our website. We will arrive in New York City on Friday, August 9 to participate in the United Nations International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. The symbolic enactment and related events will draw thousands of people to the Hudson to learn and be inspired to create an equitable and sustainable future for all in the Hudson Valley and beyond. The events will attract tourists as well as residents. We aim to educate and inspire attendees to transform their relationship to the river and all parts of the natural world, incorporating a sense of historic responsibility for the environment and justice for the original inhabitants of this land. www.honorthetworow.org
Fred Klein