Cherokee hosts conference

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Slated for June 13 to 16 in the Great Smoky Mountains of western North

Carolina, the seventh annual Indigenous Environment Network Protecting

Mother Earth Conference will be held within the reservation boundaries

of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The natural setting near the

famous Blue Ridge Parkway belies the concern the Eastern Cherokee

Defense League and other activists have about the effects of toxic

chemicals such as dioxin on the environment and the people who live

there.

More than 1,200 concerned participants are expected to discuss the

environment and Aboriginal people. They'll be camping in an area that

has a reputation of wild beauty, a reputation that is carefully crafted

by state and regional tourism authorities. The local people, though,

know the history of ecological damage from paper and pulp production,

logging, industry and, of course, tourism. The conference theme --"Our

Rivers Are Life"-- will focus on one very damaged aspect of the area.

"Each hosting community has its issue or issues of particular concern,"

said Jackie Warledo, Indigenous Environment Network conference

coordinator. "However, the conference is not exculisively about any one

thing.

The Indigenous Environment Network is an alliance of Indigenous

community-based people whose mission is "to strengthen, maintain,

protect and respect the traditional teachings, lifestyles and spiritual

interdependence to the sacredness of the Mother Earth and traditional

nature laws." For information, call (218)751-4967.