By Isabella Zizi and Julia Horinek, Movement Rights
Stand Up! Fight Back! Rights of Nature is the Path!
Recognized in over 30 countries, with more than 10 Indigenous Nations of Turtle Island passing tribal laws and statutes, Rights of Nature is the fastest growing environmental justice movement in the world. Indigenous led, with roots in Traditional wisdom and cosmology, the people of Mother Earth are answering Her clarion call to action, speaking for the elements who have no “voice”, and representing our relatives who cannot stand for themselves in colonial court systems. Movement Rights supports the inspired efforts of our relatives and allies across Turtle Island, respecting the unique needs from region to region, from Nation to Nation, from community to community through grassroots-led gatherings and actions.
The Convening of the Four Winds was born from this perspective, and on September 7-8, 2024 the 3rd Convening of the 4 Winds was held at the historic Phillip Deere Round House in the territory of the Mvskoke Nation in Oklahoma. This Southern Convening was co-hosted by Jimbo and Nancy Simmons of the Choctaw Nation, and gathered in the circle of the Roundhouse a dynamic group of Rights of Nature, Land & Water Back, Tribal Sovereignty, Treaty Rights, Indigenous Just Transition and Environmental Justice Movement Leaders, Relatives and Allies.
Over 78,600 miles of waterways flow across Oklahoma, connecting 39 tribes and non-tribal communities. All are under threat due to the extractive fossil fuel industry. Corruption, greed and manipulation of oversight boards such as the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, has led to thousands of miles of fossil fuel pipelines, tens of thousands of fracking sites, refineries and more polluting and laying waste to the current homelands of the tribal communities and all people of Oklahoma. We all live downstream from these atrocities. Yet, rooted in these affected communities are knowledge keepers, warriors, grandmas, grandpas, allies—the grassroots of Turtle Island, ready to gather together to build for power. And gather we did, at the 3rd Convening of the Four Winds. See photo gallery here.
Rooted in Ceremony and Traditional Knowledge
“We are part of nature. … I see, in the future, perhaps this civilization is coming near to the end. For that reason, we have continued with the instructions of our ancestors. We are the only people who know how to survive in this country. We have existed here for thousands and thousands of years.”
Over 150 participants, representing 48 tribes from across 20 states and First Nations Canada, along with non-Indigenous allies, gathered at this traditional and sacred site. See archival footage of Phillip Deere here and learn more about the Phillip Deere Round House here. A lighting of the sacred fire, just before sunrise, by Bonnie Deere welcomed us to the land, and ceremonially began the 3rd Convening of the Four Winds Movement Rights Board Chairwoman, Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador, and Drumkeeper of the Ponca Pa’tha’ta Scalp Dance Society, Casey Camp-Horinek continued the ceremonial weaving with a water ceremony. Assisted by her granddaughter, Pa’tha’ta Water Carrier, Lola Williams, the Waters brought by attendees from across Turtle Island, as well as an offering from Europe, tobacco and prayers were joined together to stand witness and absorb the good intentions and prayers of the Convening.
Kept near the fire throughout the Convening the sacred Water was appropriately the beginning and the adjournment of the Convening. Following the Convening, making a journey with the co-hosts to the banks of the Kiamichi River the sacred water joined the waters of the endangered Kiamichi in prayer and purpose – read here for more information on the fight to save the Kiamichi River.
Deep Conversations, Organizing and highlighting “Emerging Leaders” session
“This is how we fight back against big corporations. We assert our sovereignty and our Rights. Acts of taking back land and language. There are Maori language programs, Lakota head start programs for the babies who are speaking and thinking like the elders… If we don’t have a vision of where we want to go, we aren’t going to get there.”
The schedule of activities and panels was created by our Chatha co-hosts and Movement Rights with a focus on local organizing and interests. And while the event is over, you can find the full schedule, our list of partners and other details about the event here. The 3rd Convening of the Four Winds was filled with intense and interactive sessions; stories of history and perseverance; grassroots leadership and movements; Law and Sovereignty; Community Organizing; the role of Civil Society; Non violent Direct Action; Environmental Justice; MMIW and MMIP; All woven together to create a strong, resilient, inter-connected Alliance. To listen to the livestream visit CENSORED NEWS. (Thank you Govinda Dalton, of IEN, your presence and technical assistance are very much appreciated!)
One of the break-out sessions focussed specifically on Indigenous youth and emerging young leaders.
With the support of Talia Landry, Mashpee NEA, and Kaleb Proctor of the Keetoowah and Mvskoke nations, Isabella Zizi of Movement Rights led an emerging leaders discussion with Elder Advisors Bonnie Deere, Jimbo Simmons and Ben Yahola. MashpeeNEA, Earth Guardians Indigenous Youth Initiative and students at the College of Muscogee Nation in Okmulgee were present and honored to hear the experiences of the deeply rooted elder advisors. The young water protectors gathered benches in a circle under a shaded tree and as the session progressed, we started to lose the shade and needed to adjust our seating because of the sun. Bonnie and other elders had positioned themselves closer to the trunk of the tree with the knowledge that the shade will move closer and closer to them.
Asked “What does a leader look like to you?” the emerging leaders listed the many traits they felt defined a leader; generosity, trust, openness, humility, honor, were among the most voiced.
Elder Bonnie reminded us that when it comes to leadership all of the traits that we named shouldn’t be expected to come from one individual or source, “leadership takes a lifetime”. The motivations that inspired people to continue forward involved storytelling, family and future generations, arts, language, film, ceremony, farming, helping others and most importantly—humor. We ended with a discussion around community healing and heard examples of connecting communities back to the earth with seeds, protecting sacred sites, learning how to heal and take care of ourselves and unlearning patterns of oppression which leads to burn out.
Emerging Leaders returned to the Roundhouse to share the lessons and discussions of their session and received a standing ovation of support and gratitude. One particularly heartfelt moment during the report back included one of the young Indigenous participants who had been fairly quiet during the weekend taking the microphone to share how the Convening and the session had impacted their life, and reconnected them in new ways to their traditions and culture.
“In the cosmos, the red nation will teach the ways in order to be alive at this time and then the rest of the world will stand behind us.”
All three Convening Co-hosts were present during the 3rd Convening of the 4 Winds. Casey Camp Horinek of the Ponca Nation, JoKay Dowell of Cherokee & Quapah Nations, and Jimbo Simmons of the Choctaw Nation - this Convening completed three out of four gatherings that will be held in the four directional quadrants of Oklahoma.
“Community is a huge word. It doesn’t just mean a small community, it is the wider viewpoint of those who want to be part of something bigger especially with those who have good intentions.”
Movement Rights will continue gathering in community and ceremony to protect the Rights of Rivers, and come together to reciprocate strategies and resiliency. The 4th Convening of the Four Winds will be held in the Western Quadrant of Oklahoma in the Spring of 2025.
Now that the first three of Four Convenings in the North (Ponca territory), the East (Cherokee Reservation) and South (Mvskoke Nation) have taken place, the West and last Convening led by other tribal communities is in process.To support the Convening of the Four Winds and the ongoing work of Movement Rights visit us here.
Movement Rights would like to thank:
- Our Chahta hosts, Jimbo and Nancy Simmons
- Bonnie Deere and the Deere family
- Tribal leaders and community of the Mvskoke Nation
- Casey Camp Horinek and the Ponca Pa’tha’ta Women’s Scalp Dance Society
- 150+ participants from 50 tribal nations protecting water in their communities
- 17 amazing speakers from across Oklahoma and Turtle Island
- All of the fabulous cooks
- The Kiamichi River, which lovingly accepted the prayers, waters and stories from the homelands of over 100 communities at the closing ceremony.
- Our co-sponsors including Womens Earth Alliance, Bioneers,Tamalpais Trust Earth Guardians, Center for Biological Diversity, 350.org, and the Na’ah Ilahee Fund
