{{Short description|Women's council on social issues}} {{for|the Thirteen Grandmothers organization founded in Argentina in 1977|Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo}} {{Infobox organization | caption = Grandmothers Bernadette, Margaret & Agnes in conference | logo = [[File:3Grandmothers.jpg|300px|Grandmothers Bernadette, Margaret & Agnes during a conference]] | type = [[Non-profit organization|Non-profit]] | name = International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers | founded = 2004 | location = [[Sonora, California]] | fields = | focus = [[Environmentalism]], [[Internationalism (politics)|internationalism]], [[indigenous rights]], cooperation and peace | website = {{URL|http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com/}} }} The '''International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers''' is an international alliance of indigenous female elders that focuses on issues such as the environment, [[Internationalism (politics)|internationalism]], and [[human rights]].<ref>[[Mona Polacca|Polacca, Mona]] (2011). "Realizing our Roots and the Power of Interconnectedness," in Tyson Miller, ''Dream of a Nation: Inspiring Ideas for a Better America''. SEE Innovation, [https://books.google.com/books?id=vpwx8P4s9zcC&pg=PA399 pp. 399–400]. {{ISBN|0615482260}}.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Monaghan|first=Patricia|title=Goddesses in World Culture, Volume 1|year=2010|publisher=[[Praeger Publishers|Praeger]]|isbn=978-0313354656|page=159|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qotjet-Hb0MC&pg=RA2-PA159}}</ref> The group met for the first time in October 2004 at the [[14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]]'s Menla Retreat Center on Panther Mountain in [[Phoenicia, New York]], during which time they declared themselves a council.<ref>{{cite book|last=COMPAS|first=Rigoberta Menchú|title=Learning Endogenous Development: Building on Bio-Cultural Diversity|year=2007|publisher=Practical Action|isbn=978-1853396649|page=72|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P7-AAAAAMAAJ&q=%22International+Council+of+13+Indigenous+Grandmothers%22}}</ref> Academic Suzanne Bouclin described them as "an alliance of thirteen women elders from across the globe that was organized to uphold indigenous practices and ceremonies and affirm the right to use plant medicines free of legal restriction."<ref>Bouclin, Suzanne, U. of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, ''Judges, Women As'' (January 1, 2011). ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WOMEN IN TODAY'S WORLD. [http://ssrn.com/abstract=1866024 Available at SSRN]</ref>
==Council members== The grandmothers include:<ref name=About>[http://grandmotherscouncil.org/about-us About Us page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412194659/http://www.grandmotherscouncil.org/about-us |date=2013-04-12 }} at International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers website, ''accessed June 8, 2013''.</ref>
* [[Aama Bombo]] – [[Tamang people|Tamang]] – [[Nepal]] * Flordemayo – [[Maya peoples|Mayan]] – [[Central Highlands (Central America)|Highlands of Central America]]/ [[New Mexico]] * Maria Alice Campos Freire – [[Amazon Rainforest|Amazonian Rainforest]], Brazil * [[Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance]] – Oglala Lakota – Black Hills, South Dakota, USA * Clara Shinobu Iura – [[Amazon Rainforest|Amazonian Rainforest]], Brazil * [[Rose Bernadette Rebienot Owansango]]– [[Omyene]] – [[Gabon]], Africa
===Former members=== * [[Margaret Behan]] – [[Arapaho]]/[[Cheyenne]] – [[Montana]], USA * [[Rita Pitka Blumenstein]] – [[Yup’ik]] – [[Alaska]], USA (deceased) * Julieta Casimiro Estrada – [[Mazatec people|Mazatec]] – [[Huautla de Jimenez]], Mexico (deceased)<ref name=JCE>[http://www.grandmotherscouncil.org/in-honor-of-grandmother-julieta-casimiro-estrada In Honor of Grandmother Julieta Casimiro Estrada]</ref> * [[Tsering Dolma Gyaltong]] – [[Tibetan people|Tibetan]] (deceased)<ref name=TDG>[http://www.grandmotherscouncil.org/in-honor-of-grandmother-tsering-dolma-gyaltong In Honor of Grandmother Tsering Dolma Gyaltong]</ref> * [[Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance]] – [[Oglala Lakota|Oglala]] [[Lakota people|Lakota]] – [[Black Hills]], [[South Dakota]], USA (deceased)<ref name=BLVHD>[http://www.grandmotherscouncil.org/in-honor-of-grandmother-beatrice In Honor of Grandmother Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance]</ref> * [[Mona Polacca]] – [[Hopi]]/[[Havasupai]]/[[Tewa people|Tewa]] – [[Arizona]], USA * [[Agnes Baker Pilgrim]] ([[Chairperson|Elected Chairperson]]) – [[Takelma]], [[Confederated Tribes of Siletz]] – [[Grants Pass]], [[Oregon]], USA (deceased)
===Ambassadors === Several others have been involved in supporting the council's work, including:<ref name=About/>
* Pauline Tangiora – [[Māori people|Māori]] elder from New Zealand and councillor of [[World Future Council]] * Jeneane Prevatt ("Jyoti") – 'Traveling Ambassador Charged with The Mission' * [[Madrinha Rita Gregório]] – [[Amazon rainforest]], Brazil * [[Constance de Pauliac]] – France
==Council meetings== The council meets every six months, visiting each other's homelands.<ref name=Walker>Carson Walker, [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2007-07-29-4016345612_x.htm Int'l grandmothers' enviro movement], [[USA Today]], July 29, 2007.</ref> Their goals are to "build our relations and learn about each other's cultures".<ref name="CS">{{cite book|last=Schaefer|first=Carol|title=La voz de las trece abuelas: Ancianas indígenas aconsejan al mundo|year=2009|publisher=LUCIERNAGA|isbn=978-8489957930|pages=129–136|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S9golf-mrNwC&pg=PA129}}</ref> During these meetings the grandmothers wear traditional dress and hold a seven-day prayer vigil.<ref>{{cite news|last=Olp|first=Susan|title=Indigenous Grandmothers group comes to Lame Deer|url=http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/indigenous-grandmothers-group-comes-to-lame-deer/article_d77cb4e4-8508-5829-ae69-631e20f51c47.html|access-date=3 June 2013|newspaper=Billings Gazette|date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> The 2007 meeting in the [[Black Hills]] of [[South Dakota]] brought together 250 participants from the [[United States]], [[South America]], [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Oceania]].<ref name=Walker/>
In July 2008 the council met in Rome to address the [[Holy See|Vatican]] regarding the ''[[Inter caetera]]'', a [[Papal Bull]] of 1493 that authorized the conversion to Christianity of the indigenous people of the newly discovered Americas.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Chittister | first = Joan | title = The past is a very living thing: Try not to forget it | work = [[National Catholic Reporter]] | access-date = 2013-06-17 | date = 2009-04-24 | url = http://ncronline.org/blogs/where-i-stand/past-very-living-thing-try-not-forget-it }}</ref> They laid a "flag of peace and conciliation" in front of [[Saint Peter's Basilica]], as well as a written statement and gifts to [[Pope Benedict XVI]]. The grandmothers also lit [[Smudge stick|smudging incense]] and prayed. The Vatican declined to receive them.<ref>Mona Polacca, [https://web.archive.org/web/20080913213436/http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2008/09/grandmothers_to_pope_drop_edic.html Guest Voices: Grandmothers to Pope: Drop Edict], [[Washington Post]] "On Faith" section, September 11, 2008.</ref><ref>Capriccioso, R, [http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/ictarchives/2008/07/18/indigenous-grandmas-nearly-kicked-out-of-vatican-79092 "Indigenous grandmas nearly kicked out of Vatican"], ''Indian Country Today'', July 17, 2008 (Updated: Apr 24, 2009).</ref>
==Media==
In 2006 Carol Schaefer's book ''Grandmothers Counsel the World: Women Elders Offer Their Vision for Our Planet'' was published by Trumpeter Books, an imprint of [[Shambhala Publications]].<ref>[http://www.shambhala.com/grandmothers-counsel-the-world.html ''Grandmothers Counsel the World'' book webpage] at [[Shambhala Publications]].</ref> In 2009 it released a Kindle edition.<ref>[http://www.shambhala.com/grandmothers-counsel-the-world-1.html ''Grandmothers Counsel the World'' e-book webpage] at [[Shambhala Publications]].</ref> A Spanish edition was published in 2008.<ref name="CS"/>
In 2007 the Center for Sacred Studies, the parent organization of the Grandmother's Council, produced a documentary titled ''For the Next 7 Generations: The Grandmothers Speak''. Directed by [[Carole Hart]], it documented the Grandmothers as they met and traveled around the world.<ref>{{cite news|title=LET THE GRANDMOTHERS SPEAK|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DT&s_site=centredaily&p_multi=DT&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11C276F14344A798&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=3 June 2013|newspaper=Centre Daily Times|date=October 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Urbani de la Paz|first=Diane|title=Film tells of grandmothers' healing journey|url=http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013301259992|access-date=3 June 2013|newspaper=Peninsula Daily News|date=January 24, 2013}}</ref>
Fran Markover's poem about the group, ''The Grandmothers'', is based on a quote by Bernadette Rebienot. It won first place in the 2008 Ithaca College magazine arts and literature contest.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Markover | first = Fran | title = First Place Poetry: "The Grandmas" | work = IC View – The Magazine of [[Ithaca College]] | access-date = 2013-06-17 | date = 2008-11-19 | url = https://www.ithaca.edu/icview/stories/first-place-poetry:-the-grandmas-4571/ }}</ref>
In 2011 Rita Pitka Blumenstein from Alaska and Mona Polacca from Arizona started a 22-city "Timeless Message Tour" speaking about the group and showing "For the Next 7 Generations".<ref>Lynda V. Mapes, [http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2014653274_grandmoms01m.html Grandmothers kick off Timeless tour in Seattle Thursday night; Indigenous grandmothers kick off a 22-city tour in Seattle Thursday night], [[Seattle Times]], March 31, 2011.</ref>
== Awards == In 2013, the [[Fellowship of Reconciliation (United States)|Fellowship of Reconciliation]] awarded the Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers the [[International Pfeffer Peace Award]] for their work for peace and justice throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web |author=Linda Kelly |title=FOR's 2013 International Pfeffer Peace Prize Recipients: The Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers |publisher=[[Fellowship of Reconciliation (United States)|Fellowship of Reconciliation]] |url=https://forusa.org/blogs/linda-kelly/fors-2013-international-pfeffer-peace-prize-recipients-council-thirteen-indigenous |date=3 July 2013 |access-date = 18 November 2015}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|2}}
==Further reading== *{{cite web |last=Chittister |first=Joan |date=April 24, 2009 |work=National Catholic Reporter |publisher=The National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company |url=http://ncronline.org/blogs/where-i-stand/past-very-living-thing-try-not-forget-it |title=The past is a very living thing: Try not to forget it |access-date=March 8, 2015}} *{{cite web |last=Harcourt-Smith |first=Joanna |url=http://www.futureprimitive.org/13grandmothers/ |title=Future Primitive on the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers |work=Future Primitive |access-date=March 8, 2015}} Includes multiple audio interviews. *{{cite AV media |title=Grandma Aggie Promotes a Sustainable Lifestyle |author=WPSU-TV |date=July 30, 2009 |series=Conversations from Penn State |publisher=Penn State Broadcasting |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8XNvHRDu8E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/d8XNvHRDu8E |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|access-date=March 8, 2015}}{{cbignore}}
== External links == * {{official website|http://www.grandmotherscouncil.com/}} * [http://www.forthenext7generations.com/ Official website for documentary ''For The Next Seven Generations''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008022508/http://www.forthenext7generations.com/ |date=2019-10-08 }} * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2243305/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2 IMDb listing of ''For The Next Seven Generations''] * [https://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/2830/Turning-Prayer-into-Action ''Turning Prayer into Action''] TV documentary of Grandmothers dialogue with Bioneers * [http://w-225-254.archive.org/details/scm-201470-she-grandmothersgatheringpart 13 Indigenous Grandmothers Gathering in Lame Deer, Montana, July, 2012], [http://audio23.archive.org/details/scm-206470-she-grandmothersgatheringpart Part 2], video panel by Vashon Intuitive Arts participants *{{Cite news | last = Markover | first = Fran | title = First Place Poetry: "The Grandmas" | work = IC View – The Magazine of [[Ithaca College]] | url = https://www.ithaca.edu/icview/stories/first-place-poetry:-the-grandmas-4571/ }} * {{Cite web | title = A story telling afternoon at GRuB with members of the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. | url = http://photo.evergreen.edu/portal/slideshows/grandmothers/index.htm }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:International Council Of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers}} [[Category:Indigenous rights organizations]] [[Category:Non-profit organizations based in California]] [[Category:Organizations established in 2004]] [[Category:Pfeffer Peace Prize laureates]] [[Category:Indigenous women of the Americas]]