The International Covenant on the Rights of Indigenous Nations (ICRIN)

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For over 40 years, CWIS has been the leading indigenous peoples’ think tank ensuring that communities can safeguard their rights and resources.
Education

Activate your potential with online courses on Indigenous Studies and Traditional Medicine.
Research & Public Policy

The leading think-tank defining and implementing indigenous-centric policy and strategic implementation in climate change, governance, conflict resolution and health care.
Chief George Manuel Library

The library was founded as a documents repository in 1979 in response to a resolution of the Conference of Tribal Governments.
Who we are
Who we are

Our mission: Activist scholars advancing the rights of indigenous peoples worldwide
Our Story

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Providing technical support to indigenous nations including international legal advice, policy analysis and conflict resolution and self governance.
Publications
Volume 24, Number 1
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June 3, 2024
Asserting Native Resilience: Insights from Rudolph Rÿser on the Climate Crisis
Environment
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Traditional Medicine
About CTM

Traditional medicine is the “mother” of all medicine. More than 80% of the world’s population uses a form of traditional medicine to treat primary health.
Treating Diabetes

Engage in ancient and modern indigenous medicinal methods to prevent and treat diabetes.
Massage Project

This project strengthens the outreach and trains additional therapists to deliver more massage therapy for diabetes to underserved people in urban and rural indigenous areas.
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For over 40 years, CWIS has been the leading indigenous peoples’ activist think tank, ensuring that communities can safeguard their rights and resources.
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Internships

Join a select group of activist scholars who participate in 3-12 month internships for academic credit.
Video
Searching for Capomo

Discover this extraordinary tree, known as Capomo, or the Breadnut, and all of its gifts. The seed is traditionally eaten as a food and roasted into cafe de capomo. Endemic...
Medical Massage for Diabetes

This project strengthens the outreach and trains additional therapists to deliver more massage therapy for diabetes to underserved people in urban and rural indigenous areas.
Salal, Cedar and Spruce: A Journey with Salish Plant and Medicine Traditions

Salal berries for digestive relief, Cedar tea to reduce fevers, and Spruce tips for nourishment and congestive relief… Traditional Salish foods and medicines are experiencing a revival in the Pacific...
Pathfinder: The Untold Story of “The Indian Business”

Pathfinder: The Untold Story of the “Indian Business” is a feature-length documentary currently in production about the “Fourth World’s” struggle for self-determination and overcoming bigotry and internalized traumas, told through...

Fire Under the Snow in the Bay Area

Published: September 8, 2008, Author: Amy Eisenberg

Fire Under the Snow in the Bay Area

Jim Browne shared this notice that I think is worthy of everyone’s attention.

Dear Friends,

The film I produced, FIRE UNDER THE SNOW, will have its Bay Area premiere as part of the Mill Valley Film Festival(Oct 2-12, 2008). I will be present for both screenings, Oct 5 & 9. Hope you can make it out to the show.

Best, Jim Browne

BAY AREA PREMIERE of FIRE UNDER THE SNOW

2008, 75. min.Directed by Makoto Sasa http://www.fireunderthesnow.comhttp://www.argotpictures.com/

The Venerable Palden Gyatso, a Buddhist monk since childhood, was arrested by the Chinese Communist Army in 1959. He spent 33 years in prison for the ‘crime’ of demonstrating peacefully. He was starved and tortured. His nation and culture were destroyed, his teachers, friends and family displaced, jailed or killed under Chinese occupation. Despite this, he remains unbroken, and keeps the flame of his spirit ablaze.

SHOWTIMES/DATES for FIRE UNDER THE SNOW

October 5, 12:15PM, CinéArts @ Sequoia 2 October 9, 7:00PM, CinéArts @ Sequoia 2 The full schedule will be available on our website at www.mvff.com starting on September 12 and tickets will be available for purchase at this time for CFI members and September 19 for the general public.

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Chief George Manuel Memorial Indigenous Library

The library is dedicated to the memory of Secwepemc Chief George Manuel (1921-1989), to the nations of the Fourth World and to the elders and generations to come.